Today we will be looking at Matthew 5:27-32.
If you do not have a Bible with you the Scripture passages can be found on the bulletin insert.
(ME)
I have always been amazed at how plainly the Bible talks to us. Though inspired of God and full of deep content the Scriptures are relatively easy to understand. The problem for most is not understanding what the Scriptures say - it is in how to apply them in everyday life.
This morning I am going to talk about a very sensitive subjects: adultery, lust and divorce. There is within me the desire to overlook these subjects. They can be embarrassing to talk about. And because so many are wounded by adultery and divorce I know the subject can, if not handled with grace, reopen some of those wounds.
On the other hand, as an undershepherd, I recognize that God’s Word speaks to these topics and so I must declare the whole counsel of God. And, because there are so many wounded I must allow God’s Word to speak this morning as a preventative measure against further damage.
(TRANSITION) With all that said, let’s do just a little review and then jump into God’s Word.
(WE)
In our study so far of Matthew 5 we have seen that Jesus is doing some pretty plain teaching about life in His Kingdom. We have learned from Matthew 5:1-26 that His Kingdom:
Is one that blesses (Beatitudes)
Is one that seek to influence its surroundings (Salt & Light)
Is a community of righteous sinners because Jesus fulfilled a law we could not
Is a kingdom of peace and reconciliation
Today we will see that the Kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom of faithfulness. I am going to shoot straight this morning and tell you upfront that I am mainly going to be talking to men (That does not mean you ladies need to check out.) In my experience, men, struggle more with lust than women (I know there are always exceptions...)
(TRANSITION) Let’s jump into the Word this morning and see how God will help all of us.
(GOD)
READ MATTHEW 5:27-32
Jesus begins His teaching by once again using the phrase, “You have heard that it was said...” Jesus is trying to correct the erroneous teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees. Let me explain this a bit. Jesus is not saying that their teaching “You shall not commit adultery” is wrong. IT IS THEIR APPLICATION of the Law that was wrong.
Again, the religious folks were teaching the people that only the ACTUAL act of adultery was a sin. A man could lust after a woman, fantasize about her - just as long as he did not physically commit the act of adultery. The focus of their teaching was on the ACTION and not the heart.
Jesus, however, gets to the heart of the matter. Jesus goes beyond just the physical act to the reason that act occurs - lust!
5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
You see, before a man ever commits adultery with his body - he first commits it in his mind. In his heart he has already had her. With his eyes he has already undressed her. In his mind he has already committed the actions.
Jesus teaches us that good fruit comes from a good heart. He also tells us that bad fruit comes from a corrupt heart. He goes on to teach us that what is in the heart of a man is what will come out - in his words and in his actions.
Let me just clarify something. Jesus is not telling us that that physical act of adultery and adultery of the mind are the same thing - they are both sins. I have heard people say, “Well, I have already committed adultery in my heart so I might as well go through with it in the flesh.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The ACTION of adultery can bring great pain and damage. BUT IF WE CAN GET OUR LUST UNDER CONTROL AND UNDER THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST MUCH DAMAGE CAN BE AVOIDED.
You may have enough fear of being caught to never act on the adultery being committed in your mind. Nevertheless, your thought life has to be surrendered to Christ because it is still leading you down a sinful path.
ILLUSTRATION: Billy Graham, the world-famous evangelist, traveled the world. Early in his ministry he made a covenant with his wife to never be alone with a woman. He would not even ride in an elevator alone with another woman. He understood that extended times away from home and from his wife were a mine field of temptation.
Gentlemen, we are by nature visual creatures. As such we naturally look at things that are beautiful and appealing. If a woman walks into a restaurant and I look at her - generally it is just that - a look. The problem occurs when I take the 2nd or 3rd look. That is when you and I begin to allow our thought life to become more active than it should.
A RADICAL SOLUTION
What does Jesus recommend that we do about this problem with lust in our heart that could lead us to adultery or even divorce? The next few verses of Matthew 5 present a radical answer to the problem. Let’s read...
29 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.30 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.
MEN - today after service we will be passing our machetes and gouges so that you can go home and deal with the problem of lust! NOT!
I believe Jesus is speaking figuratively (although I am aware of one case where a man took this literally and actually cut out his eyes).
The underlying point of Jesus teaching is about keeping right relationships with our wives and the opposite sex. I realize that in this world men and women work in the same offices, factories and shops. The workplace is often filled with sexual overtones and is also often the place where many adulterous relationships begin (not affairs - terrible word - there is nothing fun about it in the end).
I believe Jesus is telling us that before our thought life get’s the best of us we need to cut it off. If what we are looking at on TV, in magazines, on the Internet, on FaceBook or on our iPhone/SmartPhone is causing lustful thoughts to continually roll over in our mind we need to cut that off. If what we desire in our heart to touch with our hands is causing us to desire someone other than our wife - you have to cut off that relationship.
Pornography is destroying a generation of men. In the introduction to his book “Porn Again Christian,” Mark Driscoll writes,
“You are part of a culture that spends more money each year on pornography than country music, rock music, jazz music, classical music, Broadway plays, and ballet combined. In Paul's day, he accused some people of worshiping their stomachs as their god, and in our day it appears that our god has simply moved a short distance south.”
Listen to this...
“By 2015, mobile adult content and services are expected to reach $2.8 billion per year, mobile adult subscriptions will reach nearly $1 billion, and mobile adult video consumption on tablets will triple.”
You might say, “I don’t have a computer or Smartphone.” That may be true but most of us have a television and it is rampant with pornographic images.
The point I am trying to make is this....IF YOU VALUE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR WIFE YOU WILL TAKE WHATEVER STEPS IT REQUIRES TO CUT OFF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CAUSING YOU TO LUST AFTER ANOTHER WOMAN.
Men - your wife has to become the absolute standard of beauty in your life. By gazing too long on other women or viewing pornography you are creating scenarios in your mind that your wife cannot live up too. Eventually, instead of your wife being the wonderful beauty you married she just becomes an easy target for your sexual fantasies with other women.
I want to speak to women for just a moment. This same thing can happen when you are not careful about the thing you are reading. Romance novels or magazines describing the perfect sexual experience can cause you to begin building scenarios in your mind that your husband may not be able to live up to. Then you become disappointed and begin to look elsewhere.
(TRANSITION) Ladies and Gentlemen, we have to guard our hearts against the evils of lust. We have to establish some barriers in our lives and then live by them - in this area we have to be self imposed legalists! But you may ask - what about divorce?
What About Divorce?
We have talked extensively and frankly about how lust can lead to adultery and sometimes leads to divorce. Obviously, God wants us to get our lust under control before it gets to that point. I think this is the focus of Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus does, however, clarify for us that adultery is a legitimate cause for divorce. On the other hand, adultery does not have to result in divorce. God has and still does restore and renew relationships that have been broken through adultery.
When couples come to me for counseling because of adultery my goal is to see them reconcile. Some do - some do not - but the goal should first be reconciliation. I realize that reconciliation is tough and sometimes it is just impossible but we have to try.
(YOU)
I want to offer some advice to the congregation this morning that will help you have victory over lust. If you are struggling with those 2nd and 3rd looks or porn or video or those thoughts that lead to sin - I want to help.
Refuse to rationalize the problem. Don’t try to explain it away or sweep it under the rug. This only gives fuel for the fire.
Get The Problem Out In The Open. I would suggest you speak to a pastor or Christian counselor. I would not suggest talking to your buddies who have the same problem.
REPENT. This is not a terrible word. Repentance helps us find forgiveness and it also causes us to being looking for ways to turn around and do the right thing.
Pray for your marriage. If you are married then you must pray that God will help you to love your wife well.
Be Accountable. You have to find someone to be accountable too. Again, I would not suggest a co-worker who has the same struggle. As a matter of fact you might have to end that relationship.
(US)
So what about us as a church? What are we going to do when someone divorces or someone commits adultery? Or what will we do when someone joins the church who has been divorced?
First of all we will love people - divorce is not the plague. Second, we are going to help them find healing and restoration for themselves and family members. Thirdly, we are not going to make a public or private commotion about the situation.... because we all have areas of our life where we have failed to honor God.
Give out stones.....
Those who have fallen prey to the monster of pornogrpahy need a church where they can learn to FOLLOW after Christ. They need a place where they can GROW in Christ and overcome temptation. They need a place where they can SERVE with Christ and move beyond the self-centeredness of sexual sin.
