Jesus spoke about removing a hand or eye to emphasize the seriousness of sin and the radical commitment required to follow Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, He said:
“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you… And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29–30)
This language is not meant to be taken literally. Jesus was using hyperbole to drive home the point that sin must be dealt with decisively and aggressively. Nothing is worth keeping in one’s life if it leads to spiritual ruin.
The eye and hand represent what we look at and what we do, both avenues for temptation and disobedience. Jesus is calling for repentance that doesn’t tolerate compromise. Just as a surgeon would remove a diseased limb to save the body, so a believer must remove anything that endangers their soul.
Jesus repeated this teaching in Matthew 18:8–9 and Mark 9:43–47, stressing the eternal consequences of sin. His words confront the complacency and superficial repentance that often mark religious life.
This teaching aligns with His broader call to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). It confronts anything that causes stumbling and urges believers to prioritize holiness over comfort.
In summary, Jesus’ command to remove an eye or hand is a sobering call to deal ruthlessly with sin, understanding that eternal life is at stake and nothing is more valuable than obedience to God.
