Like murder can exist in our hearts when we don't value other people's lives, how many of us have truly been unfaithful to a spouse? Probably more have been unfaithful before or during marriage than have committed actual murder, but what about those who can truly claim faithfulness in marriage, before and during? What did Jesus say?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 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. 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." (Matthew 5:27-30 NIV)
That’s right, looking or touching inappropriately is the same as acting when it comes to the spirit of the law. That means that sneaky look as a good-looking member of the opposite sex walks by, or pornography, or sleazy advertising, or even looking too long into another person’s eyes in conversation, or that favorite movie actor or popular singer. Even a good that lingers a little too long can be wrong. I don’t think that any of us can claim innocence here.
What about the eye or the hand? Must Christians really gouge them out or chop them off? Of course not, that was also against the law. Jesus often spoke in exaggerated tones to emphasize a point. It’s called hyperbolic speech. It’s meant to emphasize how drastic our efforts ought to be in order to avoid even mental adultery. Our grandparents sometimes separated men and women, so as to avoid temptation and wrong thoughts. Of course, modern generations are too “righteous” to take advice from them. We, with the highest divorce rates in history, who farm our children out to be raised by others, and whose youths join gangs, are so much smarter than our grandparents, not.
Divorce
Divorce is not the unpardonable sin, but it is still a common sin. What does Jesus say about it? How would He speak to our generation?
“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery." (Matthew 5:31-32 NLT)
Jesus expects a higher standard than easy divorce, where the exception has become the rule. Whereas today’s courts give many reasons, even including no reason at all in some states, Jesus only includes one valid reason for divorce.
Marriage is the foundational institution upon which the health of any society rests. We should value it and treasure it as highly as God intended, taking every precaution to preserve it, even in how we look at and touch each other.
