The Life and Ministry of Jesus
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29–30
Jesus is telling us that anything that stands between us and him must be ruthlessly, even savagely, torn out or cut off and thrown away. Drastic measures are always appropriate in order to protect one’s spiritual health! Halfway measures will never do the job!
How this strikes against our desire to seek the middle road, to never be too extreme either way. But it is Christ’s advice, and some of us need to take some extreme measures today! 1
Personal Encouragement
The best action to take, is to focus on Him and not on your sin. To love Him more than you love your sin.
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:3–5
To take radical measures against personal sin, is radical living.
A Prayer
Lord, teach me how to cut off sinful habits from my life.
1. Hughes, R. K. (2001). The sermon on the mount: the message of the kingdom. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
