“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For you should lose one of your members rather than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For you should lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.”
**Matthew 5:29-30**
**Meaning of the Passage:**
1. **A Call to Drastic Action:** Jesus's words are not meant to be taken literally; a person could still sin with the other eye or hand, or even in their mind. Instead, He uses this dramatic imagery to emphasize the need for a commitment to radical and sometimes painful change to overcome sin.
2. **Focus on the Heart:** This teaching highlights the idea that sin often begins in the mind and heart, represented by the eye (vision and thought) and the hand (action). It serves as a reminder to guard one's heart and the things one chooses to focus on to prevent sin from taking root.
3. **Prioritizing Eternal Life:** The central message is about valuing one's spiritual life and eternal salvation over physical comfort or material possessions. The consequences of sin are far greater than any temporary or physical sacrifice.
4. **Symbol of Sacrifice:** The passage teaches that believers must be willing to “cut off” or “pluck out” any part of their life—be it a relationship, habit, or desire—that leads them away from obedience to God.
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**From Google AI meaning of Bible verse, Matthew 5:29-30.
