Matthew 18:8

8 "If your hand or your foot makes you lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away! It is better for you to enter life without a hand or a foot than to keep both hands and both feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. ¹

Matthew 18:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 8, 9. Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot
The same words are repeated here on occasion of offences, as are spoken by Christ, ( Matthew 5:29 Matthew 5:30 ) on account of unchaste looks, desires and lusts: giving offence to Christ's disciples, or endeavouring, by any means whatever, to cause them to stumble and fall, is equally gratifying the flesh, and no more to be indulged, than the other, on pain of eternal damnation. (See Gill on Matthew 5:29) (See Gill on Matthew 5:30)

Matthew 18:8 In-Context

6 "If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea.

7 How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen - but how terrible for the one who causes them!

8 "If your hand or your foot makes you lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away! It is better for you to enter life without a hand or a foot than to keep both hands and both feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

9 And if your eye makes you lose your faith, take it out and throw it away! It is better for you to enter life with only one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

10

Cross References

• 1. 18.8Matthew 5.30.