Taking Sin Seriously: Jesus' Call To Radical Change

We don’t like talking about sin. For some, naming sin is freeing—it helps us recognize and stop harmful behaviors. But for others, the idea of sin has been a heavy burden, making them feel like they could never measure up.

Jesus talks about sin in different ways. Sometimes, it is anything that moves away from God's vision for the world. Other times, it's selfishness and selfish acts. Sin can also be like a sickness that spreads, affecting us and those around us.

When Jesus says things like, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out,” it’s shocking. But He isn’t being literal—He’s showing how dangerous sin is. If something in your life is leading you into sin, you should take it seriously enough to remove it.

That might mean deleting an app, changing how you handle money, or stepping away from a toxic relationship. Jesus isn't calling for self-harm; He’s calling for radical transformation.

One mistake we make is thinking of sin only as a personal issue. Jesus teaches that sin affects the whole community. When someone’s sin isolates them, Jesus' response isn’t punishment—it’s restoration.

Think of Jesus’ parable about the lost sheep in Matthew 18:12-14. The farmer leaves the 99 to bring the one back. He’s so full of joy the sheep is reconciled to the flock. God’s heart for people trapped is reconciliation.

This also changes how we approach conflict. Many read Matthew 18 as a process for calling out sin—go to the person, then bring others, then involve the church. But in the original language, the idea of “sin” in this passage is about being ostracized—pushed away from the community.

Jesus is saying, if someone is cut off from community, go to them. Bring others who love them. Show them they are missed and cared for. The goal isn’t condemnation—it’s healing.

When Jesus talks about removing the things that cause us to sin, He’s challenging us to take bold action. But what does that look like in real life?

• If your phone is causing you to sin, get rid of the apps that lead you into temptation. Maybe that means deleting social media, turning off notifications, or setting boundaries around your screen time.
• If money is causing you to sin, practice generosity. That doesn’t mean giving away everything, but maybe a season of irrational generosity will break your attachment to material things.
• If power is causing you to sin, step back and share your power with others. Pride and control can easily take over, but humility restores relationships.
• If a relationship is leading you into sin, consider whether it’s healthy to continue. Sometimes, the hardest but best decision is to walk away from toxic connections.
• If your past is trapping you in sin, seek healing. Counseling, recovery, accountability, and prayer can help break cycles that keep you stuck.

Jesus’ words sound extreme because sin has extreme consequences. He wants us to understand that allowing sin to remain in our lives is far more costly than cutting off the things that lead us away from Him.

Think of how quickly sickness spreads in a school. One child gets sick, and suddenly the entire classroom is coughing. Sin works the same way—it doesn’t stay contained.

When we ignore sin, it doesn’t just affect us. It influences our families, our friendships, and our communities. Lies spread. Brokenness deepens. Selfishness grows.

But just as sin spreads, so does healing. When we take our sin seriously and allow God to change us, it impacts the people around us.

• When you let go of bitterness, you make room for reconciliation.
• When you overcome addiction, your family experiences freedom too.
• When you choose integrity, you set an example for those watching.

Jesus isn’t just trying to keep us from sin—He’s inviting us into something better. A healed life. A restored community. A deeper connection with God.

Unfortunately, this passage has been misused, especially in cases of abuse and abuse of power. Some have taught that victims must confront those who've caused harm for the sake of "reconciliation." But Jesus is not commanding people to return to harmful situations.

Reconciliation is about restoring what was broken, not forcing people back into toxic relationships and situations. If a church has used this passage to justify abuse or silence victims, that is wrong. Jesus is for healing, not harm.

Jesus doesn’t want us to name sin just for the sake of pointing fingers. His heart is for reconciliation with God, others, and within ourselves. The invitation to remove sin is an invitation to participate in the abundance of the Kingdom of God.

In Matthew 18: 21-22, Peter still missed the point, trying to limit the abundance extended to others. In the following parable about the king and servants, Jesus is trying to communicate that we’ve been given grace upon grace. God is deeply gracious and generous.

Freely we have received, and freely we are to give. We are invited to move through the world extending the same kind of grace we have received. Reconciliation is God’s plan.

Because God is gracious and generous, it’s safe to come to God like a child- with all the optimism, imagination, abundance. Living in this generosity begins to make us want to rid ourselves of all that keeps us from abundance. We begin to want to see others differently.

• Is there sin in your life that you’ve been ignoring? Maybe it’s time to take Jesus’ warning seriously and remove it.
• Is there a relationship that needs healing? If you’ve been estranged from someone because of sin, what would it look like to seek restoration? Boundaries are healthy; unforgiveness is not.
• Is there someone you need to reach out to? Jesus’ teaching reminds us that when someone is isolated, we should go to them in love. Jesus promises to be with us in this work.

Sin is serious. But grace is stronger. Jesus calls us to deal with sin not because He wants us to live in fear, but because He wants us to live in abundance, love, and freedom.