Matthew 18:8,9
“And if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or without a foot, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.”
I used to be uncomfortable with this verse. What made me feel better is that Jesus wasn’t being literal. He didn’t want people cutting of limbs or gouge out eyes. It was almost like Abraham sacrificing his son. He doesn’t want that.
He is making a comparison. He’s is saying to do all it would take to become a christian. If anything gets in the way, then that’s a problem. That person is elevating the issue to idol status. An idol is anything that’s gets in the way of worshipping God. It’s not just a statue that one prays to.
In my early christian days I had some idols. One was secular music and the other was a convertible Mustang. I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me of my overemphasis on them. I swore off the Mustang. With secular music at times I turn it off. In hindsight I don’t thing God wanted me to not get the Mustang, just not now. That was my immaturity.
I didnt understand God’s lordship. We are to do what He wants. It scared me. I thought any pleasure that I had were to be sacrificed. Not true. One of the scriptures that helped was, 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.” I was removing all pleasurable things. God didin’t want that. He wants us to gladly give things up. If not, then it might not be something He wants us to give up. That is as long as it’s consistent with the bible.
How do we understand the difference between something the Holy Spirit forbids and the things my conscience tells me to give up? The latter is more condemnation than conviction. Condemnation drives one from God. Shame is present. I would pause this and pray about it. God am I to give this up? We can also tell as giving from the flesh is under regret or compulsion.
What usually comes under the category of what to do and what not to do? God gave us the bible to tell us about this. For example the Ten Commandments are still present. What’s been done away with is the priestly sacrifices for sin. The bible also lays out some clear positions or practices to do or not do.
If it’s not in the bible, then it may be a gray area. We deal with these as was suggested earlier that is to walk slowly and pray earnestly.
Now that we’ve got those distinctions made, let’s get back to today’s passage. We are talking about things we are to pause or eliminate. If not, then this thing is determining our eternal salvation. By comparison it would be better if the thing is completely eliminated. Yes, this would cause some burdens. God helps us.
We cling to things that harm us, addictions, poor relationships and so on. Jesus wants to free us from them. They are chains that bind and imprison us. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.” He wants to take away our pain. It’s a blessing.
Thank You, Lord, that you want to set us free. Help us to comply with You. Even if it feels like taking a big part of us away.
