Cut it out…

Matthew 5:29–30 states the following:

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.” (NRSV translation)

Leave the problem with the translation at the end of verse 30 — ie hell verses Gehenna. That’s a whole separate conversation.

The point here is that if something is causing you to sin, Jesus is saying to cut it out of your life. The context is in relation to adultery, but it goes beyond that.

I’ve often thought about what this passage would sound like if it were said in a modern American context. I think we could substitute in several things and the concept would still be the same. The main concept would be this — if something gets in the way of your relationship with God, then cut it out. When I say “getting in the way” I’m not talking about something like a nuisance or clutter. I’m talking about something acting like a barrier preventing you from encountering, listening, or following God. That’s the significance here.

So here’s a few modern day American translations of this verse given the underlying meaning:

If your keeping up with the Jones causes you to sin, purposefully find a way to not keep up.