Cut Off the Source

Matthew 5:27-30

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

So if your eye—even your good eye - causes you to lust, 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 your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off 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.”

These are the words of Jesus Christ. In this segment, He is raising the standard of what had been previously taught. He didn’t change a principle, He just challenged the people to go a step further in the same principle. What used to be wrong was what could be seen from the outside, but now Jesus let us know that what is going on inside our heart can be just as wrong.

I can’t pretend to understand gouging out an eyeball or cutting off a hand Jack Bauer style. However, I do know that sometimes we are taught a principle in the Bible in an extreme way that we can actually apply in very normal way.

Jesus is telling us that if one area of our life is causing us to sin, then we need to cut it off! An eye is not a sin, a hand is not a sin, but Jesus said if they are causing us to sin – then cut it off!

There may be an area of our life that leads us directly into sin. The area may not be defined as sin itself, but we know that when we are in that arena sin is sure to follow. Jesus tells us that our soul is in danger of going to hell because of this and it’s just not worth it! Instead of lying to ourselves and saying, “Oh I’ll be fine - I can handle it”, why not just do the strong thing and cut it off?!

Jesus is not only asking us to be accountable for what everyone can see, but also for what only we and He can see. Is there a particular place that I go to that is not a sin to go there, but I know in my heart that if I keep going there sin is going to follow? Jesus is the best counselor in the entire world – even better than Dr. Phil ;-). If you could ask Jesus’s advice, He would tell you to cut it off – quit going there. Your spiritual condition is more important than you missing out with some friends.

Is there an electronic device you own that causes you to sin? Oh the device is not sinful and can have lots of great functions, but if it is causing you to sin, it’s not worth it. If you could ask Jesus what to do, He would tell you to cut it off – get rid of it completely or put accountability functions on it. He would tell you that your soul is more important than that electronic device.

Is there a friend that you would say is not a bad person and lots of people actually like him/her, but when you’re around him/her you really know that you are a person you are not proud of? You say and do things you know you would be embarrassed for those who love you to see. The friend is not a sin in themselves, but the more time you spend with them the harder it becomes for you to not sin. Jesus would gently but firmly tell you, “It’s time to cut it off”. The road you are going down with that person is not the road God has for you and your future is more important than that friendship. Going to heaven or hell for eternity is way more important than hurting someone’s feelings temporarily.

My husband told me about a teaching he recently heard, where the man said that if we really want to stop a particular sin then there is nothing that we won’t be willing to do to stop ourselves from committing that sin. We will go to whatever lengths necessary, get whoever we need to get involved to help us, and cut off whatever source is providing the opportunity for the sin.

Father God, please show me right now what area I need to cut off. I know that area may not be a sin, but honestly I know that it is leading me into sin and it’s not worth it. I am willing to cut off anything from my life that separates me from Your will for my life. Nothing I own and no relationship that I’ve developed is worth going to hell over or turning my back on You. You are more important and I’m willing to cut it off to experience more of You in my life.

#sin #temptation