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The Pharisees believed that they had kept every letter of the law—and prided themselves on what was on the outside. As Christ continues to underscore how important the heart is, He takes aim at sexual sin—and says that it isn’t enough to simply abstain from committing adultery, but that you have to keep it out of your mind as well.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. – Matthew 5:27-28
This would definitely been a shock to those hearing it, for it was one thing for a person to speak about something done in the open, but a whole other thing to talk about what a person thinks about!
As men, part of our wiring (especially before we are married, but even after) is to desire the companionship and physical intimacy of a woman. Their form is attractive. Their proximity is intoxicating. We desire them like nothing else—as has been proved time and again throughout history.
Jesus was pointing out in this comment that though many have not gone through with adultery—or fornication for that matter—many have thought about it. They have undressed women with their eyes, performed acts on them in their minds, and desired them in their hearts. And He says that this is equivalent to having done it—there’s no difference.
God measures man by a divine standard—He judges the heart. It’s not enough to be good on the outside, and that was never the point. The point was that we have to have a new heart—a heart that wants to please Him and that is clean from sin.
And yet there is only one way to be accepted by God in the heart, that is by being IN Christ. When we trust Christ and walk in Him, in the Spirit, we ARE right with God. That’s what makes the heart pure in the Father’s eyes.
I like the quote by C.D. Baker “Keep your eyes on Jesus and right living happens.” (From ‘101 Cups of Water’) Jesus lifted the standard so much higher than the Jews had believed in, making it even more impossible to live by, in our flesh.
This is what shows us that we REALLY need Christ. We can’t do anything of our own. (Not of works lest any man should boast) But I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Good article. 🙂
Sisterlisa´s last blog ..Where is Anxiety in the Bible?
Right on, Sisterlisa. Another thing that sparked this line of thought was this past week when we studied, in Sunday School, David after his sin with Bathsheba in Psalm 51. David could be a man after God’s own heart only after he got the sin out of the way. That sin was keeping him from being in communion with God– and it was that heart sin that was what David had to get out of the way to have fellowship restored.
God really is looking at the heart, if that’s right the rest will be in order. It’s what makes the Great Commandment and the Second work. The rest of the law illuminates this heart problem.