As the Sermon on the Mount continues, the Lord highlights three areas which human society has often undervalued: adultery, marriage and speech. In this article we see how the Lord gets to the heart of adultery.
Throughout this section of the sermon, the Lord is taking principles from the Mosaic covenant and “raising the bar” of divine expectation. The first use of the expression, “You have heard that it was said”, introduced the section about the serious sin of anger addressed in the previous article in this series. Here, again, the phrase is used by the Lord as He lays out the rule of His kingdom when it comes to sexual purity:
“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).
The Lord begins by taking His hearers back to the ten commandments and the clear prohibition on adultery. However, He then cuts to the heart of the issue and addresses the diagnosis rather than the symptoms. One of the most prominent examples of the devastating consequences of adultery is the story of David and Bathsheba. It all begins with a look: “. . . from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold” (2 Samuel 11:2). From lust to lies, betrayal and murder, the trail of destruction that this sin leaves in its wake serves as a stark warning. This was not simply a case of “happening to see” Bathsheba, but a look that deliberately cultivated lustful thoughts and intentions.
How does the Lord expect those in His kingdom to deal with this? To continue the medical illustration, He demands radical surgery. This metaphorical language is an expression of the uncompromising seriousness with which followers of Jesus Christ are to deal with sexual temptation. We all need to ask ourselves the hard questions. Do the things we watch and read encourage us to live a life of purity? Or, on the contrary, are we actually consuming entertainment which opens us up to potential spiritual disaster? It is good to remember the example of Joseph, who, when he was enticed by Potiphar’s wife, “left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside” (Genesis 39:12).
Is this sort of purity realistic in a society like ours today? It has always been hard. The sinful instincts of the human body and mind remain unchanged. However, the rapid acceleration of technology in recent decades has made it possible for people to consume potentially harmful material incredibly easily and anonymously. We need to think seriously about how we are going to intentionally engage with the digital world as those whose hearts are set on purity. Paul laid down this challenge to the Christians in Philippi:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
He would not have had to provide this exhortation to the Philippians if it was guaranteed that Christians would do this automatically. The world system, manipulated by Satan himself, seeks to appeal to the sinful instincts within our flesh. The media wants to offer us that which is false, impure and shameful. Facing this head-on will require a continual conscious choice on our part, in reliance upon God, to reject this diet, replacing it with one that will feed our souls. In Psalm 119 we hear the challenge of this resolution that applies to all followers of Christ:
“How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You”
(Psalm 119:9-11).