Matthew 18 9

Matthew 18:9 kjv

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 18:9 nkjv

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

Matthew 18:9 niv

And if your eye causes you to stumble, 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.

Matthew 18:9 esv

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

Matthew 18:9 nlt

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

Matthew 18 verses

Matthew 18 9 Meaning

This verse conveys a stark, hyperbolic command from Jesus, urging individuals to undertake exceedingly severe measures to eliminate any personal source of sin or temptation, symbolizing anything that causes one to stumble spiritually and imperil their eternal salvation. It forcefully communicates that no earthly possession, comfort, or relationship is worth jeopardizing one's eternal life with God. Radical self-denial and painful spiritual excision are deemed infinitely preferable to facing eternal punishment in "hell fire."

Matthew 18 9 Context

Matthew 18, often referred to as the "Discourse on the Church," initiates with Jesus addressing the disciples' query regarding who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing humility through the example of a child (vv. 1-4). This leads into severe warnings against causing "little ones"—humble believers or new converts—to stumble (vv. 5-7). Verse 9 (and v. 8) directly extends this principle to oneself, indicating the imperative to remove internal sources of stumbling. If one is to avoid causing others to fall, one must first ensure personal spiritual purity. The chapter subsequently discusses the parable of the lost sheep (vv. 10-14), principles of church discipline (vv. 15-20), and the paramount importance of forgiveness (vv. 21-35), all of which relate to the purity and well-being of the believing community.

Historically and culturally, Jesus often utilized hyperbole, a form of exaggerated language, as a powerful rhetorical tool in His teaching, consistent with Semitic communication styles, to stress critical truths. The vivid imagery of physical dismemberment was understood not as a literal command for self-mutilation but as a dramatic illustration of the absolute necessity for extreme spiritual diligence. "Gehenna" (from the Hebrew Ge-Hinnom, Valley of Hinnom) was a physical valley near Jerusalem historically infamous for child sacrifices and, in Jesus' era, used as a perpetually burning refuse dump. This made it a horrifyingly potent metaphor for the final judgment, eternal destruction, and spiritual torment of the wicked, conveying the gravity of eternal separation from God.

Matthew 18 9 Word analysis

• And if thy eye offend thee:

  • And if: Links this teaching immediately to the preceding warnings about causing "little ones" to stumble, transitioning from external accountability to radical personal responsibility.
  • thy eye: Represents a primary conduit for temptation and sin—sight that can lead to covetousness, lust, envy, or pride. "Eye" (ὀφθαλμός - ophthalmos) here stands for any person, habit, or desire that repeatedly pulls an individual toward sin.
  • offend thee (σκανδαλίζῃ - skandalizē): From skandalon, a "stumbling block" or "snare." Here, it signifies "to cause oneself to stumble," "to entice oneself to sin," or "to become a source of sin." This highlights the crucial need to identify and ruthlessly deal with self-originated temptations.

• pluck it out, and cast it from thee:

  • pluck it out (ἔκκοψον - ekkopson): A violently emphatic verb meaning "to cut out" or "to gouge out." This powerful hyperbole illustrates the necessary decisiveness and "pain" of confronting deeply entrenched sins or sinful pathways.
  • and cast it from thee: Conveys the imperative of complete removal and rejection. It's not about merely restraining a sinful desire but utterly severing ties with its source, implying irreversible action and relinquishing any perceived advantage gained from that sin.

• it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

  • it is better for thee: Introduces an unequivocal choice between two eternal fates, presenting "better" (καλόν - kalon, good, advantageous, noble) as an ultimate spiritual priority.
  • to enter into life (εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωήν): Signifies entering into eternal life, God's Kingdom, salvation, or everlasting communion with Him. It is deliverance from eternal condemnation.
  • with one eye: Reinforces the "cost" – the radical personal sacrifice involved in removing the source of sin – emphasizing that such spiritual "mutilation" for purity is profoundly advantageous for securing salvation.
  • rather than having two eyes: Highlights the profound spiritual irony that clinging to every worldly faculty or desire that leads to sin, ostensibly appearing whole, will paradoxically lead to ultimate, total destruction.
  • to be cast into hell fire:
    • cast: Denotes an act of external, divine judgment.
    • hell fire (πῦρ τῆς γεέννης - pyr tēs geennēs): "Gehenna," a metaphor for eternal judgment, divine wrath, and everlasting destruction. It describes utter and irrevocable separation from God, a place of unceasing punishment and torment, directly contrasted with "life." The "fire" element symbolizes pervasive, destructive judgment.

Matthew 18 9 Bonus section

• Figurative Language as Proverbial: Jesus often utilized exaggerated or paradoxical statements as memorable proverbs to challenge conventional thinking and provoke deeper spiritual reflection. The radical nature of the command was designed to shock His audience into realizing the extreme seriousness of sin.
• The Deceptive Nature of Sin's "Value": The teaching exposes the fundamental lie that clinging to sin provides any true or lasting benefit. What might seem like a costly sacrifice (cutting off an "eye") is revealed as utterly invaluable in comparison to avoiding eternal ruin.
• Preventative and Amputative Action: The instruction calls for decisive, spiritual "amputation" of the root cause of sin, preventing it from bearing fruit and leading to spiritual death. It is about eradicating the source of the problem, rather than merely attempting to control its symptoms.
• Purity for Ministry and Community: While primarily focused on individual salvation, this command also indirectly supports the preceding admonitions about not causing others to stumble (Mt 18:6-7). A disciple who has radically dealt with their own internal sin is less likely to become a stumbling block or negative influence within the believing community.

Matthew 18 9 Commentary

Matthew 18:9, with its direct parallels in other Gospels, underscores the paramount importance of pursuing holiness and eternal salvation above any worldly comfort, pleasure, or attachment. Jesus employs shocking hyperbole not to promote self-mutilation but to vividly impress upon His listeners the extreme measures required to conquer indwelling sin. The real struggle is against personal "stumbling blocks"—those temptations, habits, or external influences that consistently pull us away from God. This demands uncompromising self-assessment and decisive action to sever ties with anything leading to transgression. The stakes are profoundly eternal: a life committed to radical spiritual purification, however difficult, secures "life" (eternal blessedness), while clinging to sin, no matter how enticing, ultimately leads to "hell fire" (eternal separation and judgment). This verse serves as a sober warning regarding the gravity of sin and the dire, eternal consequences of neglecting rigorous personal spiritual discipline. It is a clarion call to actively and intensely crucify the flesh and its sinful desires, recognizing that temporary deprivation is an insignificant price for eternal destiny.