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Matthew 5:29
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.
Why not left eye? Why not just eyes? What’s the spiritual significance?
Anonymous
They knew Zech 11:17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm And against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, And his right eye shall be totally blinded.” —-There are many thoughts on why the right eye as many believe that the Jewish culture thought the right eye was intuitive, insightful, seat of intent etc. 1 Sam 11 the jews were threatened with the putting out of their right eye so there had to be a real significance. I would have to do a study, but I just see guesswork. The Spirit will teach.
Anonymous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQWR6amZRxA
Anonymous
I’d say a few things:
We should generally careful of trying to read too much into every detail of scripture.
Is it possible that he simply chose the right eye as an example, and there’s not some deeper meaning behind it?
Maybe.
I think the most likely explanation is that he is assuming most people are right side dominant (which 90% of people are) so it even furthers the emphasis of how extreme he is saying to be about avoiding sin (I need to work on that myself)
Cutting off your right hand or right eye would be considered even slightly more drastic than your left.
I would be very suspicious of trying to read anything more into it than that.
Anonymous
Jamie Brown Why not left eye? Why not just eyes? What’s the spiritual significance?
Anonymous
EYE In the OT the word “eye” generally renders Heb. ʿayin; there are, however, a few exceptions, e.g., pānîm (“face”) in Ex. 20:20, nāḇaṭ (“look at,” “obey”) in Ps. 119:6, 15.
“Eye” usually occurs in Scripture in the literal sense of the physical organ of sight, one of the chief channels of information for humans. David is described as having beautiful eyes (1 S. 16:12), and in Canticles the lovers describe each other as having eyes like doves or pools (1:15; 4:1; 5:12; 7:4). Leah had “weak” eyes (Gen. 29:17), although the meaning of Heb. raḵ may be “delicate, tender” (cf. AV; CHAL, p. 339).
A cruel custom among heathen nations sanctioned the gouging out of the eyes of an enemy or rival because his power was thereby most effectively shattered (Jgs. 16:21; 2 K. 25:7; Jer. 39:7). Such blinding or putting out of the “right eye” was also considered a deep humiliation, as it robbed the victim of his beauty and made him unfit for military service (1 S. 11:2; Zec. 11:17).
The Israelites were instructed by Moses that, in the execution of Yahweh’s judgment upon the nations (Dt. 7:16) and upon wrongdoers (19:13, 21; 25:12), their “eye shall not pity,” i.e., be deflected from the dictates of God’s law by feelings of sympathy. Similarly, Yahweh warned through His prophet Ezekiel (5:11; etc.) that “my eye will not spare, and I will have no pity.” The lex talionis demanded “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Ex. 21:23–25; Lev. 24:20; Dt. 19:21).
The Bible also uses “eye” in several figurative senses, which illustrate the intimate relationship in Hebrew thought between spiritual and physical realities. Brightness of eyes is a sign of well-being (Ps. 38:10; cf. 1 S. 14:27; Ps. 19:8), while dimness of eyes signifies a lack of well-being (Dt. 28:65; Job 17:7; Ps. 69:3; Lam. 5:17). The eye provides a concrete medium of expression for a variety of emotions or mental attitudes. The eyes may waste away with grief, or pour down tears (Ps. 6:7; 31:9; 88:9; 119:136; Lam. 1:16; 2:11; 3:48f.). They can express mockery or hatred (Job 16:9; Ps. 35:19; Prov. 6:13; 10:10; 16:30; 30:17), haughtiness (Ps. 18:27; Prov. 6:17; 21:4; 30:13), generosity (Prov. 22:9; cf. Mt. 6:22), pity (Dt. 7:16; 13:8; 19:13, 21; 25:12; etc.), greed (1 S. 2:29, 32), desire or lust (Ps. 73:7; Prov. 17:24; 27:20; Eccl. 2:10; 4:8; Ezk. 6:9; 2 Pet. 2:14; 1 Jn. 2:16; cf. Mt. 5:29), etc. To “lift up the eyes” (e.g … Gen. 13:10, 14; 18:2; 22:4, 13; 24:63f) means to look around for information and often for help; to “close the eyes” or “hide the eyes” indicates carelessness or lack of sympathy (e.g., Prov. 28:27; Mt. 13:15); to “set eyes upon” (e.g., Gen. 44:21; Ezk. 20:24) or “fix eyes upon” (e.g., Ps. 119:6, 15; Lk. 4:20) is to turn attention to someone or something. See also EVIL EYE.
N. J. Opperwall, “Eye,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 249.
Anonymous
Why not left eye? Why not just eyes? What’s the spiritual significance?