What Does Jesus Mean in Matthew 5:29 About Tearing Out the Eye to Avoid Sin?

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Radical Language to Emphasize the Urgency of Dealing with Sin

In Matthew 5:29, Jesus declares: “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna.” This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, a section where Jesus intensifies the ethical demands of the Law—not by adding new commandments, but by calling for deeper, internalized obedience to Jehovah’s standards. Rather than a mere focus on outward conformity, Jesus demands heart-level purity and decisive action against sin.

The Greek verb used here for “causes you to sin” is σκανδαλίζει (skandalizei), derived from σκάνδαλον (skandalon), meaning stumbling block or trap. It originally referred to a trigger for a trap or snare. When Jesus says, “If your right eye causes you to sin,” He is referring to anything in one’s life that triggers temptation or leads to moral failure. This is not about accidents, but about the personal sources of sin—habits, choices, desires—that one allows to remain unchecked. The Lord is urging His audience to identify and remove anything that becomes a snare to righteousness.

The phrase “gouge it out” uses the Greek verb ἔξελε (exele)—an imperative, meaning “tear out, extract, or pluck out.” This is not suggesting literal self-mutilation, but rather using vivid, hyperbolic language to stress the severity and urgency with which a person must deal with sin. Jesus is making the point that no price is too high to pay in the pursuit of holiness. The drastic imagery conveys the seriousness of sin’s consequences and the total commitment required to walk in obedience to God’s will.

In the Jewish world of the first century, the “right eye” symbolized that which is most valuable or most favored—much like the right hand (see verse 30). To tear it out would be to willingly part with what is precious, if that thing serves as a cause of sin. The implication is that even something legitimate or important, if it leads to moral failure, must be cast away. Jesus is not endorsing physical harm, but calling His followers to self-discipline and radical separation from sin.

Gehenna: Not a Metaphor, but a Real Warning of Judgment

Jesus concludes the statement by saying, “It is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna.” The word “Gehenna” is a transliteration of the Hebrew גֵּי־הִנֹּם (Ge Hinnom)—the Valley of Hinnom—located just outside ancient Jerusalem. This valley was historically associated with idolatry and child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31). By the time of Jesus, it had become a symbol for divine judgment and ultimate destruction. Jesus does not use Gehenna figuratively or lightly. It is a real place of punishment, representing the final consequence of unrepented sin.

The Greek phrase used here is βληθῇ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα εἰς γέενναν (blēthē holon to sōma eis Geennan)—“that your whole body be thrown into Gehenna.” The verb βληθῇ (blēthē) is a passive aorist subjunctive of βάλλω (ballō), meaning “to be cast or thrown.” The passive voice indicates divine judgment—the body is not simply lost, but actively cast into the place of punishment. This highlights that sin, if not addressed with seriousness and repentance, leads to real and final condemnation.

Jesus’ teaching here is consistent with the rest of Scripture. Sin, especially when indulged and left unrepented, leads to separation from God. Romans 6:23 affirms, “The wages of sin is death.” Hebrews 10:26-27 warns of “a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.” Matthew 5:29, then, must be taken seriously, not as metaphorical suggestion, but as a sobering call to decisive moral action. It is not about mere regret but repentance evidenced by radical steps to eliminate sin.

The Inner Battle: Temptation Must Be Cut Off at the Root

Jesus places the focus on the eye in verse 29 and the hand in verse 30. These are symbolic of desire and action—what a person looks at and what a person does. Temptation often begins with what is seen (as in David’s sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:2), and then becomes concrete through action. Jesus is teaching that one must cut off sin at its origin, not simply manage the consequences. This is in line with Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” Sin must be dealt with internally, by removing the source of temptation and replacing it with obedience.

This principle is also reflected in Colossians 3:5: “Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.” The Greek verb νεκρώσατε (nekrosate)—“put to death”—is another imperative of violent decisiveness. One cannot play with sin and expect to remain safe. Just as a person would amputate a limb to stop the spread of a deadly infection, so also anything that threatens the soul must be eliminated without delay.

Modern readers often try to soften these teachings, but the Greek language and context confirm that Jesus meant what He said. Sin is not a matter of inconvenience or embarrassment—it is a matter of spiritual life or death. Matthew 5:29 calls believers to serious, deliberate examination of what they allow in their lives and whether it draws them closer to holiness or leads them toward judgment.

Jesus’ Authority and the Ethical Demands of the Kingdom

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is not merely offering helpful advice or generalized moral encouragement. He is declaring the ethical demands of the Kingdom of Heaven, over which He reigns as the Messiah. His teaching carries divine authority, rooted in the law but surpassing mere legalistic interpretations. Whereas the scribes and Pharisees focused on external adherence, Jesus cuts to the heart of sin, exposing inner motives and calling for full transformation.

The demand to “tear out the eye” is not about literal action, but neither is it soft suggestion. It is a call to action—one that requires intentional separation from sin. Jesus affirms that partial righteousness or superficial religion will not suffice. The goal is not perfection by human strength, but sincere effort marked by reverence, repentance, and renewal through the Word of God.

This fits with Jesus’ later statement in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Obedience, not sentiment, defines saving faith. Matthew 5:29 underscores this truth—sin must be confronted decisively, because the alternative is catastrophic.

Conclusion: No Cost Is Too Great in the Fight Against Sin

Matthew 5:29 stands as one of the most sobering verses in all of Jesus’ teaching. With vivid, unsettling imagery, He calls His followers to pursue holiness with urgency and seriousness. The command to tear out the eye is not about physical harm but about moral urgency—removing anything from life that pulls the heart away from righteousness. The Greek language reinforces the force of Jesus’ words, showing that the stakes are eternal, and the call is clear.

God’s people must take decisive steps to avoid sin—not through mystical empowerment or emotional experiences, but through knowledge of the Word, humble obedience, and personal discipline. The road to life is narrow (Matthew 7:14), and no sin is worth missing it for.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).