Did anyone read Matthew 18:7-9, in the Bible?

Question

Why does Jesus want you to cut off your hands and feets and poke out your eye, in you sin with them?

Answer 1

I think it just means...it is better to get into Heaven with one hand or whatever than it is to keep sinning and die and go to Hell....

Answer 2

The one who thought that he had been sinned against was to take the first step. He was to discuss matters with the offender in private. By not trying to muster support for his side of the picture, he would surely be more likely to gain his brother, especially if there had been only a misunderstanding that could be cleared up quickly. Everything would be settled more easily if those directly involved were the only ones who knew about the matter.

These could very well be firsthand witnesses. Perhaps they had heard one of the individuals slander the other, or maybe those taken along had been witnesses to a written agreement about which the two parties now disagree. On the other hand, those taken along could become witnesses when any elements, such as written or oral testimonies, are developed to establish the reason for the problem. Here again, only the smallest number possible—“one or two more”—should know about the matter. This would prevent things from getting worse if the matter was only a misunderstanding.

If the matter could not be settled, it was to be taken to the congregation. Initially, this meant the elders of the Jews but later, the elders of the Christian congregation. The unrepentant wrongdoer may have to be expelled from the congregation. That is what is meant by considering him “just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector,” individuals from whom the Jews kept their distance. This serious measure could not be taken by any Christian individually. The appointed elders, who represent the congregation, are the only ones authorized to take such action.—Compare 1 Corinthians 5:13.

Answer 3

Some religions goes with it literally. Pickpockets, thieves and robbers in Arab countries are cutting off the hands of those offenders. And if the crime is really great like murder, In Saudi Arabia, the head is ceremonially chopped off and witnesses are even clapping their hands after that. One thing that made me wonder why Saddam Hussein was hanged instead of the head cut since his crimes were found to be mass murder.
I think for Jesus it is just a matter of a wishful and romantic thinking of facing your God with a clear concsience when time comes. It is just like "I'd rather be dead than live without the one I love." a saying that only few have really done.

Answer 4

As an illustration of how much GOD hates sin, if you read through the old testament you will see many examples of GOD in his law about killing people if they do real bad things.

You can also read in Acts where a man and his wife were killed by GOD because they lied about the money that they were giving to the apostles.

We need to understand just how Just GOD is, and even a "little sin", like a white lie, is something that GOD hates, and will prevent us from getting into Heaven.

You might ask "Then how can we get to Heaven?" The only way is by the sacrifice of Jesus, and GOD's grace to us, there is nothing we can do to get us into Heaven.

You might ask "But why would a GOD of love condemn us for a small sin?" The proper way to look at this is to say "GOD loves us so much that he sent His son to die for us"

Hope that helps :)

Answer 5

A Christian's potential is so fabulous that he must do whatever he can to ensure it. No matter how important they are to us, we must abandon any worldly attachments, friendships, and employments that will lead us into sin, or we will receive eternal judgment. Of course, Jesus' illustrations of cutting off a limb or plucking out an eye are not literal, but He wants us to understand the stakes. It is far better to attain to eternal life without enjoying the pleasures of sin than to enjoy them here in this life and be lost. Thus, Jesus emphasizes that we must remove temptation and avoid sin at all costs

God Bless You

Answer 6

Jesus isn't saying that He WANTS us to do that.

He is saying that if those parts cause us to sin, so that we will be burned up in the lake of fire with satan and the wicked angels, then we should want to choose to cut those parts off to get that sin out of our life, so we can have eternal life instead.

Life is a series of trade-offs. We trade our time at work in order to get money to buy stuff. We trade away our independance and freedom so we can have a SO to spend our time with, instead of spending life alone. We trade away some of our freedoms and rights in today's society so we can feel safer.

If we had an inkling of what God has in store for us in the NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH, then we would want to trade away ANYTHING that stands between us and eternal life.

Answer 7

Jesus is warning those who would offend one of His little ones that believe in Him. I would not want to be in the priest's shoes who stands in front of Jesus and explains molesting a child in church to Almighty God. He is saying cut off your hands, feet or pluck out your eye if they make you offend His littles ones because it is better to do this than cause His little ones to question why God let the priest do it.

Answer 8

It is a figurative speech. It is not to be taken LITERALLY

For example, using illustrative language, Jesus referred to the power of visual temptation and said: “If, now, that right eye of yours is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. For it is more beneficial to you for one of your members to be lost to you than for your whole body to be pitched into Gehenna.” (Matthew 5:29) This mean not literally but in a sense he is telling us that the eye must be restrained from concentrating on improper sights. For example, it must not be allowed to dwell on material that is designed to excite or arouse illicit passions and desires that can lead to sin. It’s the same with the hand. If you are always stealing, well, you better restrain your hand from stealing. He didn’t mean for you to cut your hand!

Answer 9

Can you get into Heaven on your own? I think Jesus was illustrating what would be required to avoid Hell. Good luck, no one comes to the Father but through the Son.

Answer 10

In these verses Jesus speaks and warns of leading one of his "little ones" astray (his disciples or followers).who are in need of God's help because of persecution

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

In Jewish perseption avidity is manifested in hands and feet. Cutting of hands and feet was punishment in jewish law

8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

so if someone tries to lead a christian away from his believe, Jesus warns them of the eternal fire.

Answer 11

I read it. It struck me as a bit extreme. My major question is, suppose you sin with both hands, how will you cut them both off? One is doable, but both?