Matthew 5:29

Wednesday, 4 December 2024

 

If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29

 

And if your eye, the right, it entraps you, it – pluck it – and it cast from you. For it conduces you that one of your members, it should perish, and not all your body, it should be cast into Gehenna (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus indicated that the sin of adultery lay not in the act but in the intent behind the act. Looking at a woman lustfully means that one has already committed adultery. Next, He says, “And if your eye, the right, it entraps you.”

 

Here is the first use of skandalizó in the New Testament. One can immediately see the etymological root of the word scandalize. The literal meaning is to fall into a trap. As such, it signifies to cause to stumble, give offense, etc. It is where right conduct or thinking is hindered.

 

Jesus is saying that if one’s right eye causes him to fall into such a trap, “it – pluck it – and it cast from you.” The thought is based on the words of the previous verse. What caused a person to lust after a woman and thus commit adultery? It was seeing her and then mentally dwelling on what was seen.

 

If the person didn’t see her, he would not have then begun the process of dwelling on her, lusting after her, and then committing the act with her. Jesus says in such a case that the person should pluck the right eye out. He uses another new word, exaireó. It is derived from ek, out, and haireó, to take for oneself, as in choosing. Thus, he is to completely remove it, meaning plucking it out.

 

The general consensus is that because of the obvious severity of the act, the words are not to be taken literally, although, throughout history, there have been instances of people doing just this. The problem with that, however, is that the act has already taken place. If one is to pluck out his eye because it scandalized him, he has already been scandalized. The sin has been committed and the act of plucking out the eye doesn’t atone for the act of adultery.

 

As such, and because pretty much everyone would eventually be walking around blind, the words should be taken as a testament to the severity of sin that is found in the heart of man. That is seen in the next words. Jesus says, “For it conduces you that one of your members, it should perish.”

 

Again, another new word is found here, sumphero. It is a word etymologically connected with our modern word “symphony.” Its roots signify “together with” and “to bring.” Thus, there is a bringing together in a way that results in profit or gain, as would be the case with a symphony bringing about a great and resounding sound for an audience.

 

As such, the word is often translated as profitable, better, etc. A single word that most closely identifies the meaning is conduce which is an act that leads or tends to a particular and often desirable result. In other words, Jesus is saying that not having a right eye is better than the alternative.

 

The right eye is identified by the Greek word melos, a bodily organ or a member. It is not the whole but a part of the whole. A missing part is better than a destroyed whole, as is next explained, “and not all your body, it should be cast into Gehenna.”

 

Jesus is saying that there is a problem that exists, and it is one that must be addressed or it can lead to eternal consequences. Therefore, it is something that must be considered and acted upon.

 

Life application: Under the law, when a man sinned, such as committing adultery as David did, there had to be restitution made for the sin. The law demanded that adulterers be dealt with through the death penalty, but the law was not always carried out. In David’s case (and Bathsheba who was equally guilty), the penalty for adultery was not executed.

 

However, David says this in Psalm 51, a psalm about his guilt –

 

“For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:16, 17

 

David didn’t pluck out his right eye, but the same force that was behind his adultery and murder was also behind the words he expresses in the Psalm. His heart got him in trouble and it is his heart that was penitent for the actions that he took.

 

He reconsidered his ways, was broken in his being, turning to God for mercy. When someone comes to Jesus through the gospel, what is happening? He is acknowledging that he is a sinner. Christ Jesus can’t die for sins in a person who has never sinned. Thus, the point is that there is a reconsideration of one’s state before God. “I am condemned because of sin in my life. Jesus died for my sins. I accept the payment and believe by faith that it is true.”

 

This is the good news. Sin is no longer imputed to those who come to Christ. We have all fallen short in our lives and actions, but Jesus can bring us up to the proper standard when we face an infinitely holy Creator, meaning perfection. This is not our own perfection, but His. This is what we need. Call on Jesus and be reconciled to God. Your reconsideration about things will make an eternity of difference.

 

Lord God, we can see from Jesus’ w ords to those under the law the severity of our actions before You. Thank You that we are not burdened by such law when we come to Christ. Instead, we are granted His perfect righteousness. How great and wonderful this is. Thank You for the release from sin we have because of Him. Amen.