Matthew 5:29

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And {G1161} if {G1487} thy {G4675} right {G1188} eye {G3788} offend {G4624} thee {G4571}, pluck {G1807} it {G846} out {G1807}, and {G2532} cast {G906} it from {G575} thee {G4675}: for {G1063} it is profitable {G4851} for thee {G4671} that {G2443} one {G1520} of thy {G4675} members {G3196} should perish {G622}, and {G2532} not {G3361} that thy {G4675} whole {G3650} body {G4983} should be cast {G906} into {G1519} hell {G1067}.

If your right eye makes you sin, gouge it out and throw it away! Better that you should lose one part of you than have your whole body thrown into Gei-Hinnom.

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.

And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.

Commentary

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, specifically within His exposition on the true meaning of the Law, contrasting external obedience with internal righteousness. Following His teaching on anger and murder, and immediately after addressing lust and adultery in Matthew 5:28, Jesus uses vivid, hyperbolic language to emphasize the extreme measures required to avoid sin and its eternal consequences.

Key Themes

  • Radical Discipleship: Jesus calls for a level of commitment that involves willingness to sacrifice anything that hinders one's relationship with God or leads to sin.
  • Seriousness of Sin: The verse underscores the destructive power of sin and the grave danger it poses to one's soul.
  • Severity of Judgment: The reference to being "cast into hell" highlights the eternal consequences of unrepented or unrestrained sin.
  • Avoiding Temptation: It speaks to the need to identify and eliminate sources of temptation in one's life, even if they seem valuable or integral.

Linguistic Insights

The key word translated "offend" in the King James Version is the Greek word skandalizo (σκανδαλίζω). It literally means to "put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may stumble or fall." In a moral sense, it means "to entice to sin," "to cause to stumble," or "to shock." Jesus is not advocating for physical self-mutilation. The language is a powerful hyperbole, a deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis, illustrating the absolute necessity of taking drastic action against anything that causes spiritual stumbling and leads towards eternal destruction.

Connections and Cross-References

This teaching is paralleled in Matthew 18:8-9 and Mark 9:43-47, where Jesus gives similar warnings about the hand, foot, and eye causing one to stumble, emphasizing that it is better to enter life maimed than to have one's whole body cast into hell fire. The concept of sacrificing earthly things to gain eternal life is a recurring theme in Jesus' teaching, such as giving up possessions or relationships for the sake of the kingdom (e.g., Matthew 19:29). The stark warning about hell aligns with other passages describing the eternal separation from God (e.g., Matthew 25:41).

Practical Application

For believers today, this verse serves as a vivid reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for decisive action against temptation. It calls us to honestly examine our lives and identify potential "stumbling blocks" – whether they are habits, relationships, media consumption, or thought patterns – that lead us into sin. The "plucking out" or "cutting off" is not literal but represents the willingness to make painful sacrifices or set strict boundaries to protect our spiritual lives and ensure we do not forfeit eternal salvation. It encourages vigilance and radical self-control in pursuing holiness, understanding that the temporary discomfort of removing a source of temptation is infinitely preferable to eternal consequences.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 9:43 (22 votes)

    And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

  • Mark 9:48 (22 votes)

    Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

  • Romans 8:13 (19 votes)

    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

  • Colossians 3:5 (17 votes)

    ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

  • 1 Peter 4:1 (14 votes)

    ¶ Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

  • 1 Peter 4:3 (14 votes)

    For the time past of [our] life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

  • Galatians 5:24 (12 votes)

    And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.