Here are two more observations on the strong words of Jesus.

4. Hell is eternal, conscious punishment.

'Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched' (9:48). Jesus speaks not about the worm, but their worm. It is personal. The worm destroys by eating away at the inside. The thing that eats away inside a person is conscience. A person in hell will live with the full knowledge of what they have done. This never diminishes and it never ends. Then Jesus says, "the fire is not quenched." A person in hell lives under the judgement of God, who is a consuming fire forever.

5. It is worth going to any length to avoid hell.

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell” (9:43). Jesus says it would be better to be blind than to have your eyes multiplying lust. It would be better to have no arms than to add to your sins by striking another person. It would be better to have no tongue than to rage in anger, destroying another person's confidence.

Hell is a reality so terrible that you should be ready to do anything to avoid it—accept any discipline or restriction, change any habit, flee any temptation. Jesus endured the wrath of God so that you might never know what it is like. Would He have done this if hell was no big deal?

Reflect on the specific and personal nature of hell. How does this impact your desire to live a holy life? How does it impact your motivation for sharing the gospel?