6“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to jfall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.8So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of khell.
10“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
This passage can change your life. It sure change mine. Most people read this and assume Jesus doesn’t really mean you should cut off your arm or gouge out your eye, but I’m not so sure. Jesus is not prone to saying things he doesn’t mean. But what is he really saying?
We are called to be extreme about getting rid of sin our life. Get rid of source of your the temptation. This is especially true if you have an habitual sin. Don’t try to stare it down or fight it or be strong against the temptation. Get rid of the temptation. I know men who don’t have internet access because it tempts them to view pornography. Some men have the TV taken out of their rooms when they stay in a hotel. Ask any dietician and they will tell you that the best way to reduce your fat intake for example, is to not buy fatty foods. If they aren’t in your house, you are far less likely to eat them. Apply the same principle to getting sin out of your life. The more extreme you are willing to be about eradicating the source of temptation, the more likely you will avoid the sin.
Lord, show me my sins and Holy Spirit, give me the will and the energy to cut off and gouge out the source of my temptations. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*