Matthew 5: Teaching about Adultery
27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, 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 hand—even your stronger 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 be thrown into hell.”
LUST! It’s as old as the human race and very deadly. In the Ten Commandments, God orders “You must not commit adultery.” But what if you have never physically committed adultery but have thought about it, perhaps even obsessing about it? What if you look at someone with a beautiful body and begin lusting after them and imagining having sex with them? According to Jesus, thoughts precede acts. Even though Jesus warns men against looking at women with lust in their hearts, the same warning applies equally to women.
Ever notice that when we want to do something we know is wrong, we immediately begin making excuses? “I’m just fantasizing.” “I’m not really going to do anything about it.” “I’m not REALLY hurting anybody.” “I can’t help myself.” “A little lust is actually natural.” If you must begin making excuses, you already realize you are considering something that is wrong.
Here Jesus is saying that even thinking about adultery is sinful and that we should take any measures necessary to avoid continuing down that path, even to the point of maiming ourselves rather than persisting in such thoughts.
“But,” you whine, “how am I supposed to stop thinking such things?” Ask God to help you. As soon as you sense a lustful thought beginning to enter your mind, pray “Lord, thank You that it’s Your will for me to have pure thoughts. Please help me to focus on You and not on lust.” Many times, Satan suggests lustful thoughts to us, nudging to see if we will participate and begin claiming those thoughts as our own. One tactic I have found highly successful is to counter with prayers for the salvation of those around me or prayers for revival. Pray long enough and Satan will go tempt someone else.
How else can you protect yourself? Be careful about the social media or videos or TV programs you view or the books you read. Philippians 4:8 tells us to meditate on those things that are “true, just, honest, pure, lovely, and of good report.” For my husband and me, reading is one of our main forms of recreation. If I realize a book is suggestive or has bad language, I will warn my husband and he will do the same for me. We hold each other accountable.
But what about commercials? True, advertisers shamelessly employ sex in an attempt to sell almost anything; however, you don’t have to pay attention. As soon as that commercial comes on, mute the TV or your phone or your computer. Fast forward through the commercials if possible.
These days, there are short stories on social media. Although the stories might be engaging, many times once you click on the link to complete the story, you find yourself exposed to pornographic material. The best thing to do is to eliminate all those sources, realizing that clicking on a link might also expose your phone or computer to viruses in addition.
Addiction to online pornography can happen to anyone. One godly pastor of our acquaintance found himself addicted and struggled for years before conquering that addiction. Sadly, that spiritual battle weakened his body to such an extent that eventually he succumbed to cancer.
There’s an old Sunday School song that warns us “Be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little eyes what you see.” We could equally sing “Be careful little mind what you think.” God wants all of your thought life to be pure without need for excuses.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help us to think the thoughts You want us to. Keep our hearts and minds pure and free from lust. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Leave a Reply