Matthew 5:27-30 What Jesus Said About Adultery
Introduction: In Verses 21-26 we heard what Jesus said
about murder. Today we hear what He said
about adultery. At least we hear part of
what He said. Matthew records two other
events when he spoke on the subject which we will not now study. Actually Jesus is discussing the Law. He is pointing out that the Law is a lot more strict than most people realize.
A. A modern
dictionary defines it “Sex by a married person with someone he or she is not
married to.”
1.
This definition is in keeping with Hebrew dictionaries.
2. It
differs from fornication in that fornication is sex between unmarried persons.
B. Hebrew men in
Old Testament times had a loose interpretation of the Law. (See verse 27).
1.
They admitted that if a married woman had sex with any man other than
her husband, she was
guilty
of adultery.
2. But
they allowed themselves a lot more leniency.
3.
They could have sex with unmarried women and prostitutes.
4.
Only if they had sex with some other man’s wife did they commit
adultery.
C. The Law of God
had not permitted such a double standard.
(What was adultery for the goose was adultery
for the gander).
II. Adultery as Jesus explained
it.
A. Jesus said that
if a man looks on a woman to lust after her, he has committed adultery as far
as the
heart is
concerned. Verse 28
1. It
should be explained that Jesus did not condemn a husband looking on his wife to
desire
her. Hebrew 13:4
2. But
Jesus does condemn all sex outside of marriage.
B. The point that
Jesus made is that one does not have to run around with another woman to be
guilty
of adultery. (He can sit at home with his wife and commit
adultery with the women on
the television set).
C. It is
interesting that Jesus said nothing about a woman looking at a man to lust
after him.
1.
Probably this is because a woman’s passions are not aroused by looking
at a man’s body.
2. But
a man’s passions are aroused by looking at a woman’s body.
3.
Therefore a woman or girl who displays her body so as to cause a man to
commit adultery,
bears
part of the blame.
D. The scanty
dress, the sexy television and movies is a curse to our land.
1. It
is a thousand wonders that we have any decent young people.
2. It
is a thousand wonders we have any homes.
3.
There is no wonder there is so much venereal disease, rape, illegitimate
babies, incest, child
abuse and
homosexuality.
III. The seriousness of the sin
of adultery.
A. Today people
seem to take this sin so very lightly.
(It has become socially acceptable).
B. But Jesus saw
it as a deadly sin.
1. He
said “If your eye offends pluck it out.” Verse 29
a. If your eye looks and lusts and causes
the heart to commit adultery.
b. He said that it is better to live in
life without your eye than to end up in hell.
2. He
said, “If your hand offends, cut it off.” Verse 30
a. The hand plays a leading role in
flirtation that leads to the actual act of adultery.
b. It is better to go thru life without a
hand than to end up in hell.
3.
What Jesus meant was that adultery can get such a grip on people that
they will not repent
of their
sin and get saved.
C. Does Jesus
literally want a man to pluck out his eye or cut off his hand?
1.
Maybe not, but He does want us to know the seriousness of the sin.
2. If
you are unsaved, it can lead you to hell.
3. If
you are saved, it can lead somebody else into hell.
Conclusion: The one thing
that this text should convince you of is that you need Jesus Christ.
1. You need Him to save your soul. You cannot go to heaven by keeping the Law
because you cannot live that good. You
have already broken the Law. Call on Him
now for
salvation.
2. You need Jesus to help you live your life in
a way that pleases God. By His help you
can be morally clean. You can live a
faithful life to your mate. You who are
unmarried can be pure. You can shun
dirty television, dirty movies, and even dirty language.
3. You also need the aids which Jesus gave to
you. (The Bible to
guide you; the church to strengthen and encourage you).
Preached at