Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:29-30 (HCSB)
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!
Today’s Question: To what length would you go to avoid the temptation of sin?
Today’s Commentary:
The call of Jesus to follow Him is nothing short of radical living. The world we live in loves conformity, but Jesus offers transformation. One area that must be transformed is the mind. The mind will direct our other parts. When the enemy to our God is attacking, we must take radical steps to rid ourselves of sinful temptations.
Jesus must have again shocked the crowd on the side of the mountain when he described a gruesome scene. The mental picture of an eyeball removed from its socket or a hand detached from the arm may have raised more than eyebrows, including some listener’s previously consumed lunch. Did Jesus mean this literally? Obviously not, but He is using hyperbole to make a very serious point.
Puritan William Gurnall asked, “What lust is so sweet or profitable that is worth burning in hell for?” If you think that plucking out eyes and cutting off hands is horrible, these actions are nothing in comparison to the torment of hell. The consequences of sin are always greater than the momentary pleasure sinfulness produces.
As Jesus is instructing the crowd that lust is just as serious as adultery, He warns of the use of our eyes. We cannot control what our eyes see (for the most part), but we can decide what we will gaze upon. Lust goes far beyond sexual temptation to anything that can be an idol. We have the ability to lust after power, material items, money, and anything else that we make more important than God. Thomas Fuller warned, “Our eyes, when gazing on sinful objects, are out of their calling and God’s keeping.”
Many years ago, a young man came to me and confessed an addiction to pornography. After listening to his struggles, I prescribed one solution—get rid of his Internet connection. His avenue for lust was in his room alone with his computer. This first step would not be the total solution for this young man, but it was a radical first step.
We must replace our lustful desires (and we all have these) with fellowship with Christ. He is the source of real joy and satisfaction. Only the Holy Spirit can lead us away from sin and into the abundant life of following our Lord Jesus.
“Follow One, Lead Others” Principle #19: Disciples of Jesus recognize sinful desires and rely on the Holy Spirit to help them take radical steps to avoid temptations.
Today’s Prayer Point: Pray for those who are entrapped in the snare of sin. Pray that we would resist the Devil and so “no” to sin.
Shepherding Well 