Shanna Duck "Let a search be made in the royal archives..." Ezra 5:17 NIV

Today we modern Christians take sin very lightly, and at times even joke about it. Jesus didn't. He wasn't very politically correct, I'm afraid. In fact, He was very serious about sin. 

This verse is an example of Jesus using a figure of speech called hyperbole (extreme overstatement) in order to impress upon his audience the seriousness of sin and its consequences (eternal damnation.) Again, Jesus was NOT literally telling people to cut off their hands or pluck out their eyes. We know this because the Apostles did not teach or practice doing something so extreme. Jesus was trying to shock people- if that's the right term- with how seriously they should take sin. 

Of course, Jesus' message was intended to make even the most "religious" people realize that their "good works" would not earn them heaven. Jesus wanted them and us to humbly turn to HIM for forgiveness rather than trusting in self-righteousness. 

Yet at the same time, while we're saved by faith, we still need to realize that sin is in fact slavery and that, as Christians, our lifestyles should show some sort of change or difference from the World. We're also not to make any provision for our old, sinful nature. We might not literally cut off our right hand to prevent sin, but we might turn off a certain TV program, or a certain song, get rid of certain books, or even stop hanging around with a certain group of people.

April 24 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Doreen Lovell Evangelist and Prayer Intercessor

Matt. 5:29-30:- The statement of cutting off one's hand or plucking out one's eye should not be taken literally. Yeshua is teaching that one should recognize that sin comes from within the heart and mind, not from the physical organ; for example lust is from the heart not from the eyes. He is also saying it is better for one to be physically maimed than to go to hell forever. However; doing physical damage to one self does not guarantee entrance into heaven. Man MUST therefore, bring passions of the heart under the control of God.

April 24 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Marko SImurina

He means we need to deny ourselves for his sake and turn away from sin; even if that sin feels like something very important to us, even if it is that important to our carnal lives that it could be compared to the importance of a hand or our own eyes. 

It could be well compared to person addicted to pornography/masturbation or if you are alcoholic/drunkard, it will feel like end of the world to give up on these addictions to our flesh but it is better to crucify these sins/desires then to keep following sin and walk towards Hell. We need to remind ourselves that Jesus didnt go on the cross for nothing but for us so that through faith in him we can repent, turn away from sin and walk towards life which is Jesus Christ

February 18 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report