Do not commit adultery

[sushilp3585]

Hello, brothers and sisters in Christ. I am back with another post. This time, I would like to ask if my understanding of verses 27-30 in the book of Matthew is correct.

In verse 28, it says "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This is saying that when we decide to lust, that is when we commit adultery. Also, adultery means more than cheating on your spouse. There are different types of lust. Sexual lust, drinking, doing drugs, idolizing other things than God. For me, it is porn and premarital sex. And for us to stop, we should pretend that we do not have the things that create us for sin. For example, for me, I can pretend not that porn sites do not exist or create a situation where I cannot watch porn (verses 29-30). How did I do in understanding these verses?

As always, I would like to thank you for your opinions in advance.

 

[JLB]

Hello, brothers and sisters in Christ. I am back with another post. This time, I would like to ask if my understanding of verses 27-30 in the book of Matthew is correct.

In verse 28, it says "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This is saying that when we decide to lust, that is when we commit adultery. Also, adultery means more than cheating on your spouse. There are different types of lust. Sexual lust, drinking, doing drugs, idolizing other things than God. For me, it is porn and premarital sex. And for us to stop, we should pretend that we do not have the things that create us for sin. For example, for me, I can pretend not that porn sites do not exist or create a situation where I cannot watch porn (verses 29-30). How did I do in understanding these verses?

As always, I would like to thank you for your opinions in advance.

The more we are filled with His Spirit, and engage in (sow) the things the Spirit leads us to, such as private devotion, Bible reading and meditating on Hs word, prayer, fasting and gathering with other believers, the more we become strengthened to resist the lustful temptations of the flesh.



Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8



God bless you as you pursue righteousness and holiness.





JLB

 

[WIP]

Hello, brothers and sisters in Christ. I am back with another post. This time, I would like to ask if my understanding of verses 27-30 in the book of Matthew is correct.

In verse 28, it says "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This is saying that when we decide to lust, that is when we commit adultery. Also, adultery means more than cheating on your spouse. There are different types of lust. Sexual lust, drinking, doing drugs, idolizing other things than God. For me, it is porn and premarital sex. And for us to stop, we should pretend that we do not have the things that create us for sin. For example, for me, I can pretend not that porn sites do not exist or create a situation where I cannot watch porn (verses 29-30). How did I do in understanding these verses?

As always, I would like to thank you for your opinions in advance.

I believe that part of what Jesus was saying is similar to what the 10 Commandments also showed. That no matter how perfect we think we are or how well we do at righteous living, we are incapable.

Here's what I mean. The law says, "Do not commit adultery." We like to split hairs in order to justify ourselves. We say, "I didn't do it!" But, the fact is, just to even think about doing it makes us guilty of sin.

The whole of the 10 Commandments are that way. God didn't give them to us only to provide a blueprint for righteous living but also to show us how sinful we really are. He's basically saying, "You think you're righteous? Consider these..." and then He goes on to list the 10 Commandments to show us how unrighteous we really are.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Edward]

For me, it is porn and premarital sex.

You're 36 and having problems in this area? Hear a wise cherokee proverb about two wolves...

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said: My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’:​

One wolf is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, lust, hate, regret, prejudice, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, pride, untruth, false witness, lying, pride, superiority, attachment, and all such things.​

The other wolf is Good. It is Love, joy, peace, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, tenderness, compassion, faith, and all other tributaries of Love.​

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’​

The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one I feed.’../​

It sounds like you're feeding the wrong wolf.

 

[for_his_glory]

Adultery is a moral issue of sinful lust no matter what you lust after in disobedience to God as described in these verses below.


Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

 

[for_his_glory]

And for us to stop, we should pretend that we do not have the things that create us for sin. For example, for me, I can pretend not that porn sites do not exist or create a situation where I cannot watch porn

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

We can not pretend these desires do not exist, but to overcome them. Like an eye or a hand that leads to mischief we have to change the direction as we set our sights on Christ and seek that which is pleasing to the Lord by lifting up holy hands unto Him. It is Christ that gives us the victory when we walk in obedience to His commands that are not burdensome.

 

[D-D-W]

Actually, there is a very technical definition of adultery (as opposed to fornication) in scripture; both NT and OT. It was no mistake that our Lord said Adultery (moicheuō) and not Fornication. (pornia)

In our modern mindset we try to equalize everything, but that was not so of ancients who wrote scripture. Adultery was committed by a woman who is married to one man having sex with another man, NOT her husband. Both the man and woman were guilty of adultery. Since men could legally marry more than one wife, it did not work the other way. A married man having sex with a single woman was NOT adultery. (since he could legally marry her)

So it would have been understood that the woman a man was looking at in Matt 5.28 had to already be married to someone else. And the word there for lust (epithumeo) was perhaps more accurately translated as covet. Indeed it is translated that way in many of Paul's letters.

To covet someone is a much higher standard than just looking at someone and becoming aroused by them. It means you are desiring or even planning to take them away from their rightful place or owner; and make them yours.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

Lust to my understanding is wanting something that someone else has. Or something that is not lawful, in the context of Jesus adultery sermon, i believe its wanting to have sex with someone not married to. When watching porn we tend to want to have sex with that person, If we didnt that porn actor/actress would not turn us on. There lies the sin, in context.

 

[sushilp3585]

Lust to my understanding is wanting something that someone else has. Or something that is not lawful, in the context of Jesus adultery sermon, i believe its wanting to have sex with someone not married to. When watching porn we tend to want to have sex with that person, If we didnt that porn actor/actress would not turn us on. There lies the sin, in context.

What if you are not attracted to the person but the idea of the genre of porn? Is it the same thing?

 

[D-D-W]

Lust to my understanding is wanting something that someone else has.

That fits the definition of coveting.

Or something that is not lawful,

I think that stretches it a bit too far.

in the context of Jesus adultery sermon, i believe its wanting to have sex with someone not married to.

Hmmm. So if you are to get engaged to someone and NOT want to have sex with them?? That is the way to avoid "adultery" in your opinion?

I completely disagree with that. Once you get engaged, you should be wanting sex with them, maybe quite strongly, even though you are not married YET. And that is how it should be.

When watching porn we tend to want to have sex with that person, If we didnt that porn actor/actress would not turn us on. There lies the sin, in context.

IMO that is too simplistic an approach. Seeing a particular act or body part does not necessarily equate to wanting to have sex with that person.