King James Bible
"And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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."
Jesus uses the right hand—symbolizing one's most valuable abilities and actions—to represent anything that causes spiritual stumbling. The word 'offend' (Greek: skandalizō) means to cause sin or be a trap, continuing his teaching on radical discipleship from the preceding verses. This hyperbolic command emphasizes the extreme measures required to avoid sin, not literal self-mutilation. The vivid imagery underscores that no earthly attachment, however precious, is worth keeping if it endangers one's spiritual life. Jesus frames this as a cost-benefit analysis: losing even something as essential as a hand is advantageous compared to spiritual destruction. The language of profit and loss would resonate with his audience's understanding of practical wisdom. The ultimate stakes are revealed—eternal judgment in Gehenna (hell), not merely earthly consequences. This concluding phrase emphasizes that temporary sacrifice prevents permanent loss, making any present suffering worthwhile for eternal preservation.