Tear It Out, Cut It Off & Throw it Away

September 18, 2022 Speaker: Ted Detiveaux Series: Jesus Said What

Topic: Sin Scripture: Matthew 5:27– :30

Series: Jesus Said What!?

 

Sermon Title: Tear It Out, Cut It Off and Throw It Away

 

In this series we have talked about some of the difficult sayings that Jesus said. 

 

Week 1 we looked at

 

John 6:54

 

54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 

 

Week 2 We looked at

 

John 14:6

 

6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through me.

 

Today we will be looking at

 

Matthew 5:29

 

29 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. 

 

If we read only this verse then we would assume that the way to avoid being sent to hell is to mutilate our bodies so that we don’t sin. 

 

But is that what Jesus asking us to do? Was this teaching meant to be applied to our physical bodies? 

  • Does cutting out an eye prevent lustful thoughts?
  • Does cutting off an arm remove your covetousness?
  • Does sowing up your mouth prevent you from having anger in your heart?

 

Does sin dwell in the physical realm only or does sin dwell spiritually in the heart?

 

Let’s look at a few other examples in this same sermon on the mount to get to heart of the issues.

 

He starts off by saying:

  • “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world”

Did He intend for these two statements to be taken literally?

Did He mean that we should take a dash of so and so and sprinkle them in a gumbo? 

Should we take so and so and plug them into a wall outlet so that we can have light?

Or was He conveying a deep spiritual truth?  If you are a believer then you are called to impact the world around you.

 

 

 

  • Anger-

 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; 

 In this case Jesus extends the guiltiness of murder to those who harbored anger in their hearts.   The Jewsthought they did well by not killing anyone, Jesus says your not doing that well because your heart is the same as a murderer.  Again, a heart issue.

 Then our text for today in context

 

  • Lust

 

Matthew 5:27-30

 

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 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. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

 

Again, we see it is a heart issue.  The eyes are not the problem, nor are the hands.  The eyes are gatewaysto the mind and heart.  While our hands and other members of the body are instruments to serve the purposes of the heart and mind. 

 

So, the real problem is the heart.  So why use such strong language such as

 

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away”

 

Because it works!  It gets your attention.  It makes you stop dead in your tracks to consider how offensive your sin is to a perfect, Holy and righteous God.  Jesus uses this tone, to warn us, to plead with us to turn from our sinsbecause He knows that our sin leads to death. 

 

Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

If you are dealing with lust, rip it out of your heart, it has no place in the temple of the Holy Spirit. Replace it with the constant filling of the Holy Spirit who will keep you from falling into lust. 

Use your eyes for good. 

  • Use your eyes to affirm your spouse that he/she is the only one and that you are content with God’s provision.
  • Use your eyes to let your kids know that you love them but are serious about discipline.
  • Use your eyes to stir up love and compassion toward your fellow man.
  • Let your eyes lead you to awe and wonder of God for His marvelous creation.

Your eyes in themselves are not evil, but what you allow in your heart through your eyes.

Don’t use your eyes to lust after the things of this world.  The things of this world will never satisfy you.  Don’t use your eyes to commit adultery.  Rip it out.  Don’t put yourself in tempting situations, don’t go to that website, get some accountability. 

 

Jesus uses the same language when talking about our other extremities.

 

Matthew 5:30

 

30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

 

Jesus’ point is very clear “Do whatever it takes to get rid of the sin in your life.” 

 

Notice it is an imperative statement which means Jesus is giving an authoritative command.

  • (you) tear it out
  • (you) cut it off
  • (you) throw it away

 

You allowed it in, you get it out.  Yes, we are saved by God’s grace and by faith in Jesus alone.  But the process of sanctification requires us to align our free will and our actions with the word of God.   We have a responsibility to walk in holiness. 

 

There were “friendships” in my life that needed to be cut off when I first gave my heart to the Lord.   There was music that I was listening to and movies that I was watching which needed to be thrown away as it was not conducive to a healthy relationship with the Lord.

There were certain beliefs and bad habits that needed to be ripped out my life to be an authentic Jesus follower.   I am still a work in progress. 

 

The Lord does not expect you to rip it out or cut it off by your own strength. 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

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.

 

There is your ability, then there is His strength which goes beyond your ability.  God is faithful, He is committed to making sure that you make it to the end.  He will provide the way of escape, but it is up to us to walk through that way of escape.

 

You may find it difficult to rip off certain friendships who you know are toxic to you, the Lord sees your struggle and He will provide a way.  But you must be willing to be obedient.  He will give you the strength to do so.

 

You may be struggling with an addiction, and you know its bringing about death and destruction to your life and those around you.  God is faithful, commit your ways unto the Lord and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to break that addiction off your life.  Rip it out, Tear it off, Throw it away.

 

Do everything within your ability, but ultimately depend upon His supernatural ability to set you free.

 

If you have allowed things in through your eyes, if you have yielded your members to do sinful things, then you need to tear out and cut off those things.

 

Feel the seriousness of Jesus’ teaching.  Realize today that sin leads to death.  Understand the heart of the Fatheras Jesus pleads with us to sever our ties with sin.  He begs us to choose life and not death. 

 

He uses such radical language to awake us from our sleep to pull us out of our complacency and out of worldliness and into a thriving relationship with Him. 

 

Romans 6:12-14

 

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness

 

Sin only reigns if you let it.  Though you may have random ungodly thoughts or temptations that pop into your mind it does not mean you give them the throne of your heart. You are not to yield your members to sin. You are to cast down vain imaginations.  You are to rebuke the devil and he will flee. 

 

Tear it out, Cut it off, Throw it away

 

Paul in his own words says basically the same as Jesus.  Don’t use your members for sin but for righteousness and unto God.

 

Hear the severity of this message.  Live as though you are a child of light and no longer a child of darkness.

 

Romans 6:14b For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

 

Sin will not dominate you.  Sin does not have the victory, God does.  (illustration)

 

It was God’s grace that He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins.

It was God’s grace by which Jesus warns us to tear it out, cut it off, and throw away all things that lead to sinfulness.

It is God’s grace that He will not allow you to be tempted more than you can withstand.

It is God’s grace that sin will not dominate you but is already defeated through the cross.

It is by God’s grace that we as believers in Christ Jesus will not be thrown into hell.

 

Matthew 5:29

 

29 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. 

 

The way to heaven is not through self-mutilation, but through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • What sin do you need to tear out, cut off and throw away

 

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