Thoughts vs. Sin!

The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile. (Psalm 94:11)

The above scripture should be reassuring to each of us. Many people believe that every unrighteous thought they have is sin, but God doesn't see it that way.  God knows some of the thoughts we have are just futile, which means incapable of producing any result.  We see many images on tv and computers or hear all kinds of things on the radio and from other people.  Most of that stuff we don't remember, "it goes in one ear and out the other".  Thoughts become sin when they go in our minds and stay there, leading us to contemplate how to bring that desire to fruition.  Jesus explains this very well regarding adultery: You have heard that it was said to those of old,‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (Matthew 5:27-28)

God gave the ten commandments.  The first four deal with our relationship with God. The remaining six deal with our relationship with eachother.  The 10th commandment is very interesting: You shall not covet... (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21)  Covet means to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others.  Coveting is sin because it leads to jealousy and envy, actually wanting what someone else has, not just wanting something similar as someone else's but wanting theirs.  We all see other people with things we may desire to have also, and having the thought is fine, but when it becomes more and turns into coveting, that's sin: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

All kinds of thought and ideas come into our mind.  Let's just be mindful of what we allow to stay in our hearts, and what actions we allow those thoughts and ideas to lead to: When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” ... Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, ...” (Matthews 15:10,15-20)