1. Learning to Live Without Lust
Matthew 5: 27-30
Also Thanks to James Bryan Smith “The Good and Beautiful Life”

2. Learning to Live Without Lust Matthew 5: 27-30
12 year old boy to dad, “When is it OK to kiss a girl?”
Dad explained ‘Fosters Triangle’…
Church mostly silent in sex obsessed culture?
~14,000 references on TV per year, average person will see ~100,000 references.

3. Learning to Live Without Lust Matthew 5: 27-30
Two major false narratives:
*All sexual desire is sinful. (False!)
*All sexual desire is good. (False!)
Jesus has true narrative: Do not lust…
Epithumia translated “looks lustfully” does not mean sexual attraction but to intentionally objectifying, degrading, disrespecting, dishonoring, etc.

4. Learning to Live Without Lust Matthew 5: 27-30
In Jesus kingdom we seek honorable relationships, not based only on desire.
In that day adultery was only applied to women, Jesus is saying everyone must be pure inside and out.
In Jesus Kingdom we are to honor everyone! (NO abuse!)
“Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Don’t just change outward behavior…
Really ‘pluck out eye’? (NO, ‘reductio ad absurdum’…)
…means ‘reducing to logical absurdity’
He’s attacking false notion the sin is in the body part.
Cut off offending part and sin is gone??? Absurd!

5. Learning to Live Without Lust Matthew 5: 27-30
Heart changing solution is to be close to God/Kingdom!
Fosters Triangle:
Sides are levels of:
Commitment Intimacy
No commitment = no intimacy
Max commitment = = Marriage!
Triangle helps show not all intimacy is evil…
…but MUST be in proper boundaries of commitment.

6. Learning to Live Without Lust Matthew 5: 27-30
Intimacy without commitment diminishes people, results in remorse, regret, and shame.
Love values other person, epithumia degrades the other.
God wants us to have full satisfaction – in Christ!
Remember 5:20? “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus wants us to be wholesome and clean inside and out!

7. Learning to Live Without Lust Matthew 5: 27-30
Jesus Kingdom gives us something that satisfies.
Remember the 12 year old boy?
Mom or dad might still say, “Remember the triangle!” (Intimacy must be with commitment!)
Seek God‘s Kingdom with our whole heart!
Avoid every kind of sin that keeps us from close loving relationship with God and each other.
He has full satisfaction, abundant gifts and blessing for each and all of us…
…as we wait on him, trust him, give him our all!