I'm gonna diverge from the original discussion here because you've raised an equally interesting issue. Are we spiritual beings? or are we physical beings?

Throughout biblical times, both in the old and new testaments, the prevailing belief was that human beings are animated bodies. In other words, you are your body. Under the view held by the original Christians, the soul is the spark of life that powers your body, but it is not who you are.

If you read the bible with this in mind, a lot of things make more sense. For example, and ironically, this example comes from the very chapter we have been discussing:

Mattew 5:29-30 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Notice that Jesus says it is your body that gets thrown into hell, not your soul.

When the bible speaks of the resurrection of the dead, it is for this very reason. They view a human being as an animated body. Therefore, if there is to be a judgement and another life, your body must return from the grave first. It was inconceivable for them that you might exist apart from your body, because in their point of view, you ARE your body; the soul is simply what gives it life.

The idea that we are not animated bodies, but rather embodied souls comes from other religions. Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other pagan religions teach that you are a soul trapped inside of a body. In modern times, it is the prevailing view of the New Age movement and Scientology.

Now, this isn't to say that we are not an embodied soul. Maybe we are. It is certainly feasible that Jesus did not explain the true nature of personhood to the disciples because they weren't ready to hear it. Thus, it might have been easier for him to use words that were easy for them to understand rather than going into needless details they weren't ready for. I do not dismiss the idea that we may in fact be souls trapped in a body. But I think it's very important that you realize that no one in the bible and no biblical writer held this view.

So, are we truly spiritual beings? Or are we physical beings with a spiritual spark giving us life?