Mark 9:47-48
King James Version
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out:
it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God
with one eye,
than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not,
and the fire is not quenched.
Many parts of the Bible can be taken literally.
But there's this particular verse, which cannot be taken literally.
This Bible version explains what "plucking out an offending eye" means:
Mark 9:47-48
Amplified Bible
47 If your eye causes you to stumble and sin,
throw it out [that is,
remove yourself from the source of temptation]!
It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye,
than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
48 where their worm [that feeds on the dead] does not die,
and the fire is not put out.
In SUMMARY, "plucking out an offending eye" means:
throw it out [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]
What I understand the verse to mean is that if your eye causes you to sin, you leave the scene of the sin.
How you see with your eye is important.
Look to what JESUS said:
Matthew 5:28
King James Version
28 But I say unto you,
That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Luke 11:34
King James Version
34 The light of the body is the eye:
therefore when thine eye is single,
thy whole body also is full of light;
but when thine eye is evil,
thy body also is full of darkness.
In place of sin, these you can do:
SUBMIT yourself to GOD.
James 4:7
King James Version
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.
FLEE evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
King James Version
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:22
King James Version
22 Flee also youthful lusts:
but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace,
with them that call on the Lord
out of a pure heart.
The true born again only cares to follow what JESUS commanded:
Matthew 5:48
King James Version
48 Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which is in heaven
is perfect.
Mark 1:15
King James Version
15 And saying,
The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye,
and believe the gospel.
Luke 16:15
King James Version
15 And he said unto them,
Ye are they which justify yourselves before men;
but God knoweth your hearts:
for that which is highly esteemed among men
is abomination in the sight of God.
In these end times, FOCUS your eyes on JESUS alone.
Colossians 3:1-2
King James Version
3 If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth.
Related material:
Who can ENTER the KINGDOM of GOD?
