Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 18:8

"And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire." — Matthew 18:8 (ASV)

Jesus now abandons denunciation of the world’s causing his disciples to stumble and tells his disciples they may prove to be not only victims but aggressors. Certain attitudes nurtured by them toward other believers could also be sinful; thus, instead of being enticed to sin by outsiders, they would cause their own stumbling. Perhaps the particular believer-to-believer attitude that most needs rooting out is pride; thus vv.8–9 prepare for v.10.