Gross. That’s the first word that comes to my mind when I read these words of Jesus: “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away” (Matthew 5:29 NIV).
I don’t usually call the words of Jesus gross, but I think this is the exception. That’s because Jesus wants us to be a little grossed out. But why?
Is Jesus being literal? And if not, why would He use such extreme language?
Let’s unpack this verse and together see how Jesus wants to shake us out of the ways we self-sabotage through casual, private compromise.
What Does Matthew 5:29 Say?
This line comes from the Gospel of Matthew:
“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.” Matthew 5:29 NIV
Did Jesus Really Mean This Literally?
There are only two options. Either Jesus is telling people to harm themselves … or He’s doing something else with His words.
And we know the first option doesn’t line up with Scripture.
Whatever this verse means, it definitely doesn’t include physical self-harm.
Jesus consistently moves toward healing, not harm. He restores bodies and cares for people others overlook. Jesus never asks someone to harm themselves or others to prove their devotion. So whatever this verse means, it definitely doesn’t include physical self-harm.
Then why use such graphic imagery? Jesus reaches for the most extreme image He can think of to make a serious point.
Jesus was a master teacher, and He knew the value of crafting a message that sticks. His strategy obviously worked, because I’m writing an article about it 2,000 years later.
So what exactly did Jesus mean?
What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Tear Out Your Eye’?
Jesus is saying that if something is pulling you in the wrong direction, do not negotiate with it. Remove it before it ruins your life.
Let’s follow the flow of Jesus’ teaching.
- Jesus talks about rejecting an action (adultery).
- Then, He says to tear out your eye if it causes you to lust.
This verse is one of the best examples of a key theme of Jesus’ ministry: Your thoughts, motivations, and mindset matter just as much as your actions.
Jesus wants to make it clear that God isn’t looking for rule followers. He’s looking for transformed people who honor Him in their public and private lives.
Jesus also wants us to see how our thoughts lead to actions. Visible sin (like adultery) often starts with internal compromise (like engaging with inappropriate fantasies or pornography). We can either deal with it or let it lead us to self-sabotage.
If you don’t aggressively reject private compromise, your internal dysfunction will eventually spill out into even worse things in your external life.
So “tear out your eye” is Jesus’ way of saying that if you don’t aggressively reject private compromise, your internal dysfunction will spill out into even worse things in your external life.
Of course, no one is perfect, and Jesus is full of grace. But Jesus doesn’t give us grace as an excuse for life-wrecking behavior.
Don’t Shift the Blame
Sometimes people use verses about lust to blame the victim of lustful impulses. It’s a way of implying that someone’s words, actions, or clothing caused someone else to sin.
But listen to how Jesus actually says it in Matthew 5:29: “If your right eye causes you to stumble” (emphasis added).
Not, “If someone causes you to stumble, it’s their fault for being immodest.”
Jesus puts the responsibility exactly where it belongs—on the person who is choosing to look at another person. Which means that saying “I couldn’t help it; I’m only human” isn’t a valid excuse for lust. Jesus calls each person to take ownership of their own thoughts, actions, and responses to what they see.
What This Means for Your Life
No one decides to become the worst version of themselves. No one aims to give in to self-destructive behaviors, secret sin, long-term addiction, or a life-changing compromise.
But most of us do make small compromises that we justify as being not that big of a deal.
We can think it’s not that big of a deal to …
- Use AI to finish that assignment you promised you’d write on your own.
- Scroll a little longer when you know exactly where it’s leading your attention.
- Bet a few dollars on the game, despite having a past gambling problem.
- Exaggerate stories just enough to make yourself look better.
Do any of these sound familiar to you?
It’s easy to say “yes” to compromise, especially when there are no obvious consequences. But Jesus is saying we need to take compromise seriously.
How to Apply This Teaching Today (Or How to ‘Tear Out Your Eye’)
If you scrolled straight to this header without reading the rest of this article, don’t be alarmed. This section isn’t a horrifying DIY.
Instead, this is a space for you to consider what it looks like to aggressively disrupt private compromise in your life.
Notice I’m using the word “aggressively” instead of a safer word like “intentionally.” That’s because in this passage, Jesus purposely uses gross, vivid language to highlight how serious He is.
Here are two steps everyone can take to confront compromise, along with some ideas for helpful, healthy changes you can make.
1. Identify your triggers. Figure out when and where you experience temptation. Late-night scrolling? A certain relationship? Boredom?
2. Confess to God and a trusted believer. James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another. There’s power in shared accountability, praying together, and simply processing your temptations out loud.
3. Then, tear out your figurative “eye”—not a part of your body, but whatever consistently leads you into sin. Aggressively cut sin out of your life. What might that look like?
Maybe you need to …
- Break up with that person who keeps disrespecting your boundaries.
- Get software that blocks porn.
- Confess your secret to a trusted friend.
- Get professional help.
- Stop making excuses for someone else’s violent behavior.
- Replace your smartphone with a “dumb” phone.
- Delete that app that’s making you angry or anxious.
- Stop texting that person back.
Here’s a pro tip: If any of those examples hit a little too close to home and made you squirm a bit, that’s probably a sign to start there.
Sometimes We Need Self-Intervention
Sometimes we need a slow, steady journey, and sometimes we need a self-intervention.
Jesus certainly talks about incremental changes, but not in this passage. Sometimes we need a slow, steady journey, and sometimes we need a self-intervention—to out ourselves and acknowledge private sin before it wrecks our lives. It might be time to choose to make a decisive, healthy change.
And while Jesus doesn’t want you to physically harm yourself, these kinds of steps can feel painful.
They require humility, trust, and sacrifice. It’s not about proving yourself to God but about being the kind of person who’s becoming more like Jesus every day.
Reflect or Discuss
- Where have I been telling myself, “It’s not that big of a deal”?
- What’s one pattern I know is pulling me in the wrong direction?
- What would it look like to remove temptation instead of managing it?