Sunday 17th March
Read Matthew 5:27-30
“‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (NIVUK)
Some have thought to take Jesus literally with respect mutilation of the flesh in order to be pure and holy. Origen went so far as to render himself a eunuch. However self-mutilation is not required to meet God’s demands. Jesus’ point is simple and clear: that which leads your heart astray should be cut-off. Calvin makes the point well:
“Christ employs an exaggerated form of speech to show, that whatever hinders us from yielding that obedience to God which he requires in his law, ought to be cut off. And he does so expressly, because men allow themselves too much liberty in that respect. If the mind were pure, the eyes and hands would be obedient to it; for it is certain, that they have no movement of their own. But here we are deeply to blame. We are so far from being as careful as we ought to be, to avoid allurements, that we rather provoke our senses to wickedness by allowing them unbounded liberty.” (Calvin, Commentary on Matthew)
Have you got the self-discipline required to keep yourself from sin? Sin can’t be pampered, it must be killed. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) (NIVUK)
