Matthew 18:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This does not subvert the liberty of the will, or impose a necessity of any act, but foreshews what must come to pass. Offences are hindrances in the right way. But Christ’s prophecy does not bring in the offences, for it is not done because He foretold it, but He foretold it because it was certainly to come to pass. But some one will say, If all men are recovered, and if there be none to bring the offences, will not His speech be convicted of falsehood? By no means; for seeing that men were incurable, He therefore said, It must needs he that offences come; that is, they surely will come; which He never would have said, if all men might be amended.

When we refer to hand, foot, and eye, we are speaking of those friends among us. Thus, if even these close companions become detrimental, we must regard them as unhealthy members and remove them, to prevent further harm to others. This illustrates that while temptations, represented by unwholesome individuals, may arise, it is unnecessary for us to be led astray. If we follow the teachings of the Lord and separate ourselves from those who cause us injury, even if they are friends, we will not experience any detriment.

As much as to say, Woe to that man through whose fault it comes to pass, that offences must needs be in the world. And under this general declaration, Judas is particularly condemned, who had made ready his soul for the act of betrayal.

The same chapter conveys a message that warrants no repetition. Truly, nothing is more detrimental than association with the unrighteous. If we find it necessary to sever ties with some of our own members when they are beyond healing and have a negative influence on others, it is even more imperative to do so with family, friends, and acquaintances who may lead us into temptation or hinder our pursuit of righteousness. It is preferable to achieve salvation apart from them than to face destruction together. After advising us to steer clear of the wicked, he instructs us to respect and uphold the virtuous. He declares:

This we may understand not of the material elements of the world; but here the men who are in the world, are called the worlda. But Christ’s disciples are not of this world, whence there cannot be woe to them from offences; for though there be many offences, they do not touch him who is not of this world. But if he be yet of this world in loving the world, and the things in it, as many offences will seize him as those by which he was encompassed in the world. It follows, For it must needs be that offences come.

Or; The lowliness of His passion is the scandal of the world, which refused to receive the Lord of eternal glory under the disgrace of the Cross. And what more dangerous for the world than to have rejected Christ? And He says that offences must needs come, forasmuch as in the sacrament of restoring to us eternal life, all lowliness of suffering was to be fulfilled in Him.

The words of the Lord can be appropriately applied to each one of us. We recognize that the severing of a hand or foot, or the extraction of an eye, symbolizes relationships with family members or rogue ministers and leaders within the Church. The hand, in this context, represents the priests: their essential work contributes to the vitality of the Church, as illustrated in the Song of Solomon, where it is stated that his hands (that is, the body of the Church) are golden roundels adorned with topazes (Song 5:14).

Scandal (offence) is a Greek word, which we may call a stumbling-block, or a fall, or hitting of the foot. He then scandalizes his brother, who by word or deed amiss gives him occasion of falling.

To resist temptation, the Lord provides guidance on how to do so: "IF YOUR HAND," He instructs, "OR YOUR FOOT CAUSES YOU TO STUMBLE, CUT IT OFF AND CAST IT FROM YOU; IT IS MORE BENEFICIAL FOR YOU TO ENTER INTO LIFE LAME OR MAIMED, THAN TO BE THROWN INTO THE FIRE OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT WITH BOTH HANDS AND BOTH FEET." Similarly, "IF YOUR EYE LEADS YOU ASTRAY, GOUGE IT OUT AND THROW IT AWAY; IT IS BETTER TO ENTER LIFE WITH ONE EYE THAN TO HAVE TWO EYES AND BE CAST INTO THE FIRES OF HELL, into unending torment." The Savior is not merely referring to physical limbs but rather to relationships with friends and family members that we hold dear. We must sever ties with those who engage in wickedness, no matter how supportive they may seem. Hold nothing back and abandon everything that obstructs your path to salvation, no matter how challenging or sorrowful that may be. Without significant sacrifices, self-denial, and heroic acts, one cannot gain entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.

When is it appropriate to sever all ties with a neighbor? In discussing temptation, the Lord reaffirmed His teachings from the Sermon on the Mount regarding how to confront tempters. By comparing a close companion to one's right hand and right eye, the Lord emphasized the critical importance of maintaining a relationship with such a friend. However, He also stated that if this friend leads one to temptation or entices them towards sinful behavior, one must be willing to part ways and cease all communication with that individual (refer to Mt. 5:29-30).

In the course of His discussion, while holding a child in His embrace and using it as an illustration, the Savior cautioned against the severe culpability and peril associated with causing offense, temptation, or leading astray those who embody purity and righteousness. He admonished that instructing anyone with evil or planting wicked thoughts in the hearts of these little ones—whose angels continually behold the face of His Father in heaven—would bring dire consequences. Such malevolent deceivers, those who do the devil's bidding, He declared with unmatched intensity, face a fate so wretched that it would be more favorable for them to have a millstone fastened around their neck and be submerged in the depths of the sea.

In Matthew 5:29-30, the phrase 'cut off and throw away, tear off and throw away' does not refer to physical body parts, but rather to the sinful desires that lead us to wrongdoing and the situations or influences that provoke these desires, even if these are things we hold most dear, such as family and friends who could jeopardize our spiritual journey. We are called to relinquish anything that obstructs our path to salvation, prioritizing it above all worldly attachments. The term 'Enter into life' signifies the promise of eternal joy in the kingdom of Christ, in contrast to the eternal suffering of the soul in Gehenna.