What Jesus said about adultery

For those of us familiar with the gospel of Matthew, chapters five through seven are commonly called the Sermon on the Mount. As far as Matthew is concerned, it is largely here where Jesus makes his public debut.

It is worth noting that his audience was highly religious in composition, though not from a false perspective; Judaism was not the only religion of their time, just the only one that worshipped the true God. From this we can deduce that often times God’s people need to be preached at more than the lost. Just because you call yourself a Christian does not mean your life is pleasing to God — you must measure it by God’s word.

It is also worth noting that while Jesus was not “in” authority, he “had” authority. By the end of chapter seven we find this to be just the opposite of the scribes who, as teachers, were “in” authority but did not teach “with” authority. What this means for us is that it doesn’t matter what a man’s title is, but from where his message comes: Ministers of the gospel have no authority to countermand the word of God. What this also means is that no matter what is taught by one in authority, we are still responsible to do what Jesus says, regardless.

Hence we come to our topic, adultery, found in chapter five, verses 27 to 32. Basically, Jesus has only two things to say about it, both of which ran contrary to the accepted teachings of his time, and both of which are still very applicable in our day. His first teaching runs contrary to the popular notion of our day, “You can look, but you can’t touch.”

In verse 28, Jesus says, “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Let’s examine this for a moment. Jesus used the word adultery, a word specific for the violation of the marriage bed. While this in no way condones a wandering eye in the unmarried man, it is directed toward those who are married.

The truth is that while every man has the potential for physical passion, they are not unleashed until stirred up. That we live in a pornographic society and these passions are often stirred up in adolescence is without a doubt, but in a Judeo-Christian setting, these would be more often set in motion after marriage.

What’s more, what begins in the heart will be realized in the flesh. Have you ever wondered why Jesus talked about the eye in verse 29 and then the hand in verse 30? It would seem a little out of place ordinarily, but Proverbs tells us that the eyes of man are never satisfied. Thus, when a man allows himself to look, the time will come when he will allow his hands to become involved.

On a practical level, then, for Christian husbands everywhere, we must be like Job who made a covenant with his eyes. This means that there are places you cannot go because of what you will see. To be truthful with you, I stopped trying on clothes at Wal-Mart when the dressing rooms were by the lingerie department. This holds true for the magazine racks, movie rentals with “adult situations” and worse, as well as certain internet sites.

For you Christian wives out there, you need to understand the importance of guarding your home from what Proverbs calls “the strange woman.” The more of a woman your husband sees, the greater will be his temptation and the threat to your marriage. If you would not stand idly by and allow a woman to seduce your husband in person, why should you in pictures?

Furthermore, for you Christian ladies in general, you need to understand why it is important for you to dress modestly: It is because of man’s attraction to the female form. When you dress provocatively in tight clothes, or those tops that are low cut or expose the midriff, and outfits that show your thighs, you may be the cause of adultery in a man.

And if you would not feel right out in public in your underwear, you should not be running around the public pool or beach in a bathing suit for the same reason. While many men won’t mind, it is pretty hard being the light of the world to those who are committing adultery with you with their eyes.

Before I close, remember that it is Jesus who said, “But I say unto you….” Obedience is a choice, but consequences are not. While we may choose to disobey, the sin’s consequences are up to God.

Verses 31 and 32 next week.

Ron Hamman is pastor for Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229.