Read: Matthew 5: 27-30

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Reflect:
As the people heard the words of Jesus saying that “you shall not commit adultery”, I imagine that most people in the crowd felt pretty good about themselves at the moment. Like many of us, they could confidently say, “I have never committed adultery”, but then Jesus, who raises the bar also levels the playing field in the very next sentence.

Have you ever looked at someone with lustful intent? Jesus says adultery has already been committed in the heart. How many of us are still feeling confident in our performance now?  Not many.

The truth is most of us never wake up one morning and add “start an affair” on our to-do list.  Adultery begins in the heart and the eyes are a great pathway to the final destination of destruction.

As you read the Scripture, it is obvious that Jesus is not preoccupied with a legalistic view of life, but He warns us to make God-honoring choices. Jesus tells us to guard our eyes.  Avoid situations with a person who is not your husband/wife.  Take extreme actions. Put a filter on the computer.

Respond:

Today is a good time to take a self-inventory.  Wandering eyes? Lustful heart? How will I make choices today that will honor God?