If your RIGHT eye causes you to sin, tear it out

[tonychanyt]

Matt 5:

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.

Like the right hand, the right eye was supposed to be more useful and important.

For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Similarly, Exodus 29:

20 and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar.

1 Samuel 11:

2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.”

Zechariah 11:

17 “Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!”

Hebrew culture supposed the right eye was more important than the left one.

 

[AlexB23]

Matt 5:


Like the right hand, the right eye was supposed to be more useful and important.


Similarly, Exodus 29:


1 Samuel 11:


Zechariah 11:


Hebrew culture supposed the right eye was more important than the left one.

What if you are left handed (I am not)?

 

[Grip Docility]

Matt 5:


Like the right hand, the right eye was supposed to be more useful and important.


Similarly, Exodus 29:


1 Samuel 11:


Zechariah 11:


Hebrew culture supposed the right eye was more important than the left one.

Okay... I tore it out... but I sinned because of the left one even with the right one torn out.. What now?

 

[AlexB23]

Okay... I tore it out... but I sinned because of the left one even with the right one torn out.. What now?

I agree. The OT is a metaphor, and is confusing to wade through.

 

[Grip Docility]

I agree. The OT is a metaphor, and is confusing to wade through.

I actually have a fairly solid understanding of the actual meaning of this... but it doesn't bind to the Hebrew poetry of the matter. It's the simple reality of how deeply Jesus amplified the 613 Mitsvah, IMO

 

[AlexB23]

I actually have a fairly solid understanding of the actual meaning of this... but it doesn't bind to the Hebrew poetry of the matter. It's a simply reality of how deeply Jesus amplified the 613 Mitsvah, IMO

I am not Jewish, so I have no idea what you just said.

 

[Grip Docility]

I am not Jewish, so I have no idea what you just said.

So, much of Western Christianity makes the Bible about "The West"... and in doing so, misses the utter Jewishness of the entire 66 book bible. It's common to not know what Jewish stuff, Jesus was implying, but... basically... Western Christianity refers to the BIG 10, while in truth the "Book of the Law" / Torah / Moses .... is comprised of 613 Mitzvah... aka Laws. The 10 were a symbol of the covenant and the very fact that they were carved in stone, leads to deeper theological insinuations... which the Epistles... "New Testament Books" expound on quite specifically.

 

[AlexB23]

Matt 5:
Like the right hand, the right eye was supposed to be more useful and important.


Similarly, Exodus 29:


1 Samuel 11:


Zechariah 11:


Hebrew culture supposed the right eye was more important than the left one.

In the Bible, the metaphor of "tearing out one's right eye" appears in Matthew 5:29-30 within the context of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. However, it is essential to note that this metaphor has its roots in older Jewish texts, including Exodus 29, 1 Samuel 11, and Zechariah 11.

In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus is teaching about the importance of righteousness and completes a series of metaphors about ethical living. He says, "If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your parts than your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your parts than your whole body go into hell." (NIV)

This metaphor should not be taken literally but rather figuratively, implying that one must make significant sacrifices to preserve their spiritual well-being. In other words, if something leads us into sin, we must remove it from our lives to avoid further damage. For instance, if a computer website leads us to sin (I stay far away from that stuff), then we must put blockers on it. Same for alcohol, then we must avoid going to bars. I have a second hand leather jacket that has a nice smell and texture, and had an attraction for it in 2019 cos of my raging 19-year-old hormones, so I told my parents to take it away for a few years. I got it back in 2022, and am less attracted to it now. Now I can wear it normally in my 20s.

 

[AlexB23]

So, much of Western Christianity makes the Bible about "The West"... and in doing so, misses the utter Jewishness of the entire 66 book bible. It's common to not know what Jewish stuff, Jesus was implying, but... basically... Western Christianity refers to the BIG 10, while in truth the "Book of the Law" / Torah / Moses .... is comprised of 613 Mitzvah... aka Laws. The 10 were a symbol of the covenant and the very fact that they were carved in stone, leads to deeper theological insinuations... which the Epistles... "New Testament Books" expound on quite specifically.

Interesting. I knew that the Bible had 600+ laws and stuff, but didn't know the term for those laws. So, you prefer Orthodox Christianity or Messianic Judaism, if I may ask?

 

[Grip Docility]

Interesting. I knew that the Bible had 600+ laws and stuff, but didn't know the term for those laws. So, you prefer Orthodox Christianity or Messianic Judaism, if I may ask?

Neither... I simply say that I am Jewish by Blood, and a Forgiven Gentile Sinner by Faith. I count myself yoked to all that claim Christ/Messiah as their Salvation and God.

 

[AlexB23]

Neither... I simply say that I am Jewish by Blood, and a Forgiven Gentile Sinner by Faith. I count myself yoked to all that claim Christ/Messiah as their Salvation and God.

Cool.

 

[Diamond7]

I am not Jewish, so I have no idea what you just said.

He said it was a rhetorical statement. Not meant to be taken serious, only useful as a comparison and not something that Jesus is actually telling you to do. I took four teacher training classes so we studied Jesus and the way He would teach. Mostly to get people to remember.

 

[AlexB23]

He said it was a rhetorical statement. Not meant to be taken serious, only useful as a comparison and not something that Jesus is actually telling you to do. I took four teacher training classes so we studied Jesus and the way He would teach. Mostly to get people to remember.

Interesting. I am not that good at reading people, but I knew that Jesus would never tell us to cut out our eyes.

 

[eleos1954]

Matt 5:


Like the right hand, the right eye was supposed to be more useful and important.


Similarly, Exodus 29:


1 Samuel 11:


Zechariah 11:


Hebrew culture supposed the right eye was more important than the left one.

I think it was more about left versus right .... rather than the eye itself

Matthew 25:31-46
New International Version​

The Sheep and the Goats​

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

 

[tonychanyt]

I think it was more about left versus right .... rather than the eye itself

Exactly right. Exactly my point. Read the title of the OP