Fix Your Purity Series

Quick Sermons for Permanent Fixes Lesson 5

Fix Your Purity Matthew 5:27-37

Return to series this week. Examine Jesus’s words on adultery, divorce, and keeping your promises. There is a lot of power in these words and Jesus says there is a lot of power in our words. “I do” is a big thing to say. Marriage was designed to be a life sentence. It’s up to you whether it is in paradise or prison, but it’s designed for life.

Matthew 5:27-37

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

31 “Furthermore it has been said, ’Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ’You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 “But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37But let your ’Yes’ be ’Yes,’ and your ’No,’ ’No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

I. The power of a look – 5:27-28

A. Men, don’t take that 2nd look. You’re headed in the wrong direction the minute you think about a woman sexually.

B. The success of the pornography industry is all about the power of a lustful look.

Spurgeon - “You cannot help birds flying over your heads in the air, but do not let them alight and build nests in your hair.

C. Is this us? Does this happen to us on the street, at the magazine rack, in the movie theater or even at home watching TV?

D. Ladies – this verse is important for you, too. Let me be blunt. I am a man and the way some of you dress is obviously designed to get men to look at you.

E. I know that summer is coming and that is typically the time that skirts and shorts get shorter and necklines get deeper. When you get dressed, stop and remember that you are a Christian.

F. Realize that if he thinks those thoughts about you it is a SIN – it’s not revealing a little flesh to be flirtatious – it’s temptation to break God’s laws and think about something immoral.

G. Men are still guilty for their thoughts, but don’t give them any reason to sin because you wanted to show a little skin.

H. Jesus wouldn’t have warned us against this if he didn’t know it was a real temptation. The way some of you talk, you don’t treat this as a real temptation.

I. Would we say it was okay for a Christian to run a bar? NO! He would be helping people ruin their lives through alcoholism.

J. Would you walk around with a large bulls eye on your chest in a war zone? NO! You would take that seriously, but you don’t take this seriously.

K. Guys, control your thoughts. There is no REASON for thinking immoral thoughts about a woman. Even if she is scantily clad, it is still only an excuse.

L. Be like Job, Job 31:1 "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.”

M. Ladies, these guys are generally your friends, maybe even your Christian friends. Help them out in a battle for their souls.

N. This may go farther than just dress, though. Don’t leave your Victoria’s Secret catalog laying out. Better yet, cancel your subscription. 1) she has no secrets left to hide and 2) that stuff is little more than soft pornography. You may not be tempted by it, but think about your brothers in Christ.

II. How Serious is this?

A. You may think I am going overboard about this whole battle for your thoughts.