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Matthew 5:29-30 : The ayes came in handy, if not plucked out
1. Matthew 18
2. Matthew 5:29
KJV: And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Greek: ει δε ο οφθαλμος σου ο δεξιος σκανδαλιζει σε εξελε αυτον και βαλε απο σου συμφερει γαρ σοι ινα αποληται εν των μελων σου και μη ολον το σωμα σου βληθη εις γεενναν
3. Matthew 5:30
KJV: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Greek: και ει η δεξια σου χειρ σκανδαλιζει σε εκκοψον αυτην και βαλε απο σου συμφερει γαρ σοι ινα αποληται εν των μελων σου και μη ολον το σωμα σου βληθη εις γεενναν απελθη
4. Matthew 18:6
KJV: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Greek: ος δ αν σκανδαλιση ενα των μικρων τουτων των πιστευοντων εις εμε συμφερει αυτω ινα κρεμασθη μυλος ονικος επι περι τον τραχηλον αυτου και καταποντισθη εν τω πελαγει της θαλασσης
5. Matthew 18:7
KJV: Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Greek: ουαι τω κοσμω απο των σκανδαλων αναγκη γαρ εστιν ελθειν τα σκανδαλα πλην ουαι τω ανθρωπω εκεινω δι ου το σκανδαλον ερχεται
6. Matthew 18:8
KJV: Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Greek: ει δε η χειρ σου η ο πους σου σκανδαλιζει σε εκκοψον αυτα αυτον και βαλε απο σου καλον σοι εστιν εισελθειν εις την ζωην χωλον η κυλλον η χωλον η δυο χειρας η δυο ποδας εχοντα βληθηναι εις το πυρ το αιωνιον
Latin: si autem manus tua vel pes tuus scandalizat te abscide eum et proice abs te bonum tibi est ad vitam ingredi debilem vel clodum quam duas manus vel duos pedes habentem mitti in ignem aeternum
Wycliffe: And if thin hoond or thi foot sclaundreth thee, kitte it of, and caste awei fro thee. It is betere to thee to entre to lijf feble, ethir crokid, than hauynge tweyne hoondis or twey feet to be sent in to euerlastynge fier.
Tyndale: Wherfore yf thy honde or thy fote offende the cut him of and cast him from the. It ys better for the to enter into lyfe halt or maymed rather then thou shuldest havinge two hondes or two fete be cast into everlasting fyre.
7. Matthew 18:9
KJV: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Greek: και ει ο οφθαλμος σου σκανδαλιζει σε εξελε αυτον και βαλε απο σου καλον σοι εστιν μονοφθαλμον εις την ζωην εισελθειν η δυο οφθαλμους εχοντα βληθηναι εις την γεενναν του πυρος
Latin: et si oculus tuus scandalizat te erue eum et proice abs te bonum tibi est unoculum in vitam intrare quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis
Wycliffe: And if thin iye sclaundre thee, pulle it out, and caste awei fro thee. It is betere to thee with oon iye to entre in to lijf, thanne hauynge tweyn iyen to be sent in to the fier of helle.
Tyndale: And yf also thyne eye offende the plucke him oute and caste him from the. It is better for the to enter into lyfe with one eye then havyng two eyes to be cast into hell fyre.
8. Matthew 18:10
KJV: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Greek: ορατε μη καταφρονησητε ενος των μικρων τουτων λεγω γαρ υμιν οτι οι αγγελοι αυτων εν ουρανοις δια παντος βλεπουσιν το προσωπον του πατρος μου του εν ουρανοις
9. Matthew 5:29-30 : The ayes came in handy, if not plucked out
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. [kjv]
Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [kjv]
ει δε ο οφθαλμος σου ο δεξιος σκανδαλιζει σε εξελε αυτον και βαλε απο σου συμφερει γαρ σοι ινα αποληται εν των μελων σου και μη ολον το σωμα σου βληθη εις γεενναν [gnt]
18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. [kjv]
και ει ο οφθαλμος σου σκανδαλιζει σε εξελε αυτον και βαλε απο σου καλον σοι εστιν μονοφθαλμον εις την ζωην εισελθειν η δυο οφθαλμους εχοντα βληθηναι εις την γεενναν του πυρος [gnt]
The verse pairs in
Matthew 5:29-30 and
18:8-9 are very similar in that they talk about
plucking out eyes as members of the body and cutting off
hands and
feet rather than being cast into hell or everlasting fire. Are we "
better together"? Is there "
strength in numbers"?
Matthew 5: "eye", "hand" ("right" only, just "disciples")
Matthew 18: "eye", "hand", "foot" (no restriction to "right", entire "church")
This similarity appears to connect the two passages but there are some differences. Understanding one pair may help in understanding the other pair.
Paul in
1 Corinthians 12 talks of eyes as members of the body of the church. Is there a connection to the verses in Matthew?
10. Aye the Ides of March
The English word
"aye" comes from the idea of "
ever" or "
always" as opposed to "
nay" which comes from the idea of "
not" or "
no".
This is different from the "
Ides of March" which is often associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC.
The Latin word
"Idus Martiae" ≈ "Ides of March" was on March 15, eight days after the "
nones", where March is named for the god of War. The Latin word
"idus" ≈ "divide" from an Etruscan verb.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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11. Randy Travis
When some people hear "
amen" or "
forever and ever, amen" they think of the song by the same name written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz and made popular by the March 1987 recording by country music artist Randy Travis.
a [amen, verily, truly, verily-verily, truly-truly]
12. No monkey business
The
aye-aye is a long-fingered lemur (not a monkey) found in Madagascar. It has rodent-like teeth that never stop growing (that's the tooth) and a special thin middle finger.
Captain to sailor: Name a species of lemur.
Sailor: Aye-aye captain.
13. Apple of the eye
Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, [kjv]
φυλαξον με ως κοραν οφθαλμου εν σκεπη των πτερυγων σου σκεπασεις με [lxx]
The "
eye" is a "
chamber" into which
"light" enters and is recognized by the "
brain" as something - such as an object. The eye is a "
sensor", in contrast to a "
transducer".
In Greek, the word for
"eye" is, literally, an "
opening" into a "
chamber" (heart, brain, etc.) and is the source of the English word
"ophthalmologist".
The ancient Greek word
"ὀφθαλμός" ≈ "eye" and appears to come from two Greek words.
"ὀπή" ≈ "opening, hole, hollow" and is from the same root as the ancient Greek word "ὄμμα" ≈ "eye" often in a poetic sense.
"θάλαμος" ≈ "chamber, room".
119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. [kjv]
… עיני … [he]
αποκαλυψον τους οφθαλμους μου και κατανοησω τα θαυμασια σου εκ του νομου σου [lxx]
The hymn "
Open my eyes that I may see" was based on Psalms 119:18. Additional verses cover the "
ears", "
mouth" and "
mind".
It was written in 1895 by
Clara Scott (American composer) . Growing up on a farm in the mid-west, the family moved to Chicago. She was the first woman to publish a volume of anthems. In 1897, returning from a funeral with some friends, she was thrown from her carriage and died instantly from the accident at age 55.
14. Apples
Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, [kjv]
φυλαξον με ως κοραν οφθαλμου εν σκεπη των πτερυγων σου σκεπασεις με [lxx]
Our visual senses start with how light comes into the eye. In Bible times, the "
pupil" was known as the "
apple of the eye".
The Hebrew for "
apple of the eye" means a little man/girl as reflected in the pupil of the eye. Eye is "
עַיִן". Girl is "
בת".
15. Background
Before looking at the verses, let us do some background on the hand, eye, foot, etc.
The hand is used to acquire and manipulate things that may or may not be needed.
The eye is used to sense the external environment and, sometimes, to flirt using non-verbal communication with others.
The foot is used to go places and transport things, including self.
16. Sensors and transducers
The eyes and ears are sensors that sense the external environment. Eyes can "flirt" which is a brain to brain interaction.
The hands and feet are transducers that both receive sensory input and can be used to do things.
Here we will concentrate mostly on the "
eye". So "
open your eyes" so "
you can see".
17. Song: Open my eyes that I may see
Psalms 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. [kjv]
… עיני … [he]
αποκαλυψον τους οφθαλμους μου και κατανοησω τα θαυμασια σου εκ του νομου σου [lxx]
The hymn "
Open my eyes that I may see" was based on Psalms 119:18. Additional verses cover the "
ears", "
mouth" and "
mind".
It was written in 1895 by
Clara Scott (American composer) . Growing up on a farm in the mid-west, the family moved to Chicago. She was the first woman to publish a volume of anthems. In 1897, returning from a funeral with some friends, she was thrown from her carriage and died instantly from the accident at age 55.
18. Verse 1
Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
19. Verses
Let us now look at the somewhat similar verses in Matthew 5 and Matthew 18 that deal with the "
hand", "
eye" and "
foot". Here we will concentrate mostly on the "
eye".
Keep in mind that the "
offend" meant to set a snare or trap, later a "
stumbling block" and not the modern English definition of "
offend". The Greek word become the English word
"scandal", again with meaning changes over time.
20. Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend
The ancient Greek word
"σκάνδαλον" ≈ "trap, snare" as in
entice,
tempt, etc. Jesus is speaking in Matthew 11:6.
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
και μακαριος εστιν ος αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]
The Greek word
"blessed" here means
"happy". The
"offended" means
"entrapped" as in being
"tricked" or
"deceived". Or is it? How could someone be
"deceived" by Jesus? How could someone be "
deceived" by themselves or someone else about what Jesus really means?
A simple
idiom as
"misinterpret" may explain this and other verses in the
GNT (Greek New Testament).
21. Eight-way pun
Here is a pun I created in the late 1980's. It has
3 words that can each have
2 meanings.
Would you take offense to a roaming shepherd?
Would you take offense to a Roman shepherd?
Would you take a fence to a roaming shepherd?
Would you take a fence to a Roman shepherd?
Would a Jew take offense to a roaming shepherd?
Would a Jew take offense to a Roman shepherd?
Would a Jew take a fence to a roaming shepherd?
Would a Jew take a fence to a Roman shepherd?
As with puns of this type, one needs to slide the pronunciation to between the two choices at each point to achieve a better effect.
22. Matthew 5:29-30 Members
23. Matthew 18:8-9 Members
24. For your eyes only
For brevity, one can look at the "
eye" and leave the "
hand" and "
foot" for later, a "
feat" that is "
handy".
Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [kjv]
ει δε ο οφθαλμος σου ο δεξιος σκανδαλιζει σε εξελε αυτον και βαλε απο σου συμφερει γαρ σοι ινα αποληται εν των μελων σου και μη ολον το σωμα σου βληθη εις γεενναν [gnt]
18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. [kjv]
και ει ο οφθαλμος σου σκανδαλιζει σε εξελε αυτον και βαλε απο σου καλον σοι εστιν μονοφθαλμον εις την ζωην εισελθειν η δυο οφθαλμους εχοντα βληθηναι εις την γεενναν του πυρος [gnt]
25. Body, members and life
Matthew 5: The body here appears to refer to the physical person but the eye appears to refer to an external entity that tempts or ensnares the individual.
Matthew 18: The life here appears to be the life of the church and the body of the church (e.g., a kingdom of heaven on earth) is better without members of the body that are tempting or ensnaring others in the group
26. Literal or figurative
Should one literally pluck out their eye and cast it away? Do I have you "
hooked" on something that seems "
fishy"?
The Greek word is the word for "
cast out" and is often used for the casting out of
demons.
Should one figuratively (in the mind) keep that which would tempt one into sin from getting into the eye? Let us investigate.
27. Eye build
1 Eye cutout 1
2 Eye cutout 2
3 Eye cutout 3
One can still think without the eyes.
Blind people see with brains though touch. Deaf people, like Beethoven late in life, can hear with their brains.
In a dream, one sees things that can appear real, but the eye is not being used (though there may be eye movement).
28. Eyes: step 1
Suppose one is living in sin and suppose it is because of the "
right eye". One can "
pluck it out" or "
cast it out".
29. Eyes: step 2
Is it getting any better? One can still see with the "
left eye". Suppose one continues living in sin and suppose it is now because of the "
left eye". One can "
pluck it out" or "
cast it out".
30. Eyes: step 3
Is it getting any better?
One should now be happy, but not much has changed. And now, without eyes, one is a liability instead of an asset to help with the Lord's work. Perhaps we have the wrong idea about what is being said.
Do people ever "
misinterpret" what Jesus is saying? Have people ever literally plucked out their eye, etc. Are they snared or entrapped by Jesus or by what think Jesus said? False teachers make the situation worse.
31. Paul
This "
plucking out" or "
casting out" is different (and a different Greek word) than Paul uses in Galatians 4:15.
Galatians 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. [kjv]
The Greek word is "
gouge out" as in mining ore.
From this and other passages, it is inferred that Paul had a vision issue.
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32. Galatians 4:15
KJV: Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
Greek: τις που ουν ην ο μακαρισμος υμων μαρτυρω γαρ υμιν οτι ει δυνατον τους οφθαλμους υμων εξορυξαντες αν εδωκατε μοι
33. Strongs - gouge out
- *G1846 *0 ἐξορύσσω (ex-or-oos'-so) : from G1537 and G3736; to dig out, i.e. (by extension) to extract (an eye), remove (roofing):--break up, pluck out.
- εξορυξαντες *2
- Mark 2:4 ... he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed ...
- Galatians 4:15 ... that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
34. Sin
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [kjv]
εκ γαρ της καρδιας εξερχονται διαλογισμοι πονηροι φονοι μοιχειαι πορνειαι κλοπαι ψευδομαρτυριαι βλασφημιαι [gnt]
According to Jesus, sin starts in the
"heart" or "
brain" and not in the "
eye", "
foot", "
hand", etc. The Greek for "
thoughts" is that of "
logical calculation". The Greek for "
evil" is that of "
oppression" (of
others and/or
yourself).
The "
eye" is a
sensor that passes the visual signal along. Removing the eye is like "
shooting the messenger" who brought a message that is not desired.
35. Shoot the messenger
36. Pluck out the eye
Do you see the relationship of "
shoot the messenger" with "
kill the true prophet" with "
pluck out the eye"?
37. Difference
What is the difference between the following?
1. Remove your physical right eye so you cannot see out of that right eye. What about the left eye? If you remove that, does your brain create images that could still cause you to be tempted? What about your ear? And so on.
2. Remove that temptation from your eye at the source. This can be done and would be more effective.
38. Diet example
An example from the area of dieting might be useful. Suppose you really like
chocolate but you should not have it (diet, weight, etc.). Here are some options.
1.
Remove your tongue so you cannot taste, your nose so you cannot smell, your eye so you cannot see, etc.
2.
Hide the chocolate in the pantry so you do not see it. You can still think about it.
3.
Do not have chocolate in the house and, using your mind, do not buy it at the store.
39. Possible solutions
Here are some Biblical solutions to deal with that tendency to sin.
Flee temptation: Joseph fleeing Potiphar's wife is one example.
Avoid temptation: From the Lord's prayer to not be led into temptation.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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Nullify the temptation such that it does not exist (in the same tempting form).
40. Repeated analogy
The analogy of the "eye" is now repeated with the "hand".
Let us look at the same sequence for the "hand" that was presented for the "eye".
41. Hand: step 1
The right hand is causing sin, so chop it off.
42. Hand: step 2
That did not solve the problem. The left hand is causing sin, so chop it off.
43. Hand: step 3
That did not solve the problem. What is left to chop off?
44. Repetition
Unless there is something special about the "eye" and the "hand", one could repeat the analogy with the "leg", "ears", "brain", "heart", etc., until there is nothing left.
45. Root causes
When one encounters a problem, one should find the
root cause of the problem and address that root cause.
Are we getting anywhere to solving the root problem? What is the root problem?
If the eye is the messenger and not the message and is not causing sin, then what might be the root cause of the sin issue?
46. Root cause
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [kjv]
παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου [gnt]
A possible root cause of "
sin" is "
genetics". We are born with that tendency.
The goal is not to be "
sinless" but to "
sin" less.
[HIV-positive vs. SIN-positive]
47. Romans 3:23
KJV: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Greek: παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου
48. Offending hand, foot, etc.
The next few verses deal with a member that offends.
These verses are one after the other in Matthew but are often covered separately and out of context.
A protocol for handling church members that sin or offend (ensnare) other members to sin, is covered elsewhere in Matthew 18.
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49. Greek
50. Little ones
In the actual physical context, the "
little ones" are children. This type of reference, however, is often used for "
new believers" and not just small children.
The "
better" in the following verse is the "
better together" as in "
carry on" or "
carry with" in that a counter-factual argument is being made.
51. Skin colors
Skin colors are mentioned in the song.
Try getting skin colors out of
green,
blue,
magenta or
cyan.
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in his sight, ...
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
52. Five verses in order
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. [kjv]
ος δ αν σκανδαλιση ενα των μικρων τουτων των πιστευοντων εις εμε συμφερει αυτω ινα κρεμασθη μυλος ονικος περι τον τραχηλον αυτου και καταποντισθη εν τω πελαγει της θαλασσης [gnt]
18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! [kjv]
ουαι τω κοσμω απο των σκανδαλων αναγκη γαρ ελθειν τα σκανδαλα πλην ουαι τω ανθρωπω δι ου το σκανδαλον ερχεται [gnt]
The "
offend", "
offense", "
offenses", etc., mean a trap or snare as in false teaching or deceit to lead one astray.
53. Matthew
Here are the next two verses after "
little ones" and "
offenses".
Matthew 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. [kjv]
ει δε η χειρ σου η ο πους σου σκανδαλιζει σε εκκοψον αυτον και βαλε απο σου καλον σοι εστιν εισελθειν εις την ζωην κυλλον η χωλον η δυο χειρας η δυο ποδας εχοντα βληθηναι εις το πυρ το αιωνιον [gnt]
18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. [kjv]
και ει ο οφθαλμος σου σκανδαλιζει σε εξελε αυτον και βαλε απο σου καλον σοι εστιν μονοφθαλμον εις την ζωην εισελθειν η δυο οφθαλμους εχοντα βληθηναι εις την γεενναν του πυρος [gnt]
54. Touched by an angel
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. [kjv]
Little ones, and "
believers" appear to have "
angels".
The context of verses is important. Seldom are these five verses covered together. Why?
55. Text without context
"
A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text". Dr. Carson who attributes it to his father, a Canadian minister.
The "
proof text" refers to some text used to "
prove" some (personal) claim or belief.
This is often done by "
cherry picking" verses that support one's personal view which is a form of "
confirmation bias". Another name for this deception is that of "
selective evidence".
56. Little ones
Do the verses in Matthew 18:6-10 make sense for little children? How about adults? Can they be tempted or ensnared too?
The entire chapter of Matthew 18 is that of the members of the body of the church.
Do the verses in question make sense for newer members of the church? How about older members? Can they be tempted or ensnared too?
57. Matthew 5
The phrase "
eye candy" refers to something that catches the attention of the eye but provides no useful information content for the message being conveyed. Would you rap (wrap) eye candy.?
Let us now go back (in chapters, now that we have covered this above) and look at "
lust" in Matthew 5:28-31 which has ideas in common with the above discussion.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [kjv]
Discuss: Can a man look on his wife to "
lust" after her?
[Dr. Dobson, video vs. text]
58. Matthew 5:28
KJV: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Greek: εγω δε λεγω υμιν οτι πας ο βλεπων γυναικα προς το επιθυμησαι αυτης αυτην ηδη εμοιχευσεν αυτην εν τη καρδια αυτου
Tyndale: But I say vnto you that whosoeuer looketh on a wyfe lustynge after her hathe comitted advoutrie with hir alredy in his hert.
59. Lust and the mind
Notice that the adultery starts in the heart (or mind) and not in the eyes, which are just the transducers to get visual input into the brain. As such, the eyes are the messenger and not the message.
Discussion question: Can a woman (or man) create an environment that leads to the entrapment or snaring of an individual that would not otherwise be entrapped or ensnared? If so, how might this be avoided. Keep in mind that this involves a person interacting with an external environment over which he or she may not have full control.
60. Members of the body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. [kjv]
καθαπερ γαρ το σωμα εν εστιν και μελη πολλα εχει παντα δε τα μελη του σωματος πολλα οντα εν εστιν σωμα ουτως και ο χριστος [gnt]
Paul uses the analogy of a body part as a member in relation to a member of a church as a gathering of believers.
Paul elaborates on this concept in verses 12 to 27. He then continues with the analogy.
61. Members
In 1 Corinthians 12:12 and following, Paul elaborates on the parts of the body being an analogy to the members of the church as the body of Christ.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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62. Members
In this passage, he does not specifically mention "
cutting" off members for the good of the body.
What are some reasons why this may not have been mentioned by Paul in this passage?
How might omitting such content have clouded the message of Paul?
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Details are left as a future topic.
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63. Discussion
Suppose that plucking out eyes and cutting off hands and feet refer to temptations and snares and, in the church body, members of that church body.
Discussion question: What are some reasons why the religious establishment might not want to talk about removing members such as church leaders (eyes) or other church members (hands and feet)?
64. End of page
