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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples and the crowd on the Mount, immediately after redefining adultery as an internal act of the eye (5:28).

The words — σκανδαλίζει (skandalizei), "causes to stumble," is the verb doing the work; the BSB's "causes you to sin" flattens the original image of a snare or trap. δεξιός (dexios), "right," specifies the dominant, stronger member — the one you'd least expect to lose.

The thread — Paul's "put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13) and "put to death the components of your earthly nature" (Colossians 3:5) carry the same logic of severance at the root. Mark 9:43 repeats the hand version with the same "better to enter life crippled" framing.

Why it lands — The verse forces a cost-benefit decision: either the thing that stumbles you is treated as disposable, or it will consume the whole person. There is no middle option offered.

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 thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Cross-references

Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
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.
Mark 8:36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.