God showed me something and i feel the need to scream everything he whispers in my ear. For years I wondered what God meant when he said if you eye causes you to sin pluck it out. I never got a good answer that felt right in my heart untill God showed me something. Lets look at Mat 18
NLT
18 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5 And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf[a] is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
10 Beware that you dont look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.[c]
The part in bold from line 8 and 9 is what get most people. What most people miss is the line before that passage.
What is Jesus speaking of, two things. One God's little ones. Most people think this is little children, but Jesus says unless you become like these little children you will not enter Heaven. So what is Jesus saying there. What is the relationship between a Child and his Father? The child looks up to his Father like He is the greatest in the world. The child believes every word his Father says. The Child is completely dependent on his Father. The child trust in his Father completely. So when we think about we understand what Jesus was speaking of becoming like little ones. That is the relationship we are to have with God, The Father. He likely used children because he was preaching to common people and everyone understood raising children and the parent and child relationship. So who are God's little ones? Any one who is saved is one of God's little ones.
The second thing God is speaking of is the person who is the temper or temptress. He warns against Women and men about taking this role which is one of satans titles the great tempter.
Now we can start to piece it together, Jesus is speaking to His children warning them not to do this and also those who tempt his children
Now lets go over the last part.
7 What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
Here He is clear he is talking about those who do the tempting.
8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.
Cut off your hand or foot if it causes you to sin. what sin is he speaking of tempting others. Hand or foot If a part of you body causes another to sin cover it up. If your voice is seductive to men change your voice. If you hair tempts people wear it a different way. If the way you dress tempts people don't dress that way. Even if these things are an expression of who you are change it, cut that part from metaphor speaking, forsake that part of your self. Another thing it says if it causes you to sin. That is saying if you know or want it for the purpose of tempting. If it causes you to tempt some one. Maybe you like to push peoples buttons you are a tempter. Change your personality.
Jesus is telling us to make radical changes of our self in order not to tempt people or become a tempter. Jesus would never tell us to harm our bodies in any way, for they are the temple of God.
9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
again warning us and telling us to change
10 Beware that you dont look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
Line 10 he tells us to do it with out resentment. The whole passage is warning this is a sin you do not want to do.
Mat 18 KJV
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
6 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.[a]
The King James is bit different. Here He is saying the greatness in Heaven are those who are as humble as a child. All that i said about a child and Father still apply. Seems to be saying elite, I would suggest than any who love the Lord are elite. God shows no favorites. A bit interesting.
Well that is just where i am at right now. thanks for letting me share with you. I hope you got something out of it. Please add if you have something to add.
Disclaimer: I don't have all the answers, I am just sharing. I am very much learning as I share. I am still be shaped, but had a strong urge to share so i did, thanks.
NLT
18 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5 And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf[a] is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
10 Beware that you dont look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.[c]
The part in bold from line 8 and 9 is what get most people. What most people miss is the line before that passage.
What is Jesus speaking of, two things. One God's little ones. Most people think this is little children, but Jesus says unless you become like these little children you will not enter Heaven. So what is Jesus saying there. What is the relationship between a Child and his Father? The child looks up to his Father like He is the greatest in the world. The child believes every word his Father says. The Child is completely dependent on his Father. The child trust in his Father completely. So when we think about we understand what Jesus was speaking of becoming like little ones. That is the relationship we are to have with God, The Father. He likely used children because he was preaching to common people and everyone understood raising children and the parent and child relationship. So who are God's little ones? Any one who is saved is one of God's little ones.
The second thing God is speaking of is the person who is the temper or temptress. He warns against Women and men about taking this role which is one of satans titles the great tempter.
Now we can start to piece it together, Jesus is speaking to His children warning them not to do this and also those who tempt his children
Now lets go over the last part.
7 What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
Here He is clear he is talking about those who do the tempting.
8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.
Cut off your hand or foot if it causes you to sin. what sin is he speaking of tempting others. Hand or foot If a part of you body causes another to sin cover it up. If your voice is seductive to men change your voice. If you hair tempts people wear it a different way. If the way you dress tempts people don't dress that way. Even if these things are an expression of who you are change it, cut that part from metaphor speaking, forsake that part of your self. Another thing it says if it causes you to sin. That is saying if you know or want it for the purpose of tempting. If it causes you to tempt some one. Maybe you like to push peoples buttons you are a tempter. Change your personality.
Jesus is telling us to make radical changes of our self in order not to tempt people or become a tempter. Jesus would never tell us to harm our bodies in any way, for they are the temple of God.
9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. Its better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
again warning us and telling us to change
10 Beware that you dont look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
Line 10 he tells us to do it with out resentment. The whole passage is warning this is a sin you do not want to do.
Mat 18 KJV
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
6 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.[a]
The King James is bit different. Here He is saying the greatness in Heaven are those who are as humble as a child. All that i said about a child and Father still apply. Seems to be saying elite, I would suggest than any who love the Lord are elite. God shows no favorites. A bit interesting.
Well that is just where i am at right now. thanks for letting me share with you. I hope you got something out of it. Please add if you have something to add.
Disclaimer: I don't have all the answers, I am just sharing. I am very much learning as I share. I am still be shaped, but had a strong urge to share so i did, thanks.
i wonder what the Greek translation is, seems i am getting my self in a bit of hot water:o
