MATTHEW 5:20 IF THY RIGHT EYE OFFEND THEE

[Doug]

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.


Israel as a nation, and individual Jews in particular, were offered the coming Davidic kingdom on earth during Christ's earthly ministry. They had to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal salvation. There was also a physical salvation, by which, they would enter the kingdom and reign with Christ in his kingdom on earth; to enter they had to be righteous, and observe the law.

All the verses from Matthew 5:21 through Matthew 5:48 are instructing Israel of the righteousness needed to enter the kingdom.

There are two difficult passages below, found in the verses mentioned above.

Matthew 5:29 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.

Matthew 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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.

These verses, when taken in context, are speaking of entering the kingdom. Only a remnant, the little flock, will enter the kingdom of heaven on earth after the tribulation. Not all of Israel will enter the kingdom. These verses are a contrast, saying to Jews, that it is better to rid yourself of any offence that would keep you from entering the kingdom, as opposed to being cast into hell. These verses are not saying that if Jews don't enter the kingdom they will be cast into hell. Matthew 18:9 Matthew 10:28 Mark 9:47

Under the new covenant, the Holy Ghost will be given to the believing Jews who have repented, and been baptized. It is by the Holy Ghost, enabling the little flock to keep the Lord's commandments, that they will enter into the kingdom. Acts 2:38 Jeremiah 31:31 Jeremiah 31:33

 

[marks]

Matthew 5:29 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.

Matthew 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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.

These verses, when taken in context, are speaking of entering the kingdom.

Hi Doug,

Since the verses themselves speak of cutting off body parts to avoid hell, how is it again that we should understand them to be speaking of cutting off body parts to enter the kingdom?

How does the context change the plain meaning of the words?

Much love!
Mark

 

[Doug]

Hi Doug,

Since the verses themselves speak of cutting off body parts to avoid hell, how is it again that we should understand them to be speaking of cutting off body parts to enter the kingdom?

How does the context change the plain meaning of the words?

Much love!
Mark

Jesus was speaking of entering the kingdom.
Israel had to be righteous to enter the kingdom.
Jesus was saying it would be better to enter maimed then to be unrighteous and not enter; it would be better to enter maimed then to be thrown into hell.
Jesus was also qualifying the law, going beyond the external requirements of it.
Jesus was also speaking of what the millennial reign on earth would be like. Swift punishment of evil, including people of the millennium being thrown into hell.
Jesus in the surrounding verses was also speaking of adultery.
This is a very complex section of scripture.

 

[marks]

At the end of the day, we're on the same page. I just don't find a difficulty with those verses, and I've learned to not substitute meanings when I read the Bible. That's really all.

Much love!
mark

 

[APAK]

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.


Israel as a nation, and individual Jews in particular, were offered the coming Davidic kingdom on earth during Christ's earthly ministry. They had to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal salvation. There was also a physical salvation, by which, they would enter the kingdom and reign with Christ in his kingdom on earth; to enter they had to be righteous, and observe the law.

All the verses from Matthew 5:21 through Matthew 5:48 are instructing Israel of the righteousness needed to enter the kingdom.

There are two difficult passages below, found in the verses mentioned above.

Matthew 5:29 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.

Matthew 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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.

These verses, when taken in context, are speaking of entering the kingdom. Only a remnant, the little flock, will enter the kingdom of heaven on earth after the tribulation. Not all of Israel will enter the kingdom. These verses are a contrast, saying to Jews, that it is better to rid yourself of any offence that would keep you from entering the kingdom, as opposed to being cast into hell. These verses are not saying that if Jews don't enter the kingdom they will be cast into hell. Matthew 18:9 Matthew 10:28 Mark 9:47

Under the new covenant, the Holy Ghost will be given to the believing Jews who have repented, and been baptized. It is by the Holy Ghost, enabling the little flock to keep the Lord's commandments, that they will enter into the kingdom. Acts 2:38 Jeremiah 31:31 Jeremiah 31:33

Who are these believing Jews you speak of that will eventually enter the Kingdom, in the future? Can you describe them today? Are they living today? Where do they originate?

Thanks,

APAK

 

[Enoch111]

All the verses from Matthew 5:21 through Matthew 5:48 are instructing Israel of the righteousness needed to enter the kingdom.

They have a wider application and these are God's standards of righteousness for all. Limiting them to just Israel is incorrect, and there is no indication by Christ that this is so.

These verses, when taken in context, are speaking of entering the kingdom.

Again, these verses are God's standard of righteousness for the entire human race. And since Hell (Gehenna = the Lake of Fire) they apply to all sinners.

These verses are not saying that if Jews don't enter the kingdom they will be cast into hell.

You do not have the right or authority to make such statements. The plain meaning is very clear. All sinners are bound for Hell without being saved by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption.

 

[Enoch111]

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is Christ's authoritative explanation of the spiritual meaning of the Ten Commandments, which are God's standard of divine perfection. Those teachings are to be applied to themselves by all who are children of God. And they can only be applied through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

When a sinner sees that in order to enter Heaven he or she must be as perfect as God, it leads to despair, since no one can be as perfect as God. Thus sinners are turned to the Gospel of grace, where Christ becomes our righteousness and our perfection. And then we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (as stated in Scripture).

 

[icxn]

If you have knowledge, understanding, wisdom or perhaps even revelations - these are the right eye - that cause you to become proud, it is better to pluck them out, humble your mind's haughtiness, assume ignorance and thus avoid the sentence of hell.

If you have some good works, perhaps you are charitable, you fast or pray a lot and similar virtues, these are the right hand, and they make you look down on your neighbor and pass judgement on him, in short you become proud, it is better to cut them off and thus crippled but humbled you may not be cast into hell.

 

[Doug]

At the end of the day, we're on the same page. I just don't find a difficulty with those verses, and I've learned to not substitute meanings when I read the Bible. That's really all.

Much love!
mark

One final thought; look at Matthew 18:9 below

18:9 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.

Jesus is saying it is better to enter with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell.
He does not say pluck it out or you will enter hell.
Jesus is talking about removing the offending eye.
It is a case of this is better than that. Being in the kingdom with one eye is better than being in hell with two eyes.

 

[Doug]

Who are these believing Jews you speak of that will eventually enter the Kingdom, in the future? Can you describe them today? Are they living today? Where do they originate?

Thanks,

APAK

I cant tell you when; the who is Israel in the future.

The fullness of the Gentiles will come in.
The body of Christ will be gathered together to meet the Lord in the air.
Israel will enter the great tribulation; The believing Jews, from the tribulation, will enter the kingdom when Christ comes.
Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years along with the twelve apostles and the Israel of God. They will rule over the Gentile nations that enter the kingdom based on how they have blessed Israel in the tribulation.
All will be gathered together in Christ.
New heavens and earth.

 

[bbyrd009]

Jesus was speaking of entering the kingdom.
Israel had to be righteous to enter the kingdom.
Jesus was saying it would be better to enter maimed then to be unrighteous and not enter; it would be better to enter maimed then to be thrown into hell.
Jesus was also qualifying the law, going beyond the external requirements of it.
Jesus was also speaking of what the millennial reign on earth would be like. Swift punishment of evil, including people of the millennium being thrown into hell.
Jesus in the surrounding verses was also speaking of adultery.
This is a very complex section of scripture.

Meant to be read with one eye imo, yes.
How bout that weird little paragraph on adultery in There, apropos of nothing? Huh?
Sublime, dialectically speaking :)

 

[bbyrd009]

At the end of the day, we're on the same page. I just don't find a difficulty with those verses, and I've learned to not substitute meanings when I read the Bible. That's really all.

Much love!
mark

Ha, horse puckey, wadr you substitute meanings whenever it suits you too lol

 

[bbyrd009]

If you have knowledge, understanding, wisdom or perhaps even revelations - these are the right eye - that cause you to become proud, it is better to pluck them out, humble your mind's haughtiness, assume ignorance and thus avoid the sentence of hell.

If you have some good works, perhaps you are charitable, you fast or pray a lot and similar virtues, these are the right hand, and they make you look down on your neighbor and pass judgement on him, in short you become proud, it is better to cut them off and thus crippled but humbled you may not be cast into hell.

Awesome, ty, I was struggling with the "hand" analogy

 

[Doug]

They have a wider application and these are God's standards of righteousness for all. Limiting them to just Israel is incorrect, and there is no indication by Christ that this is so.

Again, these verses are God's standard of righteousness for the entire human race. And since Hell (Gehenna = the Lake of Fire) they apply to all sinners.

You do not have the right or authority to make such statements. The plain meaning is very clear. All sinners are bound for Hell without being saved by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption.

In the verse below, in the beatitudes, Jesus is talking about the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven is for the Jews.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom Luke 12:32

Jesus, on earth, was a minister to the Jews.

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: Romans 15:8

All need to believe on Jesus for eternal life, but the kingdom of heaven on earth is for the Jews. The body of Christ today is given the heavenly places with Christ.

 

[bbyrd009]

All need to believe on Jesus for eternal life, but the kingdom of heaven on earth is for the Jews. The body of Christ today is given the heavenly places with Christ.

Ya, not buyin that wadr, and what is your def of Eternal if I may ask ty

 

[marks]

Ha, horse puckey, wadr you substitute meanings whenever it suits you too lol

That what I'm saying!

;)

 

[bbyrd009]

That what I'm saying!

;)

Ah ok lol

 

[Enoch111]

All need to believe on Jesus for eternal life, but the kingdom of heaven on earth is for the Jews.

Not really. The Kingdom of Heaven is shown as Christendom in the Parables of the Kingdom -- "the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven".

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Mt 13:10,11)

Now what is in those parables is NOT limited to the Jews.
1. Good soil and bad soil
2. Wheat and tares
3. The mustard tree and the birds of the air
4. Meal and leaven
5. The pearl of great price
6. Good fish and bad fish
7. Things old and new

 

[Doug]

Not really. The Kingdom of Heaven is shown as Christendom in the Parables of the Kingdom -- "the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven".

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Mt 13:10,11)

Now what is in those parables is NOT limited to the Jews.
1. Good soil and bad soil
2. Wheat and tares
3. The mustard tree and the birds of the air
4. Meal and leaven
5. The pearl of great price
6. Good fish and bad fish
7. Things old and new

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Matthew 13:38

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:6

The kingdom of heaven is the promised earthly kingdom for the children of Israel. The good seed is the children of that kingdom, the tares are unbelieving Jews.