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QUESTION 1:
In Matthew 5:29 it says, "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." What does this mean?

ANSWER:
Somebody has well said, "When a verse makes good sense, then seek no other sense lest it become nonsense." Would it make good sense to chop off your hand or pick out your eye? We must not take the words of the Lord to be literally carried out. You might pluck out your right eye, but your left one can still offend you. In Matthew 5:28, the Lord speaks of looking after a woman to lust after her and says that that person has already committed adultery in his heart. Now, He goes on to say in Matthew 5:29, if your looking at a woman to lust after her "CUT IT OUT" Not your eye, but the looking after her in that way. In other words, what you are watching that hurts you "cut it out." In the next verse He mentions the same thing about the hand. In other gospels He mentions the foot. What He is teaching is this; if what you look at (eye) or do (hand) or where you go (foot) is hindering you from being saved, then "cut it out."Better to do that then perish in hell." He is teaching that men should repent of what they are doing - that is harmful and sinful or they will perish. Luke 13:3. Regarding the "eye" David said, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." Psalms 101:3. Job said, "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" Job 31:1. Good advice from two of Gods old prophets.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen