"If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." -- Matthew 5:29-30
Is he really telling people to cut off their hands and pluck out their eyes? Was Jesus talking literally or was it a metaphor? If its a metaphor....a metaphor for what?
2007-07-20 18:46:11 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I interpret it as a metaphor that you should take extra measures to avoid evil. For example, if you are an alcoholic, keep away from other alcoholics, move to a dry county, or some other action. I take it as if we have a responsibility to do something about avoiding temptation rather than just saying we are victims of this problem or another.
2007-07-20 18:54:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a metaphore to illustrate how sever sin is and what to do to get rid of it in ones life.
The hands and the eyes and peoples thoughts are the way to enter into different sins.
Read the Bible, pray, fellowship with others you will never be sinless because you are human but you are reconciled with Christ when you accept him as savior and repent of your sins and believe on Jesus name.
Because of what Jesus did on the cross I am forgiven and I am restored this was a good question and be encouraged God has a plan for your life.
2007-07-21 01:52:31 · answer #2 · answered by encourager4God 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus always spoke in metaphors or parables. Very few people even realize that the description of hell being a lake of fire and brimstone is also a metaphor. As far as plucking the eye out, etc., he is referring to sin. It is better to eliminate all sin from your life, rather than to cling to your sins and regret it later.
2007-07-21 02:04:54 · answer #3 · answered by zxcv 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely a metaphor.
For example, if you look at porn, plucking out your eyes won't stop it, as you will still think about it.
What was meant is that if an action causes you to sin, stop the action and avoid anything that might tempt you to perform that action. Does porn make you sin? Stay away from it.
I hope this helps?
2007-07-21 01:57:39 · answer #4 · answered by Foxfire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. He is saying that if you think that there is a part of you that makes you offend God, then get rid of it.
Since most people know very well that blaming a body part for a fault is ludicrous, the matter must then be settled with the heart, mind, or spirit. And that's the point.
2007-07-21 02:03:14 · answer #5 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is saying to abstain from sins and whatever causes it. He may have been literal, as what He says is true, better to enter heaven lame then to be whole and cast into the lake of fire. I think He is saying that getting into Heaven is the most important thing of all, even more then our eyes, hand etc.
2007-07-21 01:53:29 · answer #6 · answered by RedKnight 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a metaphor, when the author is talking about body parts he/she means people in a group or organization. If you're right hand man betrays you, you should...exile, or execute, him depending on how you want to interpret the amputation.
It was written by feudalists after all.
2007-07-21 01:52:45 · answer #7 · answered by Derick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What He is saying is that it is better if you suffer by denying yourself the sensual pleasures of sin then it would be to suffer an eternity in hell because of them. If I had a problem with stealing and just couldn't seem to keep my hands off of things, it would cause me a certain level of suffering to bring that under control. Denying the flesh of anything causes the flesh to suffer. But that suffering is temporary compared to the suffering in hell which is eternal. So I can either deal with my issue of stealing now and allow God to help me overcome it, which will cause me to suffer temporarily, because the Bible says, They which suffer in the flesh have ceased from sin.....or I could just keep stealing and lose my soul and suffer eternally for it.
2007-07-21 02:03:55 · answer #8 · answered by gre9467 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Jesus was saying, is that if there is anything that will keep you from getting to Heaven, (i.e. accepting Him as your Savior) you need to get rid of it. Many people don't want to get rid of their sin (alcohol, drugs, pornography, stealing, lying, and so on) so they hold onto it and perish in the end. But if it came down to your own hand keeping you out of Heaven, wouldn't you get rid of it?
2007-07-21 01:57:05 · answer #9 · answered by Jonathan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How come Jesus doesn't say cut off the part of the body that is used for adultery?
2007-07-21 02:43:24 · answer #10 · answered by Wise@ss 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋