Plucking out the Right Eye

In his short articles, Prof. Bruce helps us understand the words of Jesus, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29)

Summary: translation issues—meaning of phrase—example—the “right” eye—similar statements—confusion in the use of the phrase.

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Frederick Fyvie Bruce (1910 – 1990), was Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester. He was born in Elgin, northern Scotland, and was educated at the University of Aberdeen, Cambridge University and the University of Vienna. He wrote over thirty books and served as editor of The Evangelical Quarterly. He retired from teaching in 1978.

Bruce was a distinguished scholar, best known for his book, Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free He also wrote commentaries on Gospel of John, Acts, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and the Epistle to the Hebrews.

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This article first appeared in Hard Sayings of Jesus. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1983). It is reproduced here, lightly edited (with summary) exclusively for the Krapf Project by permission of F.F. Bruce Copyright International, Nashville, Tennessee, USA and Bath, England.