Gouging out your eyes and cutting your limbs off

Jesus, in His exceptional words, always meant more with His wisdom than what meets the surface eye.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, 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. And if your right hand causes you to sin, 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." (Matthew 5:27-30 NIV)

I think I get, in part, what Jesus means here. This is an interesting passage, because if taken literally, many of the Christ following men of this world would be blind and armless. Me included.

I think what Jesus is teaching here is prevention. He's saying, if you have something in your life or do something that often leads to sin, get rid of it. Take offensive action when in times of clear conscience, so that when times of temptation and sin come around, the steps you have taken earlier can better guard your steps.

Especially related to lust, I think it's very important, as Jesus teaches here, to take out things in your life that can make you sin.

If you struggle with lustful thoughts while seeing girls walking by you on the sidewalk, then don't look at them. Look at the concrete. Better to sacrifice seeing the beauty of creation rather than fall into sin.

If you struggle with inappropriate internet sites, block them as restricted sites on your own control panel and throw away the password, or turn your computer screen where more people can see it at work. Or make it a rule that you can't get on the computer unless a wife or accountable brother is in the room. Better to sacrifice surfing facebook for 30 minutes than to fall into sin.

If you struggle with lustful thoughts after having seen an exceedingly attractive woman in a movie or TV show, maybe don't watch the show. Or close your eyes when sex scenes or intimate scenes appear. Have a wife or accountable brother help. Better to sacrifice a few visual minutes of the show or movie (you will still get the overall plot) than to fall into sin.

Christ wants us to live as Holy men, honoring Him in all things. To do that fully, it takes some planning and ahead of time thinking to avoid situations in which we are tempted to fall. Because I know myself and guessing others are in a similar boat, I am not strong enough or wily enough to avoid sin on my own. I'm not going to kid myself into thinking I am. I need built in safeguards in my life, and ultimately, it is only with Christ and because of Him that I am able to continue living.