“‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust 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 for you to lose one of your members 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 of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Matthew 5:27-30
Through the seventh commandment Jesus raises the bar, teaching us that sin begins in the heart, not just in our actions.Our sexual desires, while not inherently bad, were designed by God for the sacred covenant of marriage. Are we treating these gifts with the reverence they deserve, or have we fallen into a consumer mindset? In this week’s Sunday message, Pastor Luis Guerrero calls us to take radical steps towards purity and holiness, not out of shame, but out of a desire for true freedom in Christ.
What is the context?
- God’s commandments are given to us out of love, that we would live a life full of delight and goodness.
- Adultery was a serious offense, but according to ancient Jewish culture, women often bore the brunt of the punishment (Leviticus 20:10).
- When Jesus speaks about adultery in Matthew 5, he’s not letting men off the hook—He’s raising the standard. It’s not just about behavior modification—it’s about what’s in your heart.
What Jesus addresses in Matthew 5…
Adultery
- Adultery is the act of infidelity, the violation of a sacred bond, and a betrayal of trust.
- In Jewish culture, it adultery was a understood as a sin and frowned upon.
- Adultery is more than just dishonoring a spouse—it dishonors God and His design for intimacy.
- It is possible to commit adultery within the context of marriage but also outside of it.
Covenant
- The question we have to ask ourselves is this: What is my view of marriage?
- The idea and word “marriage” can be informed by life experiences, movies, social media, and family.
- Scripture describes marriage as being a covenant—a spiritual bond that is sacred, holy, and deeper than we realize.
- Culture can tell you that marriage is just a signed document or a mutual agreement to meet each other’s needs, but God’s design is different. It’s meant to last.
- Because we see that culture treats marriage lightly, it can lead us to treating sexuality lightly.
- When we see sex through a consumer mindset, it makes marriage just a preference instead of a commitment.
Lust
- Lust can be outworked externally in our actions and internally in our thoughts.
- Lust expressed in action
- Lust is expressed in action when we move from a desire that started in our minds that turns into action.
- Lust begins in the mind
- The act of lust happens long before the action is actually completed: it starts in the mind and happens when no one else knows.
- Lust isn’t just sexual thoughts—it’s desiring something or someone in a way that dishonors them and disregards God.
- Fantasy and imagination
- Emotional lust
- Lust for power and control
- Lust for attention and validation
Do Whatever It Takes To Be Free
- Jesus calls us to radical action so that we would not be enslaved to our desires, but to walk in freedom.
- If you continue feeding your cravings and desires, it will eventually begin to affect your soul.
- What practical steps can you take to guard your heart and mind today?
Additional Resources:
Dinner Party Questions:
- How does Jesus' teaching on adultery and lust challenge our modern understanding of relationships and sexuality?
- What are some practical ways we can guard our hearts and minds against lust in today's hyper-sexualized culture?
- In what ways can we shift our focus from merely avoiding sin to actively pursuing a deeper relationship with Christ as the ultimate satisfaction for our needs?
Put It Into Practice:
8 Tools for Temptation
- Recognize that you will be tempted
- Rely on God’s strength, not your own
- Use scripture as a weapon
- Guard your heart and your mind
- Pray that you would be delivered
- Flee from the places where temptation exists
- Stay accountable
- Renew your mind
