Bible Study Seattle

“You have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say to you, that every man gazing at a woman in order to cherish impure desire, has already committed lewdness with her in his heart. Therefore, if thy right eye ensnare thee, pluck it out, and throw it away: it is better for thee to lose one of thy members than that thy whole body shall be cast into Gehenna. And if thy right hand ensnare thee, cut it off, and throw it away: it is better for thee to lose one of thy members, than that thy whole body shall be cast into Gehenna.” Matthew 5:27-30

Many people say that Jesus uses hyperbole to express his thoughts. But everything Jesus said is literally true. Here Jesus is showing the ultimate conclusion of an unrecoverable lust. Literally plucking out your eye or cutting off your hand is preferable to burning to death. Jesus is making a point that second death should be avoided at all costs. Much like Pharaoh, who was given ten strong warnings to turn, when all attempts at reform fail, only death is left.

Unfortunately, when most Christians read this they are alarmed. What man has not looked on a woman lustfully at some point? Then they assume that hell awaits them after their first life. They are doomed. They assume this life is all there is. God has planted very strong hormones in men to strongly desire sex. Otherwise they would not marry and have children. Men should try to have their desire met in a wife, hopefully one who doesn’t try to use sex as a weapon. As Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” Job 31:1