Friday, February 19, 2010

5. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. (Mt 5:27-30)

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. (Mt 5:27-30)
Here Christ demands radical amputation. Whereas many apply these verses to a number of sins and situations I think it is important to remember that Christ starts out in the context of lust and adultery. Not that it doesn't apply to other situations but the severity of the problem of lust. It is not something to be flirted and trifled with but something to take as seriously as Christ did. Christ being completely human knew and understood the struggles of men and yet did not sin. Christ makes it clear that nothing is worth holding on to if it keeps you from a relationship with Him. Take radical actions if necessary to remove those things which are causing you to stumble.

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