“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 be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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.” Matthew 5:29-30
My Summary & Reflection
In this metaphor, Jesus tells us that the good of our soul is more important than any desires of the flesh. If, as in the first example, your temptations come from something that you can see with the eye, then Jesus is saying to remove that sight from your eye. Similarly, if your temptations come from something that you can feel in your hand, then Jesus is saying to remove that feeling from your hand. As in all the prior examples, Jesus is speaking metaphorically.
I believe that Jesus is saying to remove yourself physically from that which tempts you. We are all tempted into sinfulness by different things. What tempts you, may not tempt me and vice versa. We have to know ourselves and know what it is that may cause us to stray from the path that God has for us. You need to know how to remove yourself from any situation where you feel temptation.
There’s this television show that documents the journey of people who have become morbidly obese from an addiction to food and want to be delivered from that addiction. In an effort to remove themselves from temptation, they literally have part of their stomachs removed. But even then, it is only after a commitment to change their lives that this option is given to them. And even after this drastic physical change, they are only successful if they maintain that commitment for their lifetimes.
So, whatever it is that tempts you, remove yourself from it. Whether it be a friend request or message from an old flame if you are tempted into adultery, places that sell illegal narcotics if you are tempted by narcotics, bars if you are tempted by excessive alcohol consumption, stores if you are tempted to steal or excessively shop, et cetera. If you know that when you hang out with certain people, that bad things happen, then don’t hang out with those people. Cut those people from your life. When you commit to the journey that God has for you, not everyone or everything that you had before will come with you. Many people and many things from your former life will be left behind. Don’t allow yourself to be swept up by what you can see with your eyes, feel with your hands, taste with your tongue, hear with your ears, or smell with your nose. These things are all temporary. It is your soul that is eternal. Don’t allow your senses to lead you into temptation.
Your Reflection
- Do you know the sources of your temptation?
- How do you remove yourself from that temptation before falling prey to it?
- In what situations are you more likely to sin? What can you do to avoid those situations?