Timeless Truths: Hope for Wandering Hearts and Eyes – Part 1
Timeless Truths: Hope for Wandering Hearts and Eyes – Part 1
10/13/16
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, 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.
[Matthew 5:27-30]
All Scripture quotations are from the NIV.
We start with this assumption:
Everyone wants a good, exciting, beautiful life.
- The blessed life may not be the most “natural,” but if you let the Holy Spirit transform you and trust Christ, you can live the blessed life.
- The cutting of body parts probably indicates that sexual thoughts are unavoidable.
- Jesus did not blame females for the impure thoughts of males. He could have done that in the culture in which He lived without fear.
- Sexual desire is never evil—neither is it good.
- Lust is really a desire to “turn upon” (to slaughter) another person for personal sake.
- Epithumia is the term translated lustfully. The derivation of the term is epi = over and thymos – an outburst of passion. This is literally a desire with intent to steal
Special thanks to Pastor Beverly Cook for the primary teachings used above. We return to her thoughts and teachings on this topic next week.
Another look into the meaning of verses 27-28: From http://www.godrules.net/articles/mat5.htm
[his passage,] Jesus was [referring to] the 10th of the 10 Commandments:
| LXX- Greek Septuagint "γυναικα 1135 του 3588 πλησιον 4139 σου 4675 ουκ 3756 επιθυμησεις 1937 5692" - Exodus 20:17 | |
Note the same key terms for "woman" and "lust" are present within both passages, showing Christ was paraphrasing the 10th Commandment. The IVP Bible Background Commentary explains:
"The Greek word here is the same as in the opening line of the tenth commandment in the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament): 'You shall not desire your neighbor's wife' (Exodus 20:17)" - The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Matthew 5:27-30 |
"Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery (unlawful intercourse w/ another man's wife): 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh (sets mind upon) on a woman (wife) to lust (desire or covet) after her hath committed adultery (unlawful intercourse w/ another man's wife) with her already in his heart." |
To me this explanation helps clarify the meaning. GodRules.net continues
[If] we take the Greek meaning of the term "lust" (which means any desire in general), we discover the passage to be saying literally, "whosoever looks at a woman and desires her has committed adultery in her heart". Which means you literally cannot desire any woman in general. [One defensible conclusion is] that all men have sinned being in any relationship with a woman, even if they had the most innocent of "desires".I do not offer GodRules.net’s explanation as the ultimate truth. His argument is based on his interpretation of the Greek terms in this and other Scriptures.
My hope is always--and especially today--that these Timeless Truths make you think, dig deeper into Scripture, and examine your own life in a new way.
Next Thursday's Timeless Truths Series: Hope for Wandering Hearts and Eyes… A view from Colossians
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