Let’s unpack a fascinating passage from the Sermon on the Mount that talks about giving up something precious to avoid sin. We’ll explore the meaning behind this seemingly extreme metaphor and how it can be applied to our lives today.
Self-mutilation is a serious issue that can have both physical and spiritual consequences. The Bible speaks to the severity of this act and the importance of taking drastic measures to avoid sin. Here are 10 Bible verses that address the topic of cutting off your hand:
1. Matthew 5:30
“And if your right hand causes you to stumble, 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.”
2. Mark 9:43
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”
3. Matthew 18:8
“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.”
4. Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5. Galatians 5:24
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
6. Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
7. 1 Corinthians 6:18
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
8. James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
9. Ephesians 4:22-24
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
10. 1 Peter 2:11
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”
Bible Verses About Cutting Off Bad Friends
The Bible is filled with wisdom and guidance on how to navigate relationships, including friendships. We are called to surround ourselves with people who uplift and encourage us in our faith, and sometimes that means cutting off toxic or negative influences. Here are ten Bible verses that speak to the importance of choosing good friends and cutting off bad ones:
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- Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
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- 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
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- Proverbs 22:24-25: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
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- 1 Corinthians 5:11: “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
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- Proverbs 18:24: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
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- Psalm 1:1-2: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
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- Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
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- 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.'”
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- Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
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- 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
If Your Hand Causes You to Sin, Cut It Off
When Jesus said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off” (Matthew 5:30), he wasn’t speaking literally. He was using a figure of speech to emphasize the seriousness of sin and the importance of taking drastic measures to avoid it. In the Bible, there are several verses that emphasize the same message – that we should do whatever it takes to avoid sin, even if it means making sacrifices.
10 Bible Verses about Avoiding Sin
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- Matthew 5:29-30 – “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”
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- 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
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- Galatians 5:16 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
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- James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
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- 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
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- Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
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- Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
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- Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
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- Romans 6:14 – “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
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- 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”
The Bible is clear that we should do whatever it takes to avoid sin. While cutting off our hand or plucking out our eye may not be necessary, we should be willing to make sacrifices and take drastic measures to guard our hearts and minds against temptation. By following the teachings of the Bible and relying on God’s strength, we can overcome sin and live a life that honors Him.
Cut Off Your Hands Meaning
In the Bible, the phrase “cut off your hands” is often used metaphorically to represent the idea of removing sinful behavior or influences from your life. It is a powerful image that emphasizes the seriousness of dealing with sin and the need to take drastic measures to avoid temptation. Let’s explore this concept further by looking at some relevant Bible verses:
1. Matthew 5:30
“If your right hand causes you to stumble, 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.”
2. Mark 9:43
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”
3. Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
4. Galatians 5:24
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
5. Romans 8:13
“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
6. Ephesians 4:22-24
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
7. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
8. 2 Corinthians 7:1
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
9. James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
10. 1 Peter 2:11
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”
The Bible verses above emphasize the importance of taking radical measures to cut off sinful behavior and temptations in order to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is a call to holiness and obedience to God’s commands, even if it requires sacrificing something dear to us.