pluck

I think the most neglected idea in Matthew 5-7 is the concept of removing a part of your body in order to avoid your whole being going to eternal damnation. This idea was completely unknown to me before the reading, and upon further examination it made a good deal of sense. He describes chopping off a hand or plucking out an eye, so that, “your whole body [won’t] go into hell.” This could mean removing yourself from a bad environment, distancing from a bad friend, or avoiding a vice. Sometimes we let little things go when they seem harmless or insignificant. But little things can build up and weigh you down in unexpected ways. I had a friend who would constantly make me do small things that I wouldn’t otherwise do. Nothing extreme or reckless, but just small things that I wouldn’t have chosen to have done otherwise. After a little while, little things began to add up. I began to feel the pressure that was being pushed on me more and more, and eventually started to avoid this friend to keep me away from those influences. Sometimes just cutting yourself off from small things can add up to help you as a whole. When my mom goes on diets, she doesn’t buy candy soda or chips. Even though they’re just three small items, just removing them can help her cut back on a lot of snacking in the long run and keep her motivated. Although that isn’t a direct analogy, the same concept still applies. Getting rid of little things that could cause you further harm or indescression can really help you as a whole, without missing much in the long run.