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Matthew 5:30

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 5:30 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.
Matthew 5:30 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
27Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.
30And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.
31It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.
33Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if thy right hand offend thee, etc.] Or “cause thee to offend”; that is, is the means of ensnaring thine heart; and of drawing thee into either mental, or actual adultery; for, as before, all unchaste looks, so here, all unchaste touches, embraces, etc. are condemned. As adultery may be committed in the heart, and by the eye, so with the hand: “says R. Eliezer f315 what is the meaning of that Scripture, “your hands are full of blood”, (<230115>Isaiah 1:15)? It is replied, dyb µypanmh wla, “these are they, that commit adultery with the hand”. It is a tradition of the house of R. Ishmael, that the sense of that command, “thou shalt not commit adultery”, is, there shall be none that commits…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And if thy right hand--the organ of action, to which the eye excites. offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable, &c.--See on Mat 5:29. The repetition, in identical terms, of such stern truths and awful lessons seems characteristic of our Lord's manner of teaching. Compare Mar 9:43-48.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And if thy right hand offend thee - The right hand is selected for the same reason as the right eye, because it is one of the most important members of the human body. The idea is, that the dearest earthly objects are to be sacrificed rather than that we should commit sin; that the most rigid self-denial should be practiced, and that the most absolute self-government should be maintained at any sacrifice, rather than that we should suffer the mind to be polluted by unholy thoughts and impure desires. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“See note ... " Mat 5:29". Matthew 5:31”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“offend: Mat 11:6, Mat 13:21, Mat 16:23, Mat 18:6, Mat 18:7, Mat 26:31; Luk 17:2; Rom 9:33, Rom 14:20, Rom 14:21; Co1 8:13; Gal 5:11; Pe1 2:8 cast: Mat 22:13, Mat 25:20; Luk 12:5 Matthew 5:31”
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Sources and verification