September 18, 2011: Drowned and Maimed – Dave Neuhausel

Here Jesus is saying some drastic, even scandalous remarks about the severity of our sin and brokenness, particularly when we act out of it toward our own detriment and that of others.  It seems Jesus is speaking in hyperbole in order to demonstrate the serious way in which we ought to regard the slippery-slope of our sinful tendencies.  By contrasting the temporal and fleeting nature of our sinful tendencies with the eternal and significant reality of God’s kingdom, Jesus is cultivating a sense of urgency toward living as those who despise sin and fight for righteousness.