J48 Get it off me! Get it off!

Matthew 18:7, 9 "...woe to the man by whom temptation comes! ... And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out an throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to be thrown into the hell of fire."

Chromatius: "In cutting off a hand or a foot or in plucking out an eye, it is clear that family relations or unbelieving ministers and leaders of the church are signified." (1)

Reflection

The text is "Red Letter" -- this is our Savior Himself speaking. But even in the earliest days, no one understood this warning in the literal sense. Certain it is that sin arises not in our hands, feet, and eyes, but rather, the heart. The context is important. Christ has been warning about those persons who lead others into sin; especially persons in authority who by teaching or actions encourage the believer to obey their own wrong desires. (2)

Christ is vehement, even in the figurative language He uses. Cut it off! Pluck it out! When do we in our flesh feel such revulsion or fear? When a tick lands on my neck? When I pick up a burning hot pan?

The sight of a cockroach in our house? Well, screaming is not unexpected. Fleeing, not unusual.

Our Creator gave us instincts to protect us from worldly dangers, and the indwelling Holy Spirit is able to warn us of spiritual danger. Sadly, we are quick to respond to physical danger but less so to spiritual ones. In fact, the spiritual dangers look inviting! Let me jump right in!

My prayer today; Spirit, I ask you to hasten Your work in cleansing my heart. I want to feel revulsion at its wrong desire -- may I spew in disgust when the flesh asserts what You would suppress. Give me discernment to break from friends, family, or teachings that offend You. Give me wisdom to do so in a way that honors You, not to shame others, but to protect myself from unwholesomeness. I can not change by the force of my will. Only You can enable me. Make me soft clay in Your hands. How I want to have the heart you plan for me!

(1) Chromatius was a friend of Jerome, ca. 400. Tractate on Matthew 56.2.4, as found in "Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT Vol 1b,m " Simonetti, Ed. IVP 2001.

(2) Lust. For any wrongful thing, although we usually think of lust only as strong urge to commit sexual sin. The actual meaning is much more inclusive; any inclination to disobey God is lust.

4/14/2020