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“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt 5:27-28 NIV84) [see these verses in their context below]
Culture changes but human nature doesn’t
Things have changed since the time of Jesus but people haven’t. Centuries of history have gone by and the world as we know it today is radically different than when Jesus walked the earth.
New nations exist such as our own, never imagined in ancient times. Many empires have risen and fallen over the past 2,000 years. Cultural shifts continue to swing from one extreme to another.
But basic human nature doesn’t change. Cultural influences and national identities may be different but people are people at their core.
Most of the focus of psychology, philosophy, and religion is on changing what’s external. Yes, even the Christian religion tends to focus on appearances, behaviors, and practices. These have their place but changes on the outside don’t bring lasting internal change.
Many self-improvement techniques attempt to bring internal change but these are temporary at best. Why? Because we all revert to form over time—the form of our inner self—the core of our inner being.
Insights
Lust and adultery have been a common facet of human nature since the earliest times. I believe it goes back to the origin of FOMO when the first humans believed God was holding back something they should have. Whatever the origin lust and adultery continue to be part of our human experience.
Think of the political and professional wreckage of many leaders over the past few decades. Sadly, though not unexpectedly, this includes a fair share of Christian men and women.
Of course, we look at those who’ve fallen from grace and prominence with lament—there but by the grace of God go I. If only they hadn’t crossed that line of thought to action!
But this is our great deception. We think in degrees or shades of sin. If you don’t cross a line or get caught doing so, then it’s not as bad as it could’ve been.
Perhaps one of the more notable examples of this was President Clinton’s famous (or infamous) denial of sexual relations with a female intern. He questioned the meaning of how things were said. He used semantics to evade the truth.
In my counseling experience as a pastor, I’ve had my share of similar encounters with people. After confronting a mature Christian leader about his infidelity, he defended his actions and chided me saying, “Haven’t you ever looked at a woman with lust in your heart? Then you’ve committed adultery.”
This brings to mind another US president’s comments on adultery. In an interview with Playboy magazine before his election in 1976, President Jimmy Carter admitted he’d committed adultery in his heart when he looked lustfully at a woman. Of course, this stirred overreactions and brought self-righteous condemnations from others.
These three examples illustrate what Jesus means by committing adultery in our hearts. One man evades the truth, one justifies his actions by equating them with thoughts, while another admits his own weakness. The ones who fall often receive more mercy and understanding than the honest one. Such is human nature.
But what Jesus says next sounds like he expects us to perform extreme and radical surgery!
Redefining and Fulfilling God’s Law
First of all, the point Jesus is making is similar to what He said about murder in the heart. It’s the intent of the heart we need to be careful with. Yes, there’s a big difference between the act of committing murder or adultery than harboring such thoughts in our hearts and minds.
But these physical actions begin in the heart—our inner being.
When Jesus says we need to gouge out our eye or cut off our hand if either one offends us, He’s using figurative language (hyperbole). He’s not suggesting radical surgery on our bodies!
If this were to be taken literally, we should be able to recognize the honest Christians from the evaders of truth because they’d only have one eye, one hand, and one foot (Matt 18:7-9)!
Here is the essence of what Jesus means by all this—before things go too far, stop it. Deal with thoughts and feelings before they result in actions that have greater consequences. As James reminds us, sin runs a course that can be prevented—
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15 NIV)
We need to deal with dark desires and attitudes before they run their course to irreversible consequences. Our eyes, hands, and feet don’t have minds of their own. We don’t need to do radical surgeries on our bodies.
But we do need radical surgery on those destructive and disruptive attitudes and intents of our hearts. How do we do this? We repent. We go to the Lord and confess our struggle and ask Him for guidance and grace to put such thoughts to death.
Do you struggle with thoughts of lust or other disruptive feelings? Then get rid of them before they run their course and destroy you or others.
Reflection—
Whether it’s lust or anger or some other destructive thought or attitude, deal with it before it goes any further. Don’t let it run its course and cross a line you cannot see until you’ve crossed it. These may be common to all people but they bring ruin when allowed to prevail.
Prayer Focus—
When you struggle with lustful thoughts or other disruptive daydreams or fantasies, seek the Lord’s help sooner than later. Repent—turn to the Lord and ask for His mercy and grace to prevent you from going any further. Then rejoice and praise Him for those simple victories!
Devo Scripture Text
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
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.”
(Matthew 5:17-30 NIV84)