Remembering God's Deliverance

Exodus 13:1-16

L/W—We discussed the God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt after 430 years (more than at least 11 generations)

We learned just as Israel’s freedom came at a cost, our liberty also came at a cost (death of God’s only begotten Son—Jesus Christ).

We learned a word called, “manumission,” which carries the understanding that the believer’s liberty is a “completed act,” and the judgment of sin’s curse (death) can never again be pronounced for the believer.

We learned, that Israel was now set on a journey to Canaan—the promised land, a journey which foreshadows and depicts the believer’s journey as well (sanctification)

This morning we learn of the third part to the establishment of Passover, The Dedication of the Firstborn and how it was to serve as a remembrance for God’s great deliverance.

(RANDY READ EXODUS 13:1-16)

In continuing our study of Exodus, we remember that Israel had just (1) witnessed God’s final judgment/plague against Pharaoh (death of the firstborn and (2) witnessed God “pass over” them, liberating and redeeming them after 430 years of bondage/tyranny/oppression. For generations, Israel lived in hopelessness & despair, wondering if God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 15 would indeed come to pass. Now by the merciful, mighty, and gracious hand of God—Israel had been redeemed and set on a course for the promised land of Canaan.

God had saved His people.

Redemption is what God holds paramount for man. He desires for ANY person to know the joy of salvation—redeemed and liberated from sin & its wages. Redemption is of critical importance to God, especially when it revolves children. (Luke records this in 18:16 “But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”). Within the construct of the family, God desires children to be saved and for them to know that He is the God of salvation/redemption/deliverance.

God didn’t want the story of Israel’s deliverance to be restricted to one generation of people, but to be passed down and shared from generation to generation. He valued redemption so much, that in establishing the Dedication of the Firstborn, He tied it to the Passover (the great day when God’s judgment fell on Egypt, but passed over all those hidden behind the blood of the passover lamb) and The Feast of Unleavened Bread (the seven day celebration of Passover, reminding the Israelites of the urgency to flee the evil of slavery).

The establishment of the Dedication of the Firstborn, would serve two purposes:

As children would be dedicated/surrendered/set apart to the Lord, they would be taught what it meant

To be hidden behind the blood, that God is the God of salvation and redemption; and

To necessity to flee—urgency—the sin & evil in their lives/homes

All of Israel would be brought into remembrance of the day of their salvation—their need to flee the sin/evil (leaven) in their lives, and the sojourn they were on to the promised land of Canaan

Within the Biblical application today, our focus will be on these same two purposes:

(One)—The remembrance of our own deliverance and liberty from sin’s bondage & wages, the uttery necessity to flee the sin/evil in our lives, and the remembrance of the sojourn/journey we’ve been set upon as believers

(Two)—The necessity to surrender our children to God and in doing so, to teach our children about God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the great message of redemption which comes in being hidden behind the blood of Jesus Christ

***(It’s not absent on me that sadly, for many, “family” represents more pain the pleasant, more brokenness than togetherness, or more turmoil than peace. The term “broken home,” or “broken family,” seems more prevelant today than it did yesterday. The enemy has done his best and succeeded more than we’d care to admit, to bring disruption to something God Himself established in the garden.

If this is you today—or someone in your own family—or someone you know, please know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of ANY person, from ANY walk of life, for ANY circumstance. You don’t have to have grown up in a Christian home for God to redeem you and living/coming from a broken home doesn’t restrict the cross—the gospel--from being for you. What may seem impossible today, can be redeemed and restored if you will entrust your own life and your families life into the hands of Jesus Christ)***

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I. (v.1-2) Sanctify & Set apart your children to God

Exodus 13:1-2 “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.””

Note the word, “consecrate,”

“Consecrate”—The Hebrew word is “qadash”,

Among it’s meanings, we find an all to familiar one, “sanctify”, which we know to mean “set apart” wholly to God

"Qadash,” as a verb, means “to be holy” or “to sanctify” and occurs 172 in Scripture

“Consecrate” in it’s context here, taught the Israelites (and us)

The value of the firstborn

The necessity to wholly surrender the firstborn, which sets the precedent of giving all our children wholly to God

“Consecrate” in it’s application for the Israelites served this purpose, according to Warren Weirsbe

“When a firstborn son was redeemed, or a firstborn animal, it gave the adults the opportunity to explain how God had rescued the firstborn in the land of Goshen on Passover night—how He had slain all the Egyptian firstborn, both humans and livestock.”

(The means of consecration, served its intended purposes in (1) teaching children and (2) bringing remembrance to Hebrew adults)

(CONTEXT)—Three things to see here:

This was God’s commandment—(this is something that, sadly, man & churches have taken credit for this—even turning into gain)

The fact that God Himself established this drives us to understand the importance and value in which God held this dedication.

The fact this dedication was to be “kept” indicates a permanence; an ongoing dedication—to be observed from one generation to the next

The firstborn of both man & animal were to be dedicated to God

The importance of God’s redemption cannot be overstated—and He wanted it never forgotten, so much so, the firstborn animal as well as the firstborn child were to be dedicated.

The point—everything and ALL things a person has comes from God. It was never to be forgotten that He alone is the true and living God—Creator and Redeemer of man—a truth proven in the Passover and deliverance of Israel

This point, this truth, and this fact as to forever be kept in the minds of God’s people

The decleration of God is evident & clear: “The firstborn…it is Mine” (KJV); the NIV states, “The first offspring…belongs to Me.”

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)—There’s so much here:

We are to remember and hold on to our day of salvation & redemption; how

We once “were dead in trespasses and sin”…but God

We once “walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience”....but God

We “once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others”…but God

We were set to be condemned, but God

“who is rich in mercy,

because of His great love which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses,

made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

There may be no greater means of remembering our salvation, than dedicating/surrendering/setting apart our children to God. Why?

Because as we teach our children about God, about His Son, and about the message of redemption—we are brought to rememeber our own deliverance and redemption and how God rescued us from sin & death.

Secondly, we are to mindful to give the first of everything to God—not only your children, but the first of all our possessions…we are to remember that all that we have—is at the provision of God and by the hand of God—and should be surrendered to Him:

Tithes/talents/time

Children/spouses

Material possessions/finances

NOTE: Digging a little deeper into God’s heart in establishing this dedication, we can see His heart/compassion for each of you

Created in the truine image of God

Created for the express purpose of being in relationship with God—through Jesus Christ—for the purpose of worship/fellowship and Kingdom service

God has it in His intent that ALL children would know Him and be known by Him—which includes ALL of us in this room b/c each of us in this room is/or at one point was a child

You are not here by accident/by some random act of science/or by any other means

You are here—alive and existent—for the express purpose of knowing God as your Lord and Savior

God’s establishment of this dedication, provides proof of God’s intentionality to be immediate and involved in ANY child’s life, including yours

II. (v.3-10) Obey God’s Word in the Setting Apart & Sanctifying of your Children

Exodus 12:3-10 “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrail…”

(CONTEXT)—God’s instructions to Moses regarding the dedication of the firstborn

Remember God’s deliverance out of slavery and Egypt (v.3)—Reminder: Egypt represents the world

Symbolism—our deliverance from the world and from being enslaved to the sin of the world

Eat no leavened bread (v.3)—Reminder: Leaven symbolizes evil with the world

Symbolism—we are to allow, eat, digest, nor partake of any evil whatsoever

2 Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.””

Ephesians 5:11-12 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.”

1 Thessalonians 5:22-24 “Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

Remember the very day and month of God’s deliverance (v.4)—Reminder: God changed the entire calendar of Israel to help them memorialize their exodus (Passover)

Symbolism—Believers should never forget the great day of God’s deliverance—of their conversion; always remember what God rescued us from and set on course for (eternal life in His presence)

Letting the light of salvation (first love) grow dim, serves to hinder the intimate fellowship a believer has with Him

Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Continually “keep” this dedication of deliverance—once a year; even after being delivered into the promised land (v.5)—Reminder: The promised land represents both heaven and a spiritual state of victory, peace, and rest

Symbolism: Regardless of how spiritually mature we become, or what state or experience of peace/rest we have (achieve) in Christ:

We should never:

Forget our conversion experience

Forget our deliverance from sin, and

Forget our sojourn towards the believer’s promised land He started us on at salvation

Jeremiah 1-3—depicts/foreshadows/tells of the cause of Israel’s 72 year exile

They forget/neglected/let it grow dim how God had delivered them and what they delivered them from, and in doing so,

Israel fell back into idolatry/sin/false worship—fell into despicable sins (child sacrifices, murder, and pagan idol worship)

Symbolism (cont):

“You never graduate the Gospel. If you think you have, you’ve proven you’ve never known it.”

The gospel is the good news

The good news encompasses Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ brought salvation to you, through His shed blood on the cross

In neglecting/forgetting/letting salvation grow dim—in not holding fast and remembering your deliverance from sin, you are:

Inviting sin/idolatry into your life

Inviting what God put to death in you, to get a foothold

Inviting what God overcame for you, to hinder/hamper/hold you down

Eat unleavened bread of seven days (v.6)—Reminder: Unleavened bread symoblizes righteousness

Symbolism: In our sojourn to the believer’s promised land

The only righteousness we are to carry—is Christ’s

Romans 4:22-25 “And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”

The only armour we are to bear—is the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The only focal point of our lives—is Jesus Christ

Hebrews 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The audience we serve and pursue is singular—God and God alone

Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Worship on the seventh day (v.6) Reminder: God established this 7 day annual feast as a means of Israel’s remembrance

Symbolism: In our walk in remembering God’s great deliverane, as we sojourn adn walk putting all the evil of our lives, living to Christ’s righteousness, we are to set apart one day of every week for God—one day to be totally given over to worship/rest

Obedience to a vital/critical truth—let no leavened bread nor leaven (yeast) be seen with you nor in your home (v.7) Reminder:

God stressed, over and over again, throughout the chapters on Passover the importance that

A person was not to eat any leaven, none whatsoever

A person was not even to look upon leaven: no leaven whatsoever was to be seen

A person was not even to allow leaven into his home during the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Jewish culture holds that the Jews were so conscientious of this, they took candles and searched crevices/cracks in their homes, under furniture, and anywhere else to make absolutely sure there was no leaven in the house)

Symbolism: We, as believers are to live such a concientious nature, that we seek out the leaven in our homes and lives

What does that look like today?

What’s your browser history?

What’s your social media feed pop up with?

What movies/music/entertainment sit on your shelf or your stream?

What’s your texting reveal?

What does your bank account reflect?

What conversations are hidden from a spouse?

What are the treasures of your heart which are replacing your devotion of Christ?

What are the words you mumbl, believing no one, not even God can hear you?

What thoughts are you claiming are captured when they are actually capturing you?

What obedience are you teaching your children, that you are walking in disobedience too?

What anger and bitterness are you holding on to?

What grudge are you holding, where there should be forgiveness?

What part of your past are you allowing to control your present?

What areas of compromise are you placing yourself in?

What is the leaven you are keeping around your home or your heart?

Pride/greed?

Addiction/Strongholds?

Fame/fortune?

Whatever the leaven—it needs to be removed

(EXAMPLE OF GARDENING THURSDAY)

Weeds that are fresh are the easiest to be pulled—as the soil is soft and responsive of the pruning

Weeds that are not fresh—but have grown awhile are more difficult—as the soil has adapted to the weed and resists more

Weeds that take more root—disrupt the lives of others (the homes of ants were disrupted) when pulled

Whenever we discover leaven (sin) in our lives, we must confess it and cast it out (immediately), before it takes root

Share your testimony of deliverance with your son (v.8) Reminder: Here and to the 2nd generation of Israelites (Deuteronomy), God continually reminds Hebrew parents to tell their children of His mighty hand of delivernace

The gospel should be preached in our homes—our homes are the primary and most important mission field

Make the dedication a sign—a visible and strong testimony—of what God has done for you (v.9)

Jewish culture

Phylacteries (Matt 23:5)—these contained two to four strips of parchment detailiing Exodus 13:1-16, Deut 6:4-9, Deut 11:13-21, placing them in tow cubical leather boxes, and strapping them to the forehead and left arm

The purpose in this was the Word was to activate their lips, hearts, minds, and hands, not be trapped in a box; sadly this became external ritualism and religiosity, rather than an inner reality.

Symbolism

Our whole bodies as believers (hands, eyes, and mouth) are to be totally committed and given over to God,

To use his hands only for righteousness, never unrighteousness

To use his eyes only on the moral and righteous, never the immoral and unrighteousness

Keep the dedication at the appointed time year by year (v.10) Reminder: The Dedication of the Firstborn was to faithfully celebrated

Symoblism: Three vital lessons are seen in these intructions

In giving/surrendering our firstborn to God, we are setting the precedent and pattern to dedicate all our children to God

We must take and remove all the leaven (sin/evil) out of our lives and homes

We must take and partake ONLY of the righteousness of Christ (unleavened bread)

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”

III. (v.11-16) Honor God in His deliverance to the promised land of salvation/victory/peace/rest

Exodus 13:11-16 ““And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be as a sign on your hand and…”

(CONTEXT)—Remember Canaan symbolizes the promised land of heaven and of salvation, victory, peace, and rest. The Israelites were to honor God by doing three things:

The firstborn was to be dedicated (v.12) and offered up to God as a sacrifice.

Why? To remind the Israelites that God was the source of their lives

The only living and true God

The Redeemer, their only Savior and Deliverer, the One who had delivered them from the slavery of Egypt

Two exceptions to the sacrificing and slaying of the firstborn, that of donkeys and of man (v.12)

Donkeys were to be redeemed with a lamb—a lamb was to be sacrificed instead of a donkey; whatever the reason (considered unclean or they were useful for work), the lamb was the substiture

Exodus 34:20 “But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him, then you shall break his neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. “And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.”

Numbers 18:15 ““Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh, which they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.”

The firstborn of the family was redeemed with five shekels (Exodus 13:13, 34:20), which is spelled out in Numbers 18:16.

F.B. Huey-The firstborn male of animals was to be sacrificed to the Lord, but the firstborn son was to be redeemed (Exod. 13:13; 34:20). This provision is an important reminder that human sacrifice was never sanctioned by God (Deut. 18:10; Lev. 18:21; 20:2–5), though the Israelites themselves gave their children as sacrifice, as did their pagan neighbors. The prophets constantly spoke out against this abhorrent practice

Parents were to share the great dedication with their children (v.14-16)

Parents were to share that the Lord Himself—His mighty hand—had delivered them from Egypt, from the land of slavery

Parents were to share God’s judgment upon Egypt; that it was the Lord Himslef who struck down the firstborn of Egypt

Parents were to share that their children belonged to the Lord—the children’s life, hands, eyes—all belonged to the Lord (v.16)

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION—You and Me)

The application points us to three vital lessons we are to teach our children:

God alone is the Savior/Redeemer/Deliverer of man

Children CANNOT depend or rely on their parent’s faith for their salvation; in other words a child’s salvation is not assured simply because their parents have faith

Children MUST be redeemed by God’s mighty hand—through His Son, Jesus Christ

God’s judgment against Egypt is to fall on all unbelievers—at a time set aside and specified by God

Our children belong to God—they are dedicated to Him at birth

Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.”

A common question arises in the context of these verses and others that brings concern: What happens to small children who die and were too young to know right from wrong (what we would call, the “age of accountability”)?

J. Vernon McGee states this:

“The children of Israel were to put the blood of the lamb outside on the door. Upon seeing the blood, the death angel would pass over the house. I believe there is a picture given here that will answer a question that is asked many times: What will happen to the little children of believers at the time of the Rapture? If small children are in the house when the Lord comes for His own, will He take the Mom and Dad and leave the little ones behind? This chapter shows us that God will not leave the young ones behind.

Inside the home the family is eating the lamb, and by faith they are partaking of Christ. The young children do not know what is taking place. Will they be left behind in Egypt when Israel goes out from the land? If a little one has not yet reached the age of accountability, will he be slain? Oh no, friend, the blood covers everyone in the family. God will not leave small children behind at the time of the Rapture any more than He left them behind when the Israelites were redeemed and left the land of Egypt.”

2 Samuel 12:22-23 “And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.””

David’s sin—his adultery/murder/covering of sin brought a sword that never left his house; it also brought the death of his son.

David’s words here though, since his repentance, seem to indicate a knowledge he would see his son again, not just merely David’s physical death

NOTE on v.13 and the use of “redeem”

“Redeem” (padah in Hebrew), means to buy back for a price—to ransom—to liberate (manumission again)

Used in the O/T is always is used of persons and living beings

In secular circles, it was recovery by payment of something for it’s original owner that had been alienated from him

Our “redemption” came at a cost, a ransom was paid, and in this there is liberation

Our original owner—the One who created, fashioned, and formed us--bought US back

Our original owner—despite our alienating ourselves from Him in sin—bought US back

(WORSHIP)

The purpose behind God’s establishment of the Dedication of the Firstborn, was for the adults of Israel to teach their children about the Lord, about how He delivered the nation of Israel from the bonds of slavery & oppression, about how to walk in righteousness (unleavened bread), and about the journey thay lie ahead—sojourn to the promised land of Canaan. The goal was to see the children of Israel believe in God and have it accounted to them as righteous…to see them saved. In teaching their children, the people of Israel would be reminded of their own deliverance from bondage and slavery, how God “passed over” their homes b/c of their obedience to hide behind the blood of a sacrifial lamb, how He called them live, and the journey they were set on.

What’s worth pointing out here—is within these lessons, we can draw out the basis for abundant life—salvation: Further, none of these lessons/teachings have anything to do with “following the law” for salvation, mainly b/c the law hadn’t been given.

The greatest calling a parent has been given—the greastest lesson we are teach, goes beyond lessons of morality, good works, and remembering to follow the rules—the greatest lesson we can ever bestow on our children, is to teach them about Jesus Christ, is teach them about God’s heart of redemption He has for them.

As parents, soon to be parents, parents of grown children who are parents themselves, foster parents, adoptive parents, of utmost importance to God, is for any child—ANY person rather to know Him and be known by Him. In order to rightly surrender/sanctify/set apart your children to God, they must be taught about God, about His Son, and about the redemption offered them through Jesus Christ. In the teaching & dedication you will be driven to remember your own; your own experience where God restored/redeemed/reconciled you…embrace these opportunities, see them as priviledges as you sit down and teach them His Word, His promises, who He is, and how much He loves them, b/c you will be reminded of how much He loves you.

I am not telling you not to teach them good morals, not to teach them to do good, not to teach them to follow rules—these things are necessary, but know this:

Teaching your children to live godly lives, to fear and honor Him, in whatever they do, whereever they go, in who they become is good…but it means nothing if their hearts don’t belong to God (Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”)

Teaching your children good morals is good—but unless those morals are rooted in salvation—you are teaching them religion, rather than spiritual discipline.

Teaching your children good works, to follow the rules, is good--but unless these are rooted in salvation—you are teaching them religion, rather than a relationship

Teaching your children to be religious will help them look good—but apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ, no amount of religious activity will erase a single drop of sin and make them acceptable to God…they need to be hidden behind the blood of Jesus Christ!

(WHEN CHRIST IS CENTERED, WHEN CHRIST BECOMES THEIR FOCUS—MORALITY AND GODLY LIVING SEEM TO WORK THEMSELVES OUT—BECOMING CENTERED)

Teaching your children about God, to trust God, and to follow God is paramount—and the best way we do that, goes beyond telling them---its to live it out ourselves—our desire should be that when our children look at us, they don’t see us, rather they see the reflection of Jesus Christ in us!

So, to this end:

Are you leading your home on the foundation of salvation, found in and only through Jesus Christ?

Are you leading your home actively removing ANY and ALL leaven in your home, including your own heart?

Are you leading your home intently and purposefully teaching, sharing, and remembering God’s story of redemption—the Gospel of Jesus Christ

To teach and raise a family by any other means may lead them to look good on the outside, but apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ, the only thing they stand to gain is condemnation and a life set apart from Jesus Christ.

But to teach then Christ and Him crucified, to see them redeemed and hidden behind the blood—they stand to gain abundant and eternal life

For those that may think this too harsh, listen to the words of Jesus Christ Himself: Matthew 18:6-9 ““Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”