Adultery in the Mind

In Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus has some pretty interesting words to say.  Let’s read them:  27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were pretty good at finding ways to divorce their current wife in order to marry someone else they found attractive; thus “technically” not committing adultery.  However, Jesus knew their hearts.  Jesus “expands” the law to cover adultery in the mind.  This is really good advice.  The Bible is full of warnings about sexual sin.  These warning are not idle threats.  Many, many lives have been ruined over sexual sin.  And all sexual sin begins in the mind.  If you don’t allow your mind to “go there”, there is a very high probability that your mind won’t “go there” either.

But Jesus says something else very interesting.  In a big of hyperbole, Jesus tells us that if it was up to us to fix this adultery problem, we might have to take some pretty drastic action; even to the point of losing an eye or a limb.  Thankfully the follower of Jesus can rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help him/her overcome these temptations, and keep all his eyes and limbs.  Do whatever it takes, but take advantage of what Jesus has already done!