Matthew 18:9

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples in Matthew 18, using stark imagery to warn against spiritual ruin, immediately following a warning about hands and feet and preceding a command regarding "little ones."

The words — The Greek ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos) means eye, while σκανδαλίζει (skandalizei) literally means to cause to stumble or sin. The imperative ἔξελε (exele) commands a decisive, physical removal of the offending organ.

The thread — This warning echoes the preceding verse on hands and feet (Matthew 18:8) and aligns with Jesus’ earlier teaching on anger and judgment (Matthew 5:22). The passage contrasts temporal loss with eternal consequences, paralleling the endurance theme in Acts 14:22.

Why it lands — The text demands immediate and radical action against sin, prioritizing eternal life over physical wholeness. Readers must confront whatever leads them to spiritual ruin without minimizing the cost of discipleship.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Matthew 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.
Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Revelation 21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Matthew 16:26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 19:17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.