When a Bible Verse Feels Unsafe

The Best of You

Dr. Alison Cook

Mental Health, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 956 Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2026

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today's Scripture: Matthew 5:29–30 **Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.** Some Bible passages don’t just make us think—they make our bodies brace. In today’s reflection on Matthew 5:29–30, Dr. Alison Cook offers a compassionate way to read one of Jesus’ hardest teachings without fear, shame, or self-condemnation. This episode explores: *How fear-based religion can shape the way your body hears Scripture *What happens in the brain when the amygdala perceives threat *Why repentance means turning toward love, not turning against yourself *How God’s holiness always leads us toward healing and wholeness. Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Allison. Today's scripture offers us a wiser way of being human as we step into the day.
0:11.9	Some passages of scripture can land hard in the body. They don't just make us think. They can make us
0:18.1	brace or feel uncomfortable. Maybe your chest tightens, maybe your
0:23.0	stomach drops. Maybe a younger part of you starts to feel afraid, afraid that God is angry,
0:28.7	afraid that you're failing, afraid that if you struggle with sin, doubt, desire, anger,
0:32.7	or certain kinds of thoughts, then something must be wrong with you. Today's passage is one of those hard ones,
0:39.3	and I'm bringing it to you in response to listener requests
0:42.3	about how to understand verses that can feel severe,
0:45.4	frightening, or condemning,
0:46.5	especially when you're already struggling.
0:49.5	Today's scripture is Matthew 5, 29 through 30.
0:53.8	If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out, and throw it away.
0:58.5	It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
1:04.3	And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.
1:08.4	It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
1:11.2	body to go into hell.
1:14.9	Phew. Okay. That is a tough passage, so take a deep breath for a moment. Especially if you grew up
1:21.7	in a fear-based religious environment, you may have heard this passage used to terrify you.
1:27.2	You may have heard it as if you're
1:28.6	struggling, you'd better do something drastic or God is going to destroy you. So I want to say this
1:34.7	gently and clearly right here at the top. Jesus is not promoting self-harm. Jesus is not asking
1:41.1	you to turn violent against yourself or your body. And Jesus is not standing over you with contempt because you struggle.
	...

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