Forbidden Desire ~ Matthew 5:27-30

Good evening, and welcome to the Panhandle. Tonight's study is not one a lot of people like to hear or read. Many see pointing out adulterous acts as judgmental, narrow minded, even hypocritical. But is it judgmental when it's the Bible pointing it out? Is it narrow minded when Christ Jesus addresses the issue? And don't get me started on liberally applying the term hypocritical because a Christian is involved.

Lust and then adultery they go hand in hand. And in today's society it is rampant. Let's face it the moral compass doesn't exactly point to God any more. So before you close this post in a huff, come in sit down and let's open God's Word and see what has to say on this subject, what Christ Jesus has to say on this subject.

Martin Luther once said, “You can't prevent the devil from shooting arrows of evil thoughts into your heart; but take care that you do not let such arrows stick and grow there.” As our Lord, Christ Jesus discussed the subject of sexual purity, He indicated that adultery begins with thoughts that are allowed to grow.¹

Last week we looked at a new standard given by Christ Jesus concerning murder and slander in verses 21 and 26. Now here in verses 27-28 we see Christ Jesus's second example of the new standard by which we are to live. The law found in the 10 Commandments states, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). The Jewish religious leaders found the sin of adultery so serious that it was punished by death (Leviticus 20:10). But once again Christ Jesus states that not only the forbidden action, but also the forbidden thought is cause for guilt in the sight of God.²

The word “adultery” means “marriage breaker”; it has to do with violating one’s covenant. This passage is addressed to the married in its primary meaning, although the teaching on pure thoughts and high regard for the personage of others is a valid secondary interpretation. Married or single, purity calls us to the highest regard for others, to see them as persons and not as bodies to be used for our pleasure³

Matthew 5:27-30

27 "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 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. 30 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.

1. What is Lust?

Like He did with murder, Christ Jesus drew the command concerning adultery directly from the Ten Commandments.⁴ Once more the Pharisees were looking at the letter of the law and not the intent of the law. And so the Pharisees said the commandment on adultery could only be broken by the overt sexual act.

An inward attitude: Christ Jesus indicates that when one uses their eyes to excite lust and passion outside of marriage, they have committed the inward sin that most often leads to adultery. To be sure here, Christ Jesus isn't talking about the natural, normal desire, which is apart of human instinct and human nature. He did not mean that looking at the opposite sex is a sin. The sin isn't in the looking but in the evil purpose of the look.

So, Christ Jesus is talking about a person who looks at a person with the deliberate intention of lusting after them. This is the person who suffers from the guilt of the act even though they have not committed the act. Temptation becomes sin when one looks at someone and says, “I would commit the act of adultery with them if I had the opportunity.”

2. What Harm Can Lust Do?

Lust transform good into evil. The loss of one eye or one hand can't in itself prevent a lustful look or thought. Using the hyperbole of tearing out an eye or cutting off a hand Christ Jesus is teaching us that nothing should be kept in our lives that leads to sexual impurity.

With this word-picture Christ Jesus emphasizes deliberate, decisive action in dealing with our tendency to sin. As Tasker (Christian theologian) writes, “Jesus is expressing in metaphorical language the all-important truth that a limited but morally healthy life is better than a wider life which is morally depraved.”⁵

There is nothing evil about intimacy within marriage. Within marriage intimacy is a good and beautiful thing. It is a God approved covenant. However when two people covenant to be husband and wife, for one to entertain thoughts of relating sexually to someone other than their spouse makes that one guilty of breaking covenant. So Intimacy outside of marriage is reduced to sexual sin, adultery. And then something meant for good is transformed into something evil.

Lust destroys. Casting away and plucking out speaks of destruction to one's body. Lust can destroy our bodies, our influence, and our character. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, HIV/AIDS to name just a few STDs. Divorce and absent parents. Abortion as a contraceptive (the day after pill or as one brand has labeled itself “Plan B” pill. In the final analysis, unrepentant lust will destroy a person's soul.

Lust leads to forgetfulness. It has been said, “What you think you are!” If a person thinks lust, they will finally act out adultery. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." (Mark 7:21-23).

Lust causes us to forget that our bodies are a “living sacrifice” that is presented to God. (Romans 12:1-2). Lust causes us to forget that our bodies are the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20), and is not to be defiled by sex between unmarried couples, by adultery.

A sensual relationship, in God’s order, can be a joyous aspect of the love in which two people give themselves completely to each other in the marriage covenant. But like with so many things in this life it can be perverted into selfish gratification and exploitation of another. Making us forget how wonderful God originally designed sensual intimacy to be.

So far we have looked at some pretty negative stuff. We've look at “what is lust?” and at “what harm can lust do?”. Now let's look at some practical advice on how to overcome lust.

3. How Can One Overcome Lust?

Work at it. Christ Jesus has called us to live in the real world, but to do so with sexual responsibility.

How do we get victory? By purifying the desires of the heart (appetite leads to action) and disciplining the actions of the body. John Ruskin (19^th century philosopher) wrote, “No one can ask honestly or hopefully to be delivered from temptation unless he has himself honestly and firmly determined to do the best he can to keep out of it.”

Practice God's presence. What you are afraid to do in man's presence, be afraid to think it in God's presence. The destruction of sin begins in the heart ~ Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. (Psalms 24:3-4). Someone has well said, “What you want to become tomorrow, your thought life must be today.”

Refuse to feed the flesh. The apostle Paul admonishes, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Romans 13:14). We feed the flesh through the eyes, the ears, and the lips. Christians must avoid all that feed the flesh with ideas that lead to adulterous thoughts and actions. We must be discerning in what we hear and what we say.

Do not delay. Christ Jesus said, “Deal immediately and decisively with sin! Don’t taper off—cut it off!” Spiritual surgery is more important than physical surgery, because the sins of the body can lead to eternal judgment. Victory over the desires of the heart, must be attended with painful exertions. But it must be done.

All our senses and powers must be kept from those things that lead us to transgress. Always remember this, there is tender mercy under all the Divine commands given to us by Christ Jesus. And the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit will enable us to find that tender mercy.⁶

One of the stories in Homer's Greek mythologies is about an island that is inhabited by beautiful, seductive maidens whose songs caused several ships to perish on the reefs that surrounded the island.

Ship captains had tried several methods to foil the temptation. They filled the ears of their sailors with wax so that they would be deaf to the seductive songs of the sirens. Ulysses plugged his sailors' ears with wax and tied himself to the mast of the ship. As he heard the seductive singing, he was kept safe by the tight ropes that bound him.

But Jason and his crew found the best method. He took on board his ship Orpheus, the sweetest singer of his day. As they neared the island, Orpheus played his lyre and sang a song far grander than the songs of the maidens. The cheap, seductive songs were no match for the sweet singing of Orpheus.

A Christian can best overcome lust and bypass adultery by filling our minds and lives with things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellence, worthy of praise, and dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8).

Thanks for dropping by. I pray our Father's blessings on you and your family.

Biblesurfer 

1Crabtree, T.T. - 2011 Pastors Annual

2Barclay, William – the Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1

3 Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Matthew (Vol. 24, p. 18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

4Weber, Stuart K. - Holman New Testament Commentary

5 Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Matthew (Vol. 24, p. 18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

6 Henry, M., & Scott, T. (1997). Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Mt 5:27). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.