“And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
It’s amazing what we are willing to give up when we greatly value something. When we greatly value work, we sacrifice vacations, family time, rest, mental health, and more. When we value a relationship, we tell others “no” to engagements and invitations that take our time. We tell ourselves “no” to other relationships. We sacrifice a lot for the things we value.
Do we value the life that is to come enough to sacrifice for it? Do we value closeness to God enough to sacrifice and avoid temptation? Jesus certainly does not recommend that we physically maim ourselves. He is suggesting, however, that we take whatever steps necessary to avoid sinning.*
Through this passage, taken out of context, we can conclude that Jesus values following the rules above all else. We can decide that Jesus would give up anything to follow the rules. We can decide that to please Him we too must do everything right.
I believed that for a large portion of my life. I believed that to please God I had to do everything right. I would punish myself with negative self talk and self-loathing for messing up. I valued following the rules above all else. Perhaps Jesus intended something more.
Why would Jesus want us to avoid sin at any cost? It’s simple: sin separates us from Him. Jesus is very passionate about relationship with us. The invitation is to be equally passionate. Jesus was so passionate about relationship with us that He gave up everything even to the point of death on a cross.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to give up something to remove what may stand in the way of you and Him. Perhaps today God is inviting you to take a big step to remove sin from your life. Maybe today God wants you to remember your love for Him and value your relationship with Him above all else.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 462–464, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 18:8–9) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).