Matthew 18:8

8 And if thine hand or thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it away from thee. It is better to thee to enter to life feeble, either crooked, than having twain hands or two feet to be sent into everlasting fire. [+Forsooth if thine hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off, and cast it away from thee. It is good to thee to enter into life feeble, or crooked, than having two hands or two feet to be sent into everlasting fire.]

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 But whoso causeth to stumble one of these small [+Forsooth who shall offend one of these little], that believe in me, it speedeth to him that a millstone of asses be hanged in his neck, and [that] he be drowned in the deepness of the sea.
7 Woe to the world, for causes of stumbling; for it is need that causes of stumbling come; nevertheless woe to that man by whom a cause of stumbling cometh. [Woe to the world, for offences; truly it is need, that offences come; nevertheless, woe to that man by whom an offence cometh.]
8 And if thine hand or thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it away from thee. It is better to thee to enter to life feeble, either crooked, than having twain hands or two feet to be sent into everlasting fire. [+Forsooth if thine hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off, and cast it away from thee. It is good to thee to enter into life feeble, or crooked, than having two hands or two feet to be sent into everlasting fire.]
9 And if thine eye cause thee to stumble [And if thine eye offend thee], pull it out, and cast it away from thee. It is better to thee with one eye to enter into life, than having twain eyes to be sent into the fire of hell [than having two eyes to be sent into hell fire].
10 See ye, that ye despise not one of these little. For I say to you, that the angels of them in heavens see evermore the face of my Father that is in heavens [Truly I say to you, for the angels of them in heavens see ever the face of my Father which is in heavens].
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.