From the desk of Pastor Ben

Prevention of Stumbling

“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled to lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.”         (Matthew 18:8-9)

Jesus is obviously giving us a figurative statement here because no bodily part per se causes us to sin — and He would never advocate mutilation because that will not cleanse our hearts or prevent us from sinning. But Jesus is pointing the way, with graphic hyperbole, to deliverance from heart sin (Matthew 5:29-30). Plucking out an eye or severing a foot or hand would be useless. The remaining bodily member could simply carry on with the sinful action the discarded one had engaged in.

Our Lord’s point is that we should be willing, no matter how painful or extreme, to keep from sinning and to keep others from sinning. He implies that there is plenty of divinely provided grace available to overcome any temptation or sin. If any habit, situation, or relationship leads you to stumble, you should forsake it permanently. Even if the sacrifice causes “maiming” or “blinding” — socially, financially, professionally — that is infinitely preferable to entering the fires of hell forever.

Christ here gives believers a vivid encouragement to drastic action against sin. Only unbelievers are in danger of hell, but believers can’t miss the seriousness of this statement. To keep others from sin, we must protect ourselves from it as well. Paul affirmed, “I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27). If a believer is truly concerned that he not sin, he will also be prepared and eager to help others not stumble.

Ask Yourself:
The call to discipleship is indeed a radical one, and the path to victory cannot be considered a part-time job. What in your life needs a drastic shock to the system, a complete refusal to comply any longer?