Removing stumbling blocks

In Matthew 5:29-30 Jesus made the following statements:

“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”

No matter how you look at these statements, they are very powerful to say the least! Some people have tried to soften these statements, suggesting that Jesus was only implying that we must curb our desires in certain areas of our lives. But as we examine these statements a little closer, we’ll find that Jesus was saying something far more powerful that applies to us all, both individually and corporately.

Notice that these statements follow verse 28, in which Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” In light of this, it is likely that when Jesus spoke of someone’s right eye causing them to stumble, he was alluding to the way in which men are often lured into adultery through the “lust of the eyes.” (2 Samuel 11:2-4, 1 John 2:16) And when Jesus spoke of someone’s hand causing them to stumble he was alluding the way in which we use our hands to fulfill the lust of the flesh, often as a direct result of the lust of the eyes.

What Jesus is saying is that if our eyes or hands have become a “stumbling block” to us, that is, something that causes us to continually fall into sin, and thereby keep us from growing spiritually, then we must do whatever is necessary to remove that stumbling stone. Jesus also mentioned stumbling blocks in Luke 17:2, where He says that it would be better for a man to be drowned in the sea than for him to be a “stumbling block” to others spiritually. Its obvious from these passages just how serious Jesus considered “stumbling blocks” to be.

The Greek word translated “stumbling block” in this passage literally refers to the mechanism (such as a bent sapling) that is used to “spring” a snare or trap. This is a particularly fitting word, since it does not refer to the trap itself, but the power of the trap. In Luke 16:23 Jesus said that Satan himself was a “stumbling block” to him, trying to catch him in the “trap” of setting his mind on man’s interests instead of Gods. Even though Jesus saw this trap and was able to avoid it, Satan has been very successful with this same trap in the lives of many Christians.

The simple fact is, there are a number of things in all of our lives that can act as “stumbling blocks” to us – things that the enemy uses again and again to “spring” some sin trap on us, and thereby keep us from making any spiritual progress. 1 John 2:16 says, “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life” are the key elements of “the world.” And most traps that the enemy sets will use one or more of these elements as its “spring.” Whether it is through pornography, materialism, success, unbelief, or the praise and approval of men, the enemy uses whatever “stumbling block” he can to try and trap God’s people. And our clear duty is to remove these stumbling blocks, even if it means dismemberment. As an example, consider the application of this principle at a corporate level in the body of Christ, which is composed of many members. If one of these members is causing the body to stumble, Paul said it is better to get rid of that member rather than to see the whole body suffer. (See 1^st Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-7)

As you consider your own life today, ask God to show you if there is a “stumbling block” of some kind that has been tripping you up. And if you find that there is, cut it out of your life immediately! Take this advice found in Proverbs 6:2,4: “If you have been snared… Deliver yourself… Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids, Deliver yourself!”