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Question: Do you really have to do every single thing the Bible says? For example in Matthew 18:8-9 it says that if thy right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy member should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast out into hell. That really scares me. But what I don't get is what would be an option for sinning with your eyes and your hands? Do you actually have to pluck out your eye?Answer: I am sure glad that you are interested in the Bible. The Bible is a wondeful book that can help us to know God and His Son Jesus.Also in Luke 14:26 says if any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. That just told me that I have to hate everything to be is disciple? What does that mean?
Those verses that you asked about are not meant to SCARE you. God does not give a spirit of fear. He loves you and wants the best for you.
Here is my simple explanation of those two verses.
1.) When Jesus said something about plucking out your eye, or cutting off your hand, He did not really mean we are to do that. As a matter of fact, He wants us to take care of our bodies. He was saying that what causes our eyes and hands to sin, is what we need to 'cut off'. That means we need to allow God to help us put sinful desires to death in our minds, where sin begins. Allow Jesus to give you holy thoughts that will make your body do the right things.
2.) When Jesus said we are to 'hate' our family members, He is really saying that we are to 'love' Jesus and God MORE than family members. Jesus told us to love one another. That word 'hate' that Jesus used is not the same word we are used to using. It simply means we are to love something less than something else.
I sure hope this helps, my friend. May you continue to put Jesus always first in your life! "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).
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