What did Jesus mean when he said to gouge out your eye and throw it away because it would be better to lose an eye than to sin due to your eye?
Matthew 5:29
NIV - 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Singapore Moses
Supporter
Giving the reason why one should get rid of the offending member that may cause a moral fall and loss of the soul by some means.Would it not be more profitable to do this literally than to have all members cast into eternal hell? The whole idea is to get rid of offending members that constantly cause sin. (Mt 18:8-9) as Jesus is simply emphasizing the terribleness of eternal hell. There is a better method than this provided by the gospel. If one will become a new creature in Christ by the new birth this problem of sinful members will be solved (2Cor. 5:17-18 Gal. 5:16-26 Rom. 6:16-23; 8:1-13 1Jn. 1:7; 2:29; 3:6-10; 5:1-5,18).
Tim Maas
Supporter
Jesus was using such graphic and extreme language for emphasis in stressing to his listeners that any effort that we might have to make in order to avoid sin (regardless of how difficult or even painful that effort might be, or how much it might seem to cost us in earthly terms with respect to "missing out" on the temporal benefit or pleasure that disobeying God might bring us) is better than enduring the eternal separation from God that will result from committing unrepentant sin.
Kenneth Heck
Supporter
I believe at that time there was a general idea that evil spirits or demons could and did reside in particular parts of the body to influence men to sin through that part. By removing the offending part, the evil spirit would also be removed. This belief is ignored today, but hasn't been disproved. However, Christ removed demons through his authority as the Word of God, and the Christian practice of exorcism continues on even today. We have a much better remedy now than the Jews did back then for demonic possession.
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
In Matthew 5:29 Jesus is not talking in a literal sense - he is using a metaphor to teach an important lesson. It means that when we are tempted by what we see, we are much better-off to deprive ourselves of that particular brief moment of pleasure in favor of eternal life. If something is tempting us to sin, it is better to cut that thing entirely out of our view. In more practical terms, if something we see on TV or Internet makes us sin, until we get victory over that particular sin, we are better-off without a TV or Internet service. For David, would have been much better to go off to battle the enemy rather than going up to the roof of his palace and stare at Bathsheba bathing (2 Samuel 11:2-4). That one moment of lapse in judgment led to adultery and murder - although it appeared that David learned his lesson from this painful experience (Psalm 101:3). If someone would have asked David what he was doing on the roof, most likely would have said “nothing, just looking.” Jesus here is giving us practical advice on how to avoid situations that might result in habitual sinning (2 Peter 1:4).
Danny Hickman
Supporter
First, Jesus didn't say "it's better to lose an eye than to sin due to an eye." He said 'it would be better to enter life maimed than to lose your soul.' We don't lose our soul because we sin. We lose our soul when we don't confess our sin and ask forgiveness of the One who gave us our eye.His point is that our soul is our most important possession. I don't think any part of us compares to our eyes in our estimation. We don't use our soul the way we do our eyes, so He needed to be very dramatic to get us to understand. Also, our eyes won't last forever anyway, our soul does.
John Appelt
Supporter
Several times Jesus spoke about plucking out an eye or severing a hand or foot, Matthew 5:29-30, Mark 9:43-50, Matthew 18:2-10. It is assumed that Jesus meant that a person should take drastic measures to not sin or else end up in hell. However, it is clear that sin originates in the heart, Matthew 15:19, and that the eyes, hands, and feet are instruments that commit the sins. Also, Jesus said, “if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out...” as if the sin had already been committed. But these actions do not really stop temptations such as lusting. Jesus did not command people to actually do this, nor desire a society of many one-eyed, one-handed, one-footed mutilated people. So, clarity is needed to figure how to interpret what Jesus said. One person said that in order to know what Jesus was talking about, he would give his left arm! The main point is that these words of Jesus are not to be taken literally. They are presented in figurative language to teach something important. The frequency of metaphors and other figurative language when Jesus spoke should alert the readers of the possibility. One needs to look at the similar passage starting at Mark 9:42. The likelihood of this scenario actually happening is nil. A large millstone weighing tons would not be hung on his neck. It is a hyperbole, an exaggeration, purely hypothetical. The Lord is saying the sinner’s actions are so repulsive that this would be a suitable punishment. The audience would understand His point. So then, Mark 9:43-50 follows that flow of thought. The lead-in words, “it is better for you...,” or as in Matthew 5:29-30 “it is more profitable for you...,” open the door to contrasts. Jesus purposefully overstated in vivid images of mutilation and misery of hell fire, so that the listeners would not forget. If mutilation is not to be taken literally, then the rest of what Lord said is not to be considered literally either. To take it literally leads to confusion and false teaching. As these passages are addressed to believers some think Jesus said they can be cast into hell. But believers have eternal life which is promised to them when they believed in Jesus, John 3:16, 6:47. They will not ever be cast into the Lake of Fire. However, they will stand in judgment at the Judgment Seat of Christ and answer for the things they have done, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. If they prove faithful, they will enter into the rewards and experience of blessedness or joy during the future life, that is, when they “enter life,” Mark 9:43, 45. The fire and salt allusions at the end of the passage, Mark 9:49-50, may refer to this when the works are judged. The seasoning of fire removes the evil works. Some will be found pleasing as sacrifices “seasoned with salt.” Through distinctive, figurative language, Jesus emphasized how seriously believers should guard their actions, especially to not make others stumble.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
I think Jesus meant to convey to us that we all need to make a radical break with sin. I don't mind admitting, Jesus put His finger on my weakness. Lust. But after I got saved, I am learning that lust is a dead-end street. Only through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit can I overcome it. Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you…” Romans 8:13 – “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” That means don’t coddle it, excuse it, or let it hang around in your heart or habits. Pampering sin looks like: Justifying it (“It’s not that bad…”) Hiding it (“No one will know…”) And if left unchecked, it will kill you. James 1:15 "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." Flirting with it (“I’ll just go this far…”) Feeding it (“One more time won’t hurt…”) Sin or lust in this case is poison, not a pet. It will kill you if you don't kill it first. So starve it. --general ideas from chatgpt
Add your Answer
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.
- Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
- Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
- Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
- Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
- For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible