Sermon on the Mount Adultery and Lust

Matthew 5:27-30

You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who
looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right
eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of our
body 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 part of your body than for your
whole body to go into hell. (27-30)
The scribes and Pharisees had reduced the previous commandment against murder to pertain
only to the overt act, totally missing Gods concern for the attitude of the heart
In the same way, they processed the 7
th
commandment against adultery to apply to actions
only, again missing Gods concern for the heart and a divine accountability for our thoughts
The legalist believes you are right with God if you keep the letter of the law that is, if you
do NOT commit certain acts (such as murder and adultery, 5:21-30) and demonstratively
DO certain acts (observable practices such as public prayer, giving, and fasting, 6:1-18)
A concentration on these overt acts with no regard to our thoughts shows no realization of
sin, no comprehension of Jesus death on the cross, and no experience of new life in Christ
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7) as we think, so we become
Consequently, if we harbor attitudes such as anger and lust, Jesus tells us to take drastic
action to protect our hearts (Above all else guard your heart, the wellspring of life Pr 4:23)
Here Jesus uses an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis and even levity if your right eye
or your right hand causes you to sin, it is better to gouge out your eye or cut off your hand
A strict literal interpretation would result in an overpopulation of blind amputees but of
course this graphic hyperbole was intended not for self-mutilation but self-examination
A blind man can continue to lust, and a one-armed man can continue to hate and covet
We can take the active aspect of these words quite literally, for if there are activities or even
relationships that pull us into compromise and disobedience, they must be decisively cut off
The new creation in Christ (II Cor 5:17) may find it necessary to sever old relationships
and activities which are now stumbling blocks (new playmates and new playgrounds)
Jesus explained the relationship between our thoughts and actions, He likely anticipated an
objection that His words were too difficult and impossible to apply one might say, as long
as I have hands and eyes and live in this world, I cannot stop sinning
The admonition to gouge out and cut off body parts could be interpreted as Jesus
ridicule of the opinion that continued sinful behavior in the heart or in action is inevitable
An interpretation of verses 29 and 30: Repent from sin and take drastic action to live
according to your calling (For you have been called to live in freedom Galatians 5:13)
Jesus fulfills the law by reinterpreting the commandment, explaining Gods concern for the
heart, holding us accountable for thoughts as well as actions, and warning us of the
consequence of hypocrisy and habitual disobedience (it is better for you to lose one part
of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell)
Rather than falling into the heresy of minimizing the significance of sin (remembering that it
was sin that led Jesus to the cross), the Christian should hold to the mortification of sin
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature (Col 3:5, Rom 6:1-18)