"Everyone will be salted with fire." Mk9:49

The context of Jesus' words in this passage hangs on verse 41.

"Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward." (emphasis mine)

We must never lose sight of the fact that Jesus was talking to Israel first and foremost.  Although the words Jesus speaks to Israel are also spoken to the coming church age, we must first ask what Jesus was saying to the crowd before Him.  Jesus was constantly urging Israel to accept Messiah and verses 42-48 contain hard words for them.  Take note that Israel's stumbling is rejecting Messiah. Gentile believers get the holy sweats when they read this because it suggests that stumbling means when we sin as believers.  Relax, this is not what this is talking about.  Let's explore what is going on here.  

Verse 42 
Unlike Gentile believers, it was possible for Jews to return to Temple sacrifice and define their repentance this way.  We find Hebrews 6 is speaking into this situation.  Believers had gone back to sacrificing animals in the temple to define their repentance.  Having done this they cannot enter true repentance that can only be gained through the risen, glorified Lord, King of the Universe.  So speaking to the gathered crowds which included officials and Teachers, Jesus says they had better not lead those who believe in Messiah back to The Old Covenant practices.  Going back to the Old Covenant goes backwards into a system that spoke of what was to come (Messiah) and would no longer exist as the way to access God's Grace and Mercy.  'Stumbling' was going back to or remaining in the Old Covenant.  This only applies to Jews then and now.

Verses 43-48
Satisfied that 'stumbling' means rejecting Messiah or returning to old practices and definitions, Jesus then goes on to warn Israel that they are better losing body parts than stumbling over who Messiah is. In effect:  What part of your physiology is holding you back from accepting Messiah? Hands, feet and eyes are mentioned by Jesus as these are all involved in how we walk out our practices.  Jesus urges them to assess their ways because the consequence of stumbling (rejecting Messiah) is to be thrown into the lake of fire.  Accepting Messiah would mean loss to them.  They would be outsiders in the environment and at odds with Rome who demanded Caesar worship.  But it is better to suffer loss than to end up in hell.  

Verse 49
Scholars have debated this passage and the usual two answers are that it means the fire of Judgement or it means the fire of sanctification.  I think it means both.  Jesus says everyone will be salted with fire.   Salt in the Old Covenant was a ratification for a sacrifice.  Salt was sprinkled on sacrifices and this gave formal sanction to the sacrifice.  So when someone rejects Messiah they will be thrown into the fire and that will be the ratification, the formal sanction of their rejection.   Those who accept Messiah will also be subjected to the fires of sanctification.  This is also the formal sanction of salvation - to be set apart to the Lord.  Offering ourselves as a living Sacrifice is the key to walking well with the Lord in the New Covenant (Romans 12:1-2).  

The question all people have is :  Will you come to the Lord now and be subject to the fire of Sanctification or reject him and face the lake of fire? Acceptance and rejection of Messiah are formal contracts which both have promises attached.  

Verse 50
Jesus returns to the problem... believers being led back to old ways.  Having entered into Messiah through faith that salt can be lost.  How?  By going back to Old Covenant practices!   Going back to the Old Covenant is turning back on  the formal sanctioning of the living sacrifice you are as a believer.  It is returning to the sacrificial system that is null and void having served its purpose.  Lets not forget that to those listening the topic of salt was a common understanding.  Jesus ends this discourse asking those listening to 'have salt among themselves.'  This was an encouragement for believers to not go back to the old ways ... to remain salty!  He urged them also to stop the turmoil of 'should we / shouldn't we' and be at peace with their acceptance of Messiah and the consequence of this which was to suffer loss / alienation.   

In conclusion
Jesus speaks into the church age in this passage also.  Obviously the message is that it is worth suffering loss for the sake of Messiah.  There is a risk for all believers to lose reward for not engaging the sanctification process but the promise to all believers is that the Good Shepherd will drag us back to the path.  Gentiles do not have an old system to get caught up in and redefine repentance but there are a whole lot of cults out there to lead a believer into dead ends and throttle the life out of them.  

While I was doing this blog I couldn't stop dwelling on Jesus words, " ...because you belong to the Messiah.."  When we have had our best guess at explaining a passage like the one above don't forget that the Lord more desires that we are about loving the Lord and I am particularly warmed by Jesus words that I belong to Him.  The complexities of Scripture aside... I am Jesus' property.

selah.

Gary Ward