The way in which Mark 9:43–48 follows on the thought of Mark 9:42

Herein the Lord Jesus shows the way to escape the horrible punishment mentioned indirectly in verse 42. Thereby he speaks now in the second person (“If your hand”). The deep seriousness of Jesus’ words appears from the fact that he points three times to the same way with almost the same words (43–44, 45–46, 47–48). Verse 42 spoke of the ensnaring of the simple. The most serious victim in that case would be the culprit him- or herself. Those who neglect little ones so that they stumble will stumble over that neglect themselves. To prevent one’s own fall means that one has to take good care of others. And to reach that goal one has to keep oneself under control.¹