Matthew 5:28-30
~3 min read
“…Sin begins in the heart which results in the committal of the physical act…”
Oftentimes people only think of the physical aspect of keeping God’s commandments, but they forget the essential spiritual aspect. Sin begins in the heart which results in the committal of the physical act. So, Jesus used the example of the seventh commandment, thou shalt not commit adultery. In those days, the people were only concerned about the physical act of committing adultery. But Jesus said, whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
Who then has not sinned in the heart, in the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life? Knowing that the member of one’s body is the cause of sin, what must one do? Then Jesus said, “If your right eye, or your right hand caused you to sin, then pluck it out, and cast it away from you, because it is better for you that this member of your body perish, then for your whole body to sin and perish in hell (c.f. Matthew 5:29-30).” Clearly, Jesus was not saying that one should literally do that because if the right eye and the right hand were cut off, the left eye and the left hand can still carry on those sinful acts. Basically, the right eye represents a person’s best vision and the right hand his best skill. What Jesus was teaching is that one should be willing to give up whatever is necessary, even his most valuable assets, in order to protect him from sin and evil.
Dear children, there may be certain things, activities or friendship that are harmful influences to cause us to sin. We may cherish them and hold them close to our hearts, but no matter how precious they are to us, if they cause us to sin, then we must be willing to put them away. Because we want to protect ourselves from sin and evil, keep ourselves pure and glorify our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.