You are probably familiar with the sayings, “extreme times call for extreme measures” or “desperate times call for desperate measures.” They have a similar meaning behind them, that sometimes you have to go above and beyond to accomplish something. Both phrases are examples of literary techniques that are often employed by speakers trying to elicit certain emotions from their audience or call them to something bigger than themselves. Jesus used many literary techniques and teaching methods to communicate His message. A great article outlining Jesus’ teaching methods can be found here, https://factsandtrends.net/2014/03/10/6-preaching-methods-jesus-used-that-you-should-too/?fbclid=IwAR0pBMwXl8TCApj6mtZ4g-VYvvY2MpM-TA9cOlWB8Uoj4UnsXs3ceVREWwo#.XyI6i30n5jZ.facebook. One of the ones that Jesus used often was hyperbole, or an exaggerated statement. One example if found in the first chapter of what is known as the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5-7. Matthew 5:29 says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out 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.”
Jesus is teaching on sin here. The Bible shows us in both Genesis and 1 John that sin falls into one of three categories. Those categories are the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. In view in our verse are the first two. We see something that we like that isn’t ours (lust of the eyes), and it creates a desire in us to have it for our own purposes (lust of the flesh). Certainly in view here is Jesus talking about sexual sin. We know this because just a couple of verses later, Jesus talks about divorce. However, it can be more than sexual temptation. It can be the sin of coveting, which is having a strong desire for something that God has not given you nor are you entitled to. In this text, I see three lessons that I believe we all need to be reminded of.
The first lesson is that sin is a personal choice we make. Jesus says, “If your right eye causes you to sin.” We live in a day and age in which we want to blame others for our choices. From the standard phrase, “the devil made me do it” to blaming the other person for my choice to look, that is especially true in terms of lust. How a person dress maybe sinful, but that is their sin. Our multiple looks and fantasies about them later are our sin. We can’t blame them. James confirms this in James 1:13-15. The second lesson is that sin has consequences. If it was ok for us to look and desire something or someone that doesn’t belong to us, then why would Jesus say “pluck it out?” There is no such thing as a victimless sin. The final lesson is that hell is real. This is one of the many places that Jesus references it in the Gospels. Hell and then later the lake of fire are the final and eternal consequences of our sin. We may not like to talk about it, you may not want to believe in it, but we can’t get around the clear teachings of Christ and the Bible. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The first part of Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” This death is not only physical, but it is the eternal and spiritual separation from God spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15. But there is good news! Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus didn’t die for the “good” people, or the church-goers. Christ died for the ungodly. The latter half of Romans 6:23 says, “but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” Paul laid out who we are, and what we deserve; however, he also told us what God has done for us through Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection. My advice for all of us, including myself is this, don’t mess around with sin. As I heard someone say once, “sin will always take you further than you intended to go, and will cause you to stay there longer than you intended to stay.” Sin is nothing to play with, but rather we are to run from it and run into the arms of a loving Savior. He will forgive you and cleanse you from all your sin. Oh what a Savior!
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin