The phrase "as far as the east is from the west" is a figure of speech Jesus (or more accurately, the Psalmist from whom the phrase originates) used to emphasize the
complete and utter removal of sin. It's a powerful way to describe the limitless extent of God's forgiveness.
Here's a breakdown of what it means and why it's so effective:
* East and West are fundamentally different: Unlike north and south, which eventually meet at the poles, east and west are *always* opposite each other on a circle. They never converge. You can travel north continuously until you reach the North Pole and start going south. You can't do the same with east and west. If you travel east for long enough, you'll come back around to where you started. East and West are eternally separated.
* Infinity: This separation implies infinity. You can't measure the distance between east and west because they are conceptually opposite directions. It's not a fixed distance; it's an unbounded concept.
* Complete Removal: Therefore, when God casts our sins "as far as the east is from the west," it means that our sins are completely and irrevocably removed. They are not simply forgotten; they are banished to a place (conceptually) that is infinitely distant from us.
* Forgiveness and Reconciliation: This image conveys the depth and completeness of God's forgiveness. He doesn't just minimize or overlook our sins. He *removes* them entirely, making reconciliation and a new relationship possible. It means there is no limit to God's grace and forgiveness.
In essence, the Psalmist's words describe a divine act of oblivion where our sins are banished from God's memory, never to be held against us again. It's a message of profound hope and redemption.
The verse in the Bible where this is found is Psalm 103:12: "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." While the wording is from the Psalms, the concept aligns perfectly with Jesus' teachings about forgiveness and grace in the New Testament.