29 If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body go to hell.
need explanation and example
Anonymous
it means you need to control yourself. Of course it's not just an eye or a hand that does something sinful. It's our mind that makes us sins. Or our heart, is a way. Our emotions makes us do good or bad. Should we tear our brain out then? No. But to start thinking before we act.
?
"If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be pitched into Ge·henʹna. 30 Also, if your right hand is making you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to land in Ge·henʹna" (Matthew 5:29,30. Bible).
Gehenna: The Greek name for the Valley of Hinnom, southwest of ancient Jerusalem. (Jer 7:31) It was prophetically spoken of as a place where dead bodies would be strewn. (Jer 7:32; 19:6) There is no evidence that animals or humans were thrown into Gehenna to be burned alive or tormented. So the place could not symbolize an invisible region where human souls are tormented eternally in literal fire. Rather, Gehenna was used by Jesus and his disciples to symbolize the eternal punishment of “second death,” that is, everlasting destruction, annihilation.—Re 20:14; Mt 5:22; 10:28.
How much better to exercise self-control, even if doing so is as hard as tearing out an eye! After all, is it worth sacrificing everlasting life for merely a few fleeting moments of sensual pleasure?
What we feed the eye can also foster greed. Hence, the Bible warns us that the selfish “desire of the eyes . . . does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.”—1 John 2:16, 17.
Is the Bible being unduly restrictive? Not at all! To disregard its standards is to invite problems and unhappiness. (Galatians 6:7, 8) To heed God’s Word, including its wisdom for our figurative eye, is to sow happiness. “Happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it,” said Jesus. (Luke 11:28) What is more, they have the prospect of remaining forever on earth, whereas those who cultivate an immoral or greedy eye lose out on both happiness and life.
Broai7
Yes
yesmar
It's called "hyperbole", exaggerated talk to make a point. It was very popular in first century Palestine.
Example: " I could stretch a mile, except I'd have to walk back!"
Matthew T
In Jesus' parable about the rich young man who wanted to become a disciple. Jesus told him to give away all his riches and then come follow Jesus. That man could not do it. Then there is the true story of St. Francis of Assisi who did give away everything and followed Jesus.