Teaching about adultery: Matthew 5:28-29. Do you think he would be put away in some insane asylum for doing it, even though he insisted he followed religious scripture?
"But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye- even if it is your good eye-causes you to lust,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."
SERIOUS INQUIRIES PLEASE
2006-07-28 07:29:57 · 18 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thank you guys for taking the initiative here to answer. A lot of good responses!
2006-07-28 07:41:02 · update #1
SERIOUS INQUIRY. Great question. i do not beleive Jesus is speaking in a literal sense here. if he was and Christians really believed he was speaking literally, then we would have a lot more than a few radicals running around with no eyes. what Jesus is referring to is lust or sin in general is a very serious situation. he does not take it lightly and heaven and hell hang in the balance here. Illustrations: if you are tempted and giving way to lust on the internet with pornography or anything else, get rid of your computer or put some serious software blockers on there. if cable or HBO is causing to stumble and lust after women, cut the cord or get rid of your tv if you have to. Jesus is saying whatever you have to do, no matter what it is, it isn't worth spending an eternity in hell for.
hope this helped.
2006-07-28 07:41:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm sure he would be put into an insane asylum todays society being as it is with little tolerance or care of Christianity. And I would hope that the man would seek counseling before gouging his eye out. I would hope that he would take this scripture as the extreme version of what if that it is meant to be and not a literal direction to gouge out your eye for lusting after a woman.
2006-07-28 14:36:22 · answer #2 · answered by Stephy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that Christ was using an analogy here.
since when we die it won't be our bodies that get sent to heaven or hell, but our souls, i think that Christ is using the body as a metaphor for a person's spirit.
He is just saying that if any habits or actions are sinful or dangerous to our faith and spiritual well-being, then we should completely throw away those habits or stop those actions, so that we aren't in danger of falling back into sin permanently.
maybe some ppl would take this literally, but even though i do believe that every word of the Bible is true, i believe that God knew how to use metaphors and analogies as well as any author today does, and i don't think He meant us to take this passage literally.
also, there are many passages in the Bible that refer to our bodies as "temples of God," and tell us to treat them with care and respect.
besides, you don't necessarily have to be looking at someone to lust after them. what happens when he's gouged both his eyes out and lusts for a third time?
2006-07-28 14:40:24 · answer #3 · answered by star86 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep. Some people have.
A cult a few years bhack which believe the Halle-Bopp coment was the Second Coming actually had the males castrated because of a statement in the Bible which says that such is for those who can do it for the Kingdom of God.
2006-07-28 14:33:15 · answer #4 · answered by wiregrassfarmer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO! Please remember that Jesus used a lot of different styles to present His lessons. Hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) was widely used and understood by the culture of His time. That passage is a great illustration of hyperbole. The lesson is that Jesus understood the power of lust and how it could make one lose their focus on following God and not only embark on but remain on a steady path to hell. Most of all Jesus' message was about forgiveness and that even if we do lust we can be forgiven. It sounds radical I know, but we worship a radical God!
2006-07-28 14:37:50 · answer #5 · answered by imdmutt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, in order to understand the Bible! You MUST! Pray and meditate. Ask the Lord to open your heart, mind and soul to his word. To recieve of His word what he wants you to recieve. Any 10 people can read the same verses and come up with 10 different meanings! That's one reason for so many people being confused by the Holy Bible, Lack of seeking God's insight! Please don't be offended! I'm just pointing out the obvious!
2006-07-28 14:36:39 · answer #6 · answered by fsh3i1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The Bible was written in a different time with different attitudes. We no longer stone people and other things that have grown to be outdated.
Same with gouging out your eyes.
That would impact one's ability to earn a living and care for their family, would it not?
Isn't it better to learn from mistakes?
2006-07-28 14:34:59 · answer #7 · answered by Sir J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speaking figuratively......but, there are some religions who practice body mutilation in relation to thier religious beliefs.
That is why God offers forgiveness through His Son, Jesus. That way, you don't have to pull yourself apart because of sin, you come to God in repentance, and therefore are saved, body, soul, mind and spirit.
2006-07-28 14:36:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
American Christians are to soft and humanistic to follow the scripture literally. They just want another feel good experience.
2006-07-28 14:35:42 · answer #9 · answered by 自由思想家 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am religious, but I mean, isnt it normal for a man to be married or in a relationship and look at another lady and think she is beautiful?
2006-07-28 14:33:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋