Matthew 18:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus uses vivid hyperbole: cut off whatever leads you into sin rather than lose your soul.
What Does Matthew 18:8 Mean?
Having warned against causing others to stumble, Jesus turns to the danger within ourselves. With deliberate hyperbole He pictures cutting off a hand or foot that leads us into sin. The body parts stand for whatever in our lives draws us toward ruin.
The point is the surpassing worth of the soul and of entering into life. Better to part with anything dear, however painful, than to let it carry us into destruction. Jesus is not commanding self-injury but urging a ruthless seriousness about sin. Nothing we cling to is worth more than the life He offers; everything that endangers that life is to be let go.
Matthew 18:8 in the Original Language
zoe (ζωή), 'life' -- here the true and lasting life of the kingdom, not mere existence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 18:8
What does Matthew 18:8 mean?
Jesus uses vivid hyperbole: cut off whatever leads you into sin rather than lose your soul.