Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
The verse sets entering into life maimed or halt against being cast whole with two hands or two feet into hell, where the fire is unquenchable, and teaches that losing a hand or foot is better than facing that fate. The unquenchable fire is the portion of those who keep their sinning members whole rather than entering life maimed. Clinging to sin and refusing to yield to God leads to being cast into that fire, while entering life maimed is better.
Every habit or practice that leads into sin and brings dishonor upon Christ must be cut off whatever the sacrifice, and anything causing a person to stumble must be decisively put away even at great cost in order to enter eternal life. Sin must be put away whatever the sacrifice. If a hand or foot or even an eye would be cut off or plucked out to save the body from death, far more earnest cutting off of sin is required to save the soul from death.
Cherished sin brings death to the soul. Even one cherished sin is enough to degrade character and mislead others away from Christ, while the blessing of heaven cannot attend violation of the eternal principles of right. God is the source of life and His presence consumes sin, so if people refuse to separate from sin that same presence consumes them.
The verse shows the sure experience and end of everyone who persists in sin, refuses the gift of Christ and entire obedience to the law of God, and refuses to turn from sin to receive forgiveness and grace. The worm and the fire are remorse, despair, hatred and bitterness against God suffered under His wrath when the unrepentant are punished, when too late they see that sin is transgression of God's law, realize their soul is cut off from God, and feel His wrath abiding on them. It is the experience of all who are grafted into Satan by cherishing sinful attributes, who despise forgiveness and grace and do not share in Christ's suffering for sin. The unquenchable fire is God's punishment that will ultimately destroy the soul and body of every unrepentant sinner, as they realize that sin separated them from God and brought His wrath.
The verse sets entering into life maimed or halt against being cast whole with two hands or two feet into hell, where the fire is unquenchable, and teaches that losing a hand or foot is better than facing that fate. The unquenchable fire is the portion of those who keep their sinning members whole rather than entering life maimed. Clinging to sin and refusing to yield to God leads to being cast into that fire, while entering life maimed is better.
Every habit or practice that leads into sin and brings dishonor upon Christ must be cut off whatever the sacrifice, and anything causing a person to stumble must be decisively put away even at great cost in order to enter eternal life. Sin must be put away whatever the sacrifice. If a hand or foot or even an eye would be cut off or plucked out to save the body from death, far more earnest cutting off of sin is required to save the soul from death.
Cherished sin brings death to the soul. Even one cherished sin is enough to degrade character and mislead others away from Christ, while the blessing of heaven cannot attend violation of the eternal principles of right. God is the source of life and His presence consumes sin, so if people refuse to separate from sin that same presence consumes them.
The verse shows the sure experience and end of everyone who persists in sin, refuses the gift of Christ and entire obedience to the law of God, and refuses to turn from sin to receive forgiveness and grace. The worm and the fire are remorse, despair, hatred and bitterness against God suffered under His wrath when the unrepentant are punished, when too late they see that sin is transgression of God's law, realize their soul is cut off from God, and feel His wrath abiding on them. It is the experience of all who are grafted into Satan by cherishing sinful attributes, who despise forgiveness and grace and do not share in Christ's suffering for sin. The unquenchable fire is God's punishment that will ultimately destroy the soul and body of every unrepentant sinner, as they realize that sin separated them from God and brought His wrath.