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b) Forbidding Adultery Signifies Seeking Purity (Matthew 5:27-32)
MATTHEW 5:27-30
27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (Exodus 20:14; 2 Samuel 11:2; Job 31:1; 2 Peter 2:14)
Christ is the divine legislator in the New Covenant. He confirmed the essential meanings of the old law and explained and developed them with the holiness of His love. He did not abrogate the previous commandments but fulfilled them by teaching and by His conduct. He had the authority to declare, “But I say to you.” In these verses, we read an exposition of the seventh commandment given by the same hand that had set the original law. He has the right and the wisdom to be the interpreter of it. This law against any uncleanness fitly follows upon the former. That one laid a restraint upon sinful acts, this one upon sinful intentions, both which ought always to be under the government of reason and conscience, and if indulged, are equally pernicious.
Christ loves sinners and invites them to salvation. Therefore, we should not despise any kind of sinner but rather love them. People usually point to a woman who conceived in sin or gave birth to an illegitimate son, condemning her evil deed, not knowing that they are more evil than her, for whoever looks at another person with the eye of lust is considered an adulterer before God. Men are full of lust, impure motives and unclean desires. We are all corrupt in our intents and dreams. There is no one who does what is right (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:12). So beware of hypocrisy and do not claim that you are better than the rejected and despised adulterer. Confess and say, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13).
Did you recognize that every man is a real sinner in his nature? Christ addressed the tempted sinner saying, “Pluck out your offending eye and throw it away.” Christ is aware of the intents of the heart, the source of evil. We are in need of a spiritual doctor to cure and renew our deceiving hearts. Even more, that He will “create in us a clean heart and renew a stedfast spirit within us” (Psalm 51:2).
If you cut off your offending hand, your tongue will remain, in spite of that, polluted with slander and evil words. None of the apostles carried out this command of Christ, but they received a new heart, cleanness of the Holy Spirit and divine purity. When Christ said, “Pluck out your eye” and “Cut off your hand,” He did not inspire us to practice that literally, but He wished to reveal to us our condition and show the extent of the danger, which lies in wait for us and can lead everyone of us to hell.
Our flesh is impure and our soul is evil from our youth. But the blood of Christ is able to cleanse our conscience of every deadly act, and His Holy Spirit builds in us the new desire that overcomes your flaming lusts. If you fall into sin, do not stay in its mud. Get up and resort to your Lord. He is aware of your longing for purity, and He supports you in achieving victory over self. Abide in Christ, for He is the only way to a pure life. He is the true Savior, and your faithful Helper who does not condemn you but continuously loves you. He waits for you!
PRAYER: O Holy Lord, we appear unclean before Your purity and holiness. Please forgive us every unclean thought, bad word and wrong action. Purify us completely. Create in us a clean heart through the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit. Forgive us our sins that we will follow Your guidance. Help us to avoid circumstances that lead us into immorality and adultery. Sanctify us completely that You may not separate us from Yourself.
QUESTION:
- How are we freed from the temptations that lead us to uncleanness and adultery?