HAVING A HEART FOR GOD (4 OF 20)
by Tim Melton
Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30
This content is part of a series.
Having a Heart for God (4 of 20)
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Tim Melton
Matthew 5:27-30
''You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 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. 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)
Jesus is not teaching something new. He was merely quoting Exodus 20:14 where we find the Ten Commandments. This was the Law that God had given to Moses centuries before. All of the people listening that day would have been very familiar with this law. It meant that you should not be unfaithful to your spouse. Many of them probably smiled to themselves in their self-righteous way thinking ''well I have never committed adultery.'' But then Jesus continues. . .
''But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart''
In that moment the self-righteous smile disappeared. In these few words Jesus is taking His listeners to a place they had never been in their understanding of holiness. In the religious view of their day you were a righteous person if your outward behaviors were good. It was all about what you did instead of who you were. In these words Jesus reveals that God goes beyond the outward behavior and judges holiness at the heart level. The level of desire. We might be able to fool most of the people most of the time with our ''good'' behavior but God is not so easily deceived.
You have never committed adultery, but have you ever lusted after another man's wife or another woman's husband? It is not just adultery of the body that brings judgment. Adultery of the heart ...
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Tim Melton
Matthew 5:27-30
''You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 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. 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)
Jesus is not teaching something new. He was merely quoting Exodus 20:14 where we find the Ten Commandments. This was the Law that God had given to Moses centuries before. All of the people listening that day would have been very familiar with this law. It meant that you should not be unfaithful to your spouse. Many of them probably smiled to themselves in their self-righteous way thinking ''well I have never committed adultery.'' But then Jesus continues. . .
''But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart''
In that moment the self-righteous smile disappeared. In these few words Jesus is taking His listeners to a place they had never been in their understanding of holiness. In the religious view of their day you were a righteous person if your outward behaviors were good. It was all about what you did instead of who you were. In these words Jesus reveals that God goes beyond the outward behavior and judges holiness at the heart level. The level of desire. We might be able to fool most of the people most of the time with our ''good'' behavior but God is not so easily deceived.
You have never committed adultery, but have you ever lusted after another man's wife or another woman's husband? It is not just adultery of the body that brings judgment. Adultery of the heart ...
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