A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW     

OVERCOMING SIN  

Matthew 5:29-30 “ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”   

The Greek word for “stumble” has in mind something much more serious than momentarily losing your balance or almost falling. Instead, it pictures a box trap that has a trap door at one end attached to a trigger inside the box. When an animal enters the box to eat the bait (food) placed at the trigger, even the lightest touch of the animal on the trigger while eating will cause the door to drop and the animal become captured.   

Jesus’ plea in today’s devotional verses is that you realize you can control your body. Sin often, as yesterday’s devotion pointed out, begins with the eye. When your eye sees something, you are in control to close it or turn your head away to prevent your eye from continuing to look at what is tempting you. The same goes with your “right” hand.   

Temptations are serious. Satan knows your weaknesses. In the case of Eve, the fruit looked good to eat. For Judas it was coveting money. What spiritual weak point can Satan find in you? The goal is for spiritual purity. Spiritual purity may require drastic actions.      Jesus says it is better to lose that part of your body that leads you into temptation and sin than to keep it. From modern medicine there are many examples of removing a diseased part of the body that is poisoning and will potentially cause a body to die. This is the goal of a surgeon. This is the goal of God’s Law and Gospel.   

God has given you His commandments to enable you to see and know what is a sin. His Law points out eternal death that sin brings about if left to do its thing. By God’s grace, through Jesus Christ, you are able to not only see your sins for what they are but also overcome them. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32) Remember, “If (you) confess (your) sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive (you) (your) sins and purify (you) from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)  

Prayer: Lord, equip me to see temptations for what they are and through Christ to overcome them. In His holy name. Amen.  

I lay my sins on Jesus, The spotless Lamb of God;  
He bears them all and frees us From the accursed load.  
I bring my guilt to Jesus To wash my crimson stains  
Clean in His blood most precious Till not a spot remains. 

I lay my wants on Jesus; All fullness dwells in Him;  
He heals all my diseases; My soul He does redeem.  
I lay my griefs on Jesus, My burdens and my cares;  
He from them all releases; He all my sorrows shares. 

I rest my soul on Jesus, This weary soul of mine;  
His right hand me embraces; I on His breast recline.  
I love the name of Jesus, Immanuel, Christ, the Lord;  
Like fragrance on the breezes His name abroad is poured.”  (LSB 606)