Adultery in the Heart

11. June 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text for today is Matthew 5:27 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend  thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”  

Today, Jesus deals with the seventh commandment which is “thou shalt not commit adultery.”   Remember earlier that we defined the spirit of the law verses the letter of the law.  The spirit of the law is the original purpose of the law in its entirety when it was given and not just the technicality of it (the letter).  

In this instance, Jesus taught that if a man looks on a woman to lust after her he has already committed adultery in his heart.   There’s that word again, heart.   Jesus is concerned about the heart.    Let’s look at the original grammatical structure of the word “looketh” for a moment.    It does not mean just a one time glance.  It means a continuation. 

We all will agree that we have thoughts that come to us that are ungodly.  The problem is when we entertain those thoughts and meditate on them to the point that we desire or lust after it.  Yes, negative and ungodly thoughts will come and that is not the sin.  The sin is when we entertain those thoughts. 

The scriptures teach us to cast down thoughts and imaginations which are contrary to the word of God.  II Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”   

Jesus then uses a figure of speech called an “hyperbole” which is a type of figurative language which shares an extreme exaggeration to prove a point and in this case to show how serious it is to lust after a person to the point that you keep them in your thoughts and heart.   

Jesus says this is adultery in the heart and it is dangerous.     He uses the phrases “And if thy right eye offend  thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”     

I think we all will agree that this is not to be taken literally, but it is figurative language used to show the seriousness of lust.    Okay everyone including me, let’s check our hearts.  Are we longing for something or someone that is “off limits” and we know it.   

I’ve known people who were so convinced that God told them that a certain man or woman was theirs and they carried that person in their heart and the person ended up marrying someone else.    I don’t know what they expect God to do.  I don’t know if they are waiting on the spouse to die or hoping the marriage will end in divorce.   Let it go!!!!    

We have got to find a way to cleanse our hearts.  For so many of us, it is blocking our spiritual growth and the ability to experience the “abundant life” that Jesus came to give.    I know people want some magic answer but I find that the basics of prayer, meditation, and reading God’s word daily works.  It works.   A consistent word and prayer life brings victory to your defeat and healing to your hearts and comfort to your loneliness.   

Tomorrow, we begin our study on divorce.  We’ll be on this subject for a while.   

God Bless. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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