Matthew 5:27-30 (NKJV) 27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 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,

Matthew 5:27-30 (NKJV) than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 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.

Sermon on The Mount: Matters Of The Heart (2) Matthew 5:27-30

SOM: Matters Of The Heart We continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7 Our last study together looked at 5:21-26 Jesus spoke previously about the Law of Moses and going beyond the plain message of the law

SOM: Matters Of The Heart More specifically, Jesus taught that not only was it wrong to murder, but also wrong to be angry without cause All the words and actions that follow the path of anger were also condemned by our Savior Peace is the route He desires for us

SOM: Matters Of The Heart He spoke of taking care of issues that we have with our brethren He also spoke of taking care of those issues we have with our adversaries or those of the world Christ continues in the text speaking of matters of the heart…

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 1. Starting Point (v. 27) Once again Jesus teaches in much the same way that any rabbi at that time would have taught Jesus also again refers back to the Law of Moses, most notably the 10 Commandments This time He chooses the sin of adultery

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 1. Starting Point (v. 27) Perhaps He chose adultery because it’s another one of those sins that we look upon in horror Or perhaps He chose adultery because it was a prevalent sin Either could certainly be true

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 2. Sin of the Heart (v. 28) Jesus once again begins verse 28 in the way He began verse 22 in the previous section “But I say to you…” Notice the authority that Jesus speaks with here It was unlike any other (7:28-29)

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 2. Sin of the Heart (v. 28) Jesus once again goes beyond just the plain words and teaching of this commandment Christ gets tough here by saying that whoever looks at a woman to lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart Sin begins in the heart (15:19-20)

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 2. Sin of the Heart (v. 28) The idea here (“looks at a woman to lust”) is to look again It’s not wrong for our eyes to pick up on a woman The first look is when we see a woman and notice her beauty and admire that

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 2. Sin of the Heart (v. 28) The second look is with a purpose because we already know what she looks like It’s the second look that begins to play out the affair in our hearts The second look is the dangerous look that begins the process we see in James 1:14-15

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 2. Sin of the Heart (v. 28) Jesus is trying to keep us away from the edge of the cliff He wants to keep us off the road that leads to the sin of adultery If we never get on the road, then we don’t have to worry about the sin

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 3. Purity at All Cost (vs. 29-30) Christ wants us to keep our hearts pure He knows and understands that all sins begin there Whatever it takes, we need to do our best to stay pure and avoid sin This is where Jesus goes in vs. 29-30

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 3. Purity at All Cost (vs. 29-30) Does Jesus mean that we should literally gouge out our eyes? No, otherwise we would have a lot more blind men The principle is one that should be easy to understand

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 3. Purity at All Cost (vs. 29-30) If there is something that causes us to sin or stumble, we need to cut it out of our lives, or get rid of it It’s better to go through life without _______, than to lose our souls because of it Verse 30 repeats the same idea

SOM: Matters Of The Heart 3. Purity at All Cost (vs. 29-30) This effectively eliminates any excuses we have to live a sinful lifestyle This means that we must think about our spiritual lives and examine where we fall short We then do whatever is necessary to get it right…because our souls depend on it