MATTHEW 5 CUT OFF ANYTHING THAT CAUSES SIN

Описание: January 26
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MATTHEW 5
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 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 your members than that your whole body go into hell.
– Matthew 5:27-30
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MATTHEW 5 CUT OFF ANYTHING THAT CAUSES SIN
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If you believe in God, you will do anything to please him
You will let go of the desires and the cravings of the flesh
No longer will you feed your lusts but starve it instead
Lose anything that will cause you to sin and renew your mind
Make every thought captive into the obedience of Jesus
Whatever it is that makes you tempted to sin, cut it off
Don’t let your whole body be corrupted by any part of it
Do not give in to the worldly systems but walk by the Spirit.
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In this account of Matthew, Jesus expounds on the requirements that was needed to be met by those disciples who want to follow him. He just finished giving the sermon on the mount prior to these verses. The theme of the verses is “cutting off” any source of sin. “Nip it in the bud” is an expression that means exactly what Jesus is saying here. It means to put a quick end to something before it grows. The term originated in the garden. When a flower or a leaf has a problem, gardeners are told to nip it in the bud before the disease or ailment of the plant spreads throughout the whole plant. Just like our whole spiritual self is that plant, we need to cut off anything that would contaminate and corrupt our whole being.
Jesus uses some examples of the law and in verse 27, he points out adultery. He expounds on verse 28 as the beginning phase of sin when they are lusting for someone as they look at that object of desire. Jesus explains that it is the same as having the physical act of unfaithfulness done just by lusting with the eyes. The source of it is wanting to gratify the desire of the flesh, wanting to covet that which one does not possess. It is a sin of covetousness which is the last commandment. It is also a sin of stealing someone else’s possession. Looking at someone with lust is a form of stealing because the person wasn’t given the option to be used as an object of someone else’s desire. It was taken from them without their knowledge. Verses 29-30 is not a literal advice to follow. It doesn’t mean to cut your body parts that sins but it means that we should “nip it in the bud” before sin spreads and lead to more sins until it reaches a point of no return. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit so if we don’t walk in the Spirit, we will be in bondage to sin and it can lead to many other sins.
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REFLECTION
• Share some insights as to the aftermath of sins when we don’t nip it in the bud.