Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

MATTHEW 18:8KJV
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Matthew 18:8 (KJV)

What does Matthew 18:8 mean?

Matthew 18:8 describes Jesus warning his listeners that if something in their lives—symbolized by a hand or foot—causes them to sin, it is better to remove it than to risk eternal punishment. The verse uses strong imagery to stress that avoiding sin is more important than holding on to anything that leads one astray, even if it feels essential.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, using vivid language to show the seriousness of dealing with anything that causes spiritual harm. The mention of entering life “halt or maimed” versus being cast into “everlasting fire” highlights the eternal consequences he wants them to consider. This teaching comes in a section where Jesus is emphasizing humility and the dangers of causing oneself or others to stumble in faith.

The Greek behind Matthew 18:8

  • The word translated “offend thee” is σκανδαλίζω (skandalizō), which means to cause to stumble or to lead into sin. This shows Jesus is not talking about physical injury, but about anything that trips up a person’s moral or spiritual life.
  • The phrase “everlasting fire” uses the Greek αἰώνιος (aiōnios) for “everlasting,” meaning without end, and πῦρ (pyr) for “fire,” emphasizing the seriousness and permanence of the warning.
  • The verbs “cut off” (ἐκκόπτω, ekkoptō) and “cast from thee” (βάλλω, ballō) are strong action words, underlining the urgency and decisiveness Jesus is calling for in removing sources of sin.

Why Matthew 18:8 matters

  • Matthew 18:8 clears up the idea that Jesus is speaking literally about self-harm; the strong language is a way to show how seriously he views anything that leads to sin.
  • The verse emphasizes personal responsibility in spiritual life, urging listeners to take real, sometimes difficult steps to avoid moral failure.
  • This teaching fits into the larger context of Matthew 18, where Jesus is warning about causing others to stumble and urging humility, showing that both our actions and what we allow in our lives matter deeply.

Where else these words appear

“maimed” Greek G2948 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
  • Matthew 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
  • Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

“cut” Greek G1581 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
  • Luke 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
  • Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

“halt” Greek G5560 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
  • Mark 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
  • Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

“thee” Greek G4624 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
  • Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
  • Mark 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.