Cut it Out

Matthew 5:29-30 “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into Hell.”
 
THIS is a radical scripture we all quickly put into our “memory verse” bank whether we want to or not. The imagery is extreme and draws us in to wonder, “Does Jesus really mean this?” For those who say, “I read the Bible literally.” are they missing the right eye and right hand? 
   In truth, we must read the Bible literally. That means we must know the Bible’s literal meanings come through many literary forms. The Bible’s poetry, parables, allegory, metaphor and illustrations from everyday life require understanding to help us know the LORD God’s meaning.
   The illustration for Jesus’ literal, radical message here comes from two things we do automatically: sin and use our right hand. Inherited from Adam, our nature is to sin. And the LORD God made us to predominantly use the right hand. At least 70% of the world are right-handed. The right eye symbolizes the “starting action” of the human’s right side. What we see causes us to reach with our right hand to retrieve the temptation. Jesus urges, even commands us to consider where sin begins, so we will stop to reject the sin. A surgeon cuts out the infected body part; you must remove sin’s disease. 
   This dramatic lesson also literally points to Hell’s torment. We can’t escape this. In mankind’s mind, Hell is seen as being uncomfortable or a place for the really bad people. But our unrepentant hearts will be judged into torment. Jesus literally draws a line. When it comes to an ultimate decision between sin and the kingdom of God, to gouge out an eye or cut off a hand is far better than Hell’s eternal agony.
   Jesus knows your true salvation requires drastic action. That’s why Jesus went to the cross. The cross’ suffering is God’s physical demonstration of cutting sin from your soul. When Jesus said you must take up your cross to be his disciple, he requires you submit to deny sin, so you will not deny Christ.
   Correctly see and do God’s righteousness among his people. Trust God’s Word to cut away sin. Yes, read this literally to know Jesus’ literal teaching is to stop right now!
 
Hebrews 4:11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.