Sunday, July 26, 2020
am
TEACHINGS OF JESUS
(13)
Sermon on the Mount (12)
Adultery and Lust
Matthew 5:27-30
We are continuing our study of the teachings of Jesus with a current
emphasis on the Sermon on the Mount.
We have begun a section of, “You have heard…But I say to you…”
examples of the righteousness that is expected of us.
As I have noted in this, I believe Jesus was both emphasizing the
true understanding of the LOM (unmanipulated) AND the coming kingdom.
What they both have in common is the heart behind our actions.
That is what Jesus is focusing on and what we need to understand
if we are to be pleasing to God.
In our last lesson on this subject we discussed murder and anger.
Jesus was teaching – don’t let it get to the point of murder by
controlling your anger, your tongue and dealing with your faults before
others. Today, we want to
address adultery and lust.
NOTE: This is an
uncomfortable and sensitive topic, but it is one that is addressed in
scripture and we cannot ignore it.
I have determined that in systematic textual studies, I would not
avoid the sections that make us uncomfortable.
But still, I will try to be as sensitive as possible as we deal
with what God’s word actually says.
a.
What is adultery?
It is unlawful relations with one married to another.
It is a form of fornication – which is defined as ANY unlawful
sexual relations.
b.
Clearly part of the
LOM –
Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18 - the 7th commandment.
So it was something understood early on.
It was also a capital offense – showing how serious God takes marriage
vows. Leviticus 20:10-14
Vs. 10 says, ‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife,
he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the
adulteress, shall surely be put to death.
This is followed by several
examples involving various family relationships that show adultery
carried the death penalty for BOTH parties.
c.
How had they
corrupted what the LOM taught?
i.
Possibly much like
today – by thinking that everything else is ok.
As long as you do not actually engage in the actual act, you are not
guilty of adultery, up to and including lustful looking.
And while legalistically that might be true, in posed big
problems with the Law of Moses (and today), not to mention problems
within the marriage itself.
ii.
By making exceptions.
Some might have viewed the man as guiltless, but the woman
guilty. In John 8 we find a
recorded example to consider – the woman is brought to Jesus, but where
is the man?
iii.
Add to this the sin
of divorce which Jesus addresses in vs. 31-32.
They would allow divorce for many unjustified reasons.
Jesus clarified what God intends – marriage is to be for life,
and it is to be a relationship of fidelity.
This factors in to a discussion of adultery and will be addressed
in our next lesson.
d.
The sinfulness of
adultery has not changed.
Under the law of Christ, adultery is STILL sin – 1 Corinthians 6:9,
Hebrews 13:4 – adulterers and fornicators God will judge.
e.
This is about the
sacredness of the marriage vows and marriage bed
- Hebrews 13:4. One thing that is clear in the NT, and under the LOM is
the sacredness of the marriage relationship.
Genesis 2:24 notes that they are to become one flesh.
In Matthew 19:3-6 - When asked about divorce for any cause,
Jesus was CLEAR that God intended it to be for life and that the two
become one flesh.
Paul in Ephesians 5:22-33 began to talk about the marriage relationship
and how the husband and wife are to view and treat each other.
1 Peter 3:1-7 also deals with this.
a.
While this is not a
lesson about husbands and wives per se, adultery is a violation of that
sacred bond. Thus
Jesus expresses His concerns about the legalistic approach.
b.
Whoever looks upon a
woman to lust for her…
Jesus goes further, in addition to not committing the act, don’t commit
it in the heart either.
That is where lust occurs.
i.
What is lust
– to strongly desire or crave after something that doesn’t belong to you
or that you cannot have it.
It is often associated with a sexual connotation, as in this verse.
But it can be that craving for
anything – cf. 1 John 2:15-17.
I believe that every sin we commit involves some degree of lust
or pride.
ii.
Looks
is a word that can mean more than a mere glace.
It is the leering or the second look or watching one.
Beauty is something to be appreciated, with modesty. But this doesn’t
end at with an appreciative glance, rather he looks to lust for her
– now he is entertaining impure thoughts about her.
He has desires for her that he has NO right to!
That’s the lust.
And it so often gets one into trouble.
Rarely does it end with an “look”!
iii.
We live in a society
that thrives on sensual lusts
– we are bombarded with immodesty (one who draws undue attention to
themselves – in this case, by wearing clothing that is too revealing –
cf. 1 Timothy 2:9-10), our sexually charged society – with immodest
images everywhere both in attitude and visually (it’s everywhere – in
advertisements, on television, in the movies, as you walk around and see
immodest outfits, on the computer, etc.), we have immodest activities
all around us with sporting events and other avenues that wear outfits
and make moves that are seductive and designed to make the eye “look”
(see above), as well as access to virtually anything immoral that one
can think of often piped into our homes via the internet, cable and
premium channels that offer uncensored choices. Pornography is a scourge
on our society that is purely lust driven and has done great damage to
marriages, homes, in workplaces and in the eyes of many as they view
women as objects.
And we can add to this a man who lack self-control and restraint.
NOTE that it is the man who looks that is addressed in the
text (though all parties involved would bear some guilt).
iv.
Thus we need to heed
the warnings against lust in scripture.
c.
This too was covered
in the LOM
– commandment 10 –
Exodus 20:17. Deuteronomy 5:21 – you shall not covet your neighbor’s
wife, (or anything else for that matter).
Isn’t it interesting that Moses includes someone else’s wife in
warning man not to covet?
The best-known example was David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) – David saw
her and lusted after her.
He then sent for her and committed adultery (she was complicit).
Solomon also warned about women who seduced men with “the attire of a
harlot” (Proverbs 7:10, 19 – she’s married; context 6-27)
d.
And it is part of the
New Law as well
–
1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 – we are to be sanctified and abstain from
fornication, by:
i.
Possessing our own
vessel in sanctification and honor
ii.
Not in passion of
lust like those who do not know God
e.
Adultery of the heart
– again, this is where sin begins.
Recall James 1:14-15, each one is tempted when he is drawn away
by his own desires and enticed…
NOTE again Matthew 15:18-19 – out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, etc.
IF you never lust you will not commit adultery (or fornication).
NOTE: That Jesus is not saying they have committed the actual act (any
more than anger and name calling makes one guilty of murder), but in
their hearts they have sinned and possibly imagined or thought about
that act. This is not
a passing glance! And it is EQUALLY sinful and must be repented of.
Remember, the heart MUST be at the foundation of our lives as
Christians.
f.
Take drastic measures
to prevent it
– Vs. 29-30 find Jesus giving a solution to prevent both adultery and
lusts. CUT OFF whatever
causes you to sin.
Jesus is NOT teaching literal self-mutilation.
That typically doesn’t solve the problem.
Rather, Jesus is saying that you take whatever steps you have to, so
that you avoid being condemned to an eternity in hell because you gave
in to your lusts.
Cut off the avenues that drive you to sin, whatever they may be.
If you have a problem with the lust of this text -
you may need to cut off television or the internet, or at least put
filters in place that keep you from being tempted.
Do like Job – “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I
look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1)
And this applies to many other areas of life as well –
financial spending, taking care of our health, those who struggle with
gambling or alcohol, etc. Take
drastic measures – quit going places that tempt you, change your friends
if needed, remove the temptations from your home, etc.
Again, the point Jesus is making, OVER AND OVER, is our need to live
godly from the inside out.
If the inside is clean, the outside will take care of itself.
That is CLEARLY a way to have a righteousness that “exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.” (Cf. Matthew 23:25-28).
Are you striving for righteousness according to God’s standard?
Think about it!