“You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronoy 5:18)
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30)
Adultery is more than just the physical act of sex between a man and a woman who are married to other people. Jesus says whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Adultery starts in the heart. ALL sin starts in the heart! God does not play about adultery. When Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister, so that the king of Gerar would be merciful towards him while they were journeying through his land, Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (Genesis 20:2-3) After reading the rest of this account, we understand that God spared Abimelech due to some extenuating circumstances, but God would have killed him had God not withheld you [Abimelech] from sinning against Me [God]; therefore I did not let you touch her! (Genesis 20:6) Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. (Proverbs 6:32)
The way to avoid failing in this area of our lives is to not allow ourselves to be tempted in the first place. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived wrote, I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am determined to be wise.” But it didn’t work. Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find. I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness. I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare. (Ecclesiastes 7:23-26 NLT) Easier said than done many times, but if we are Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, ...be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (I Corinthians 10:12-13)
As Jesus states above, it's better to lose a body part than to give in to the temptation of committing a sin. Well, Jesus doesn't really expect us to do that. What He does expect us to do is the same thing He told the woman who was caught in adultery, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17) If mankind could do all God required on our own, God wouldn't have sent His Son to die for our sins. He didn't come to throw our sin in our faces. We know as well as He does what our problems are, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Before we were saved, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, denying ourselves was and still is very difficult. Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:1-5) Therefore, now that we are saved, ...do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) It's not easy to control our desires on our own, but remember we're not doing it on our own; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13)
The lessons of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount"! Refer to the previous lessons, to study the entire sermon in context:The "Beattitudes" Lesson!; "Salt & Light" Lesson!; Importance of The Commandments!; "You Shall Not Murder" Lesson!; "You Shall Not Commit Adultery" Lesson!; 'Til Divorce Do Us Part?; Watch Our Mouth, and Responses!; Don't Be A Hypocrite, A Show-off!; God and His Kingdom First!; Don't Judge; Be An Example!; Follow The Leader!; Not Just Hearers, but Doers Also!
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30)
Adultery is more than just the physical act of sex between a man and a woman who are married to other people. Jesus says whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Adultery starts in the heart. ALL sin starts in the heart! God does not play about adultery. When Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister, so that the king of Gerar would be merciful towards him while they were journeying through his land, Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (Genesis 20:2-3) After reading the rest of this account, we understand that God spared Abimelech due to some extenuating circumstances, but God would have killed him had God not withheld you [Abimelech] from sinning against Me [God]; therefore I did not let you touch her! (Genesis 20:6) Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. (Proverbs 6:32)
The way to avoid failing in this area of our lives is to not allow ourselves to be tempted in the first place. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived wrote, I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am determined to be wise.” But it didn’t work. Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find. I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness. I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare. (Ecclesiastes 7:23-26 NLT) Easier said than done many times, but if we are Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, ...be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (I Corinthians 10:12-13)
As Jesus states above, it's better to lose a body part than to give in to the temptation of committing a sin. Well, Jesus doesn't really expect us to do that. What He does expect us to do is the same thing He told the woman who was caught in adultery, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17) If mankind could do all God required on our own, God wouldn't have sent His Son to die for our sins. He didn't come to throw our sin in our faces. We know as well as He does what our problems are, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Before we were saved, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, denying ourselves was and still is very difficult. Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:1-5) Therefore, now that we are saved, ...do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) It's not easy to control our desires on our own, but remember we're not doing it on our own; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13)
The lessons of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount"! Refer to the previous lessons, to study the entire sermon in context:The "Beattitudes" Lesson!; "Salt & Light" Lesson!; Importance of The Commandments!; "You Shall Not Murder" Lesson!; "You Shall Not Commit Adultery" Lesson!; 'Til Divorce Do Us Part?; Watch Our Mouth, and Responses!; Don't Be A Hypocrite, A Show-off!; God and His Kingdom First!; Don't Judge; Be An Example!; Follow The Leader!; Not Just Hearers, but Doers Also!
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