Three views of how your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin:
We need to see that in Matthew 18:8–9, Jesus is not dealing mainly with what leads us into sin, but rather with leading others into sin (see Matthew 18:7, Matthew 18:10). Jesus recalls his earlier words about being led into sin oneself, to stress how terrible it is to lead others into wrongdoing, but Matthew 18:8–9 still warns against yielding to temptation personally. However, it is not said here that all who do such things are necessarily lost, but rather that it is better to enter life maimed than otherwise. As such the exhortation (both not to fall into temptation and not to lead others into sin) is very serious, for all who keep walking this sinful path to the end will indeed face destruction.
After discussing external temptations (Matthew 18:6-7), Jesus here in Matthew 18:8–9 discusses internal temptations. His hyperbole stresses the need to fight against one’s own sinful self. The images of the hand and foot means one’s conduct and way of life: what one does. Jesus stresses that it is better to deny oneself something in this earthly life than to lose eternal life because you choose to persist in sin.
Jesus here refers to one who is a stumbling block to himself, because he allows his hand, foot, or eye are to cause himself, and others as well, to stumble. One must not only avoid the judgment on all who place obstacles in the way of others, but also save oneself by removing one’s hand, foot, or eye if they tempt one to neglect the
little ones
who have been called by God. When you cast your eye with lust on a woman to tempt her, you are committing adultery, so you must control your eye or hand by which you can tempt another to sin. Since a similar expression is used again in Matthew 18:1–35, we are warned not to be a stumbling block by our actions. The seriousness of such sin lies in how we often drag others along in that sin, and so end up becoming obstacles ourselves on the path to life, so it is better for you to remove your own hand, foot, or eye on earth and enter eternal life maimed than to be thrown into hell because you caused one of Christ’s little ones to sin and to fall away with that hand, foot, or eye. All who seek greatness yet do not care for thelittle ones
who trust in Jesus will be excluded from the kingdom, so whatever fosters this wrong attitude must be eradicated. The disciples’ wish to be great in the kingdom implies a domineering use of their hands and feet (see Matthew 24:48–51) and haughty eyes (see 2 Peter 2:14), but these organs (hand, foot, and eye) are meant to serve Christ’s little ones. Woe to all who do not use them to do so.
Interpretation 1:
It is vital to fully grasp what Jesus is teaching here in Matthew 18:8–9. In this context (see Matthew 18:7, Matthew 18:10), he is not speaking primarily about things that lead us into sin, but rather about leading others into sin. Jesus recalls what he had said earlier about being led into sin oneself, in order to emphasize here how terrible it is to lead others into wrongdoing.
This does not take away from the fact that Matthew 18:8–9 still retains its full meaning with regard to yielding to temptation personally. Note, however, that it is not said here that anyone who does such a thing is necessarily lost, but rather that it is better to enter life maimed than otherwise. As such the exhortation—both not to fall into temptation oneself and not to lead others into sin—is pressed with utmost seriousness. We ought not to do it, for whoever continues to walk this sinful path to the end will, accordingly, face destruction.1
Interpretation 2:
Following the discussion concerning external temptations (Matthew 18:6–7), Jesus here in Matthew 18:8–9 addresses the issue of internal temptations. Using vivid and hyperbolic imagery, Jesus draws attention to the crucial matter of struggling against one’s own sinful self. The images of the hand and foot refer to a person’s conduct and way of life—what someone does. Jesus intends to emphasize that it is better to deny oneself something in this earthly life than to forfeit eternal life and fall under judgment because you have chosen to persist in sin.2
Interpretation 3:
Jesus is here speaking about the person who becomes a stumbling block to himself. How so? Because his hand, foot, or eye becomes the instrument through which he allows himself—and in the process others as well—to stumble. One must not only avoid the judgment pronounced on those who place obstacles in the way of others but also save oneself by removing one’s hand, foot, or eye if they tempt one to neglect the little ones
who have been called by God. When you cast your eye with lust on a woman to tempt her, you are committing adultery. That is why you must always control your own eye or hand by which you can tempt another to sin. Since a similar expression is used again in Matthew 18:1–35, we are quite clearly warned not to be a stumbling block by our actions. The seriousness of our own sin lies in the fact that we often drag others along in that sin. In that way you end up becoming an obstacle yourself on the path to life. That is why it is better for you to remove your own hand, foot, or eye on earth and enter eternal life handicapped, than to be thrown into the hell of fire because you caused one of Christ’s little ones to sin and to fall away with that hand, foot, or eye. All who desire greatness yet fail to care for the little ones
who trust in Jesus will find themselves excluded from the kingdom. Therefore, anything that fosters such a misguided attitude must be eradicated. The disciples’ longing to be great in the coming kingdom suggests a domineering use of their hands and feet (see Matthew 24:48–51) and proud, haughty eyes (see 2 Peter 2:14). Yet these very members—hand, foot, and eye—are meant to serve Christ’s little ones. Woe to those who refuse to use them for this purpose.3
8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.