Mark 9:47 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

It is better, &c.— From what has been said, Mark 9:42 our Saviour infers, that it is better to deny oneself the greatest earthly satisfactions, and to part with every thing most precious,—represented by the figures of a hand, a foot, an eye, than by these things to cause the weakest of his friends to stumble, as some of the disciples had lately done. The amputation of our hands and feet, and the plucking out of our eyes, when they cause us to offend, import also that we should deny ourselves such use of our members and senses as may lead us into sin. Thus the hand and the eye are to be turned away from those alluring objects which raise in us lust and ambition; the foot must be restrained from carrying us into evil company, unlawful diversions, and forbidden pleasures; nor can we complain of these injunctions as severe, since by tempting others to sin, as well as sinning ourselves, we are exposed to the eternal punishments of hell. See on Matthew 5:29. It is observable, that what is called the kingdom of God in this verse, is called life in those preceding; whence it appears, that this kingdom, and life, are the same.