By Clifton Angel Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must
needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from
thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than
having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye
offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to
enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell
fire (Matthew 18:7–9). “No man is an
island.” This common phrase illustrates the principle that mankind is
interdependent, interactional, and influential. Generally speaking, we cannot
live without community and we cannot live without affecting and impacting
others in some way. Therefore Jesus says, “It must needs be that offenses come”
(18:7). Because we live in a world of sinful people who are interactional, it
is simply a fact that occasions of causing another to stumble (sin, offense)
will, and does, take place. Because of sin and
being influenced by others to sin, woe or sorrow is pronounced upon the
worldly. Furthermore, woe is pronounced specifically to the one who causes
another to sin. With this, Jesus makes application to the fact that sometimes
members of our own bodies (hand, foot, eyes) can cause us to sin. With our
hands, we might choose to steal, brawl, murder, et al. With our feet, we might
enter places we do not belong (Proverbs 4:26–27). With our eyes, we might lust
to the point of sin (1 John 2:16; Matthew 5:27–28). With great hyperbole, Jesus
impresses upon His disciples the need to do whatever it takes to avoid sin. I
do not believe Jesus wants us to mutilate our bodies; however, He does want us
to understand that sometimes extreme measures must be taken to keep ourselves
faithful and free from sin. Considering the
context of the apostles arguing over the false concept of ranking positions in
Jesus’ kingdom, as would be seen in an earthly kingdom, Jesus saw fit to remind
them of rudimentary principles he had been impressing upon them from the
beginning of His ministry (cf. Matthew 5–7). All are able to learn better from
these principles and ingrain them into their lives; yet, they are such that we
must be reminded over and over (cf. 2 Peter 1:12–13). The apostles who argued
over physical position would go on to learn better and live better, and one
such apostle left us these words: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth
away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever
(1 John 2:15–17).
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