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Matthew 5:27-30
Jesus uses another example of having a pure heart in Matthew 5:27-30. We may want to believe that this passage is simply referring to adultery and that as Jesus declares in Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV), “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery’ [Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18]. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” But the example of adultery is given with the focus being on the intentions of one’s heart. If Jesus was simply speaking of adultery as a sin performed with one’s eyes and the lust’s that comes through them, why would He continue by stating in Matthew 5:30, “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”
This is a command to have a pure heart.
This is an example to rid ourselves of things which cause us to sin.
In the words of Jesus to pluck out an eye that causes us to sin, or a hand that causes us to sin (Matthew 5:29-30), He is referring to the stumbling blocks that Satan places in our lives to keep us from realizing our need for forgiveness and the purity of the heart that only comes through the gift of God in the salvation that Jesus came to give.
The pain of plucking out one’s eye or cutting off one’s hand is reflective of getting rid of sin. It may be painful to rid ourselves of our addictions, which we all have but have trouble admitting it, but it is better to go through the pain of recovery from the things that keep us from a rightful relationship with God than to spend eternity in hell and the everlasting pain that comes with it. The ministry of Jesus is simple, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
Dear LORD,
We like to use the word addiction to refer to those who have drug and alcohol dependencies, but the truth is we all have addictions that Satan uses to prevent us from truly giving You our hearts. Please show us our addictions and give us the strength in Christ Jesus to lay them at the cross and let the forgiving power of Christ Jesus save us from them so we may bring glory to You through our lives – in Christ! In Jesus name I pray, amen.