“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.” —Matthew 5:27–30
In our verses for today, Jesus again goes deeper than the mere act of the sin of adultery. As he considers the seventh commandment (“You shall not commit adultery” [Deuteronomy 5:18]), he challenges us to think about the motive behind the action.
Later in the New Testament, James puts it this way:
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.” —James 1:13–15
The source of temptation is found within our own heart, stemming from evil desires, lusts, or cravings. Sadly, a devious heart builds and baits its own trap. Unchecked lust yields to sin and unconfessed sin brings death. We are to restrain our sinful passions and appetites.
We find in Proverbs this warning:
“Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes; for on account of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man preys on your precious life.” —Proverbs 6:25–26
God is serious about sin. No matter how trifling we may consider it, God never winks at it. It cost Him the life of His Son. He justly and righteously abhors our wallowing in it like a cleaned sow returning to the mud. Sin will always break our communion with God and ultimately carries with it a death sentence. Jesus teaches us here that we are to restrain corrupt glances and keep out defiling impressions. We are to quickly flee the temptation to sin. These precepts are given as a hedge around us to keep our hearts pure.
This principle can be applied to anything that we are lusting after: fame, fortune, pleasure, comfort. Are you living an unsatisfied life always in pursuit of more worldly passions? Are you buying into the same lies that Eve bit into when she lusted for the forbidden fruit? God is holding out on me, there is more out there than He is willing to give me, my way is better than His, I can be more satisfied with created things rather than the Creator, I know better than my Maker.
All of these are eventually found wanting and lead to death. This is why Jesus speaks so severely regarding our sin.
We do well to watch over our hearts, suppressing the first rising of corruption and lust, avoiding occasions whereby we are prone to fall, and declining the company of those we are easily ensnared by. Basically, we are to keep out of harm’s way! If I am trying to diet, I shouldn’t be walking into an ice cream store! This is a relatively easy principle to understand.
God requires nothing of us that is not for our advantage and ultimate good. It is His desire to give us good things, things that are pleasing and perfect. We are the losers when we wrongly choose to follow the lusts of our own hearts.
“Therefore I will judge each person according to his conduct, O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity. Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I take no delight in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” —Ezekiel 18:30–32
Become More
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” —1 Samuel 16:7
Further Reflection
“The most important thing in life isn’t what we think about ourselves or what others think about us, but what God thinks about us. He is the final Judge. When He examines and evaluates our motives, words, and actions, are we commended, as was Abel, or are we condemned, as was his brother Cain?” —Warren Wiersbe