Adultery in Matt 5:28

[Hungry]

I’ve brought this up in a couple of threads but I feel it needs its own. Many like to quote this verse,

Matt 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.
At face value it condemns the instinctive desire to procreate. I accepted Christ as Lord during my engagement to my wife. At 22 years old, as a babe in Christ, porn addict, I assure you I felt the guilt of this verse. There are many tricks like classic conditioning, keeping a rubber band on my wrist to snap if I looked too long or too directly at a woman’s curves. I struggled with and still struggle to keep my eyes from temptation and thoughts pure.

This post is for the highly sexually driven males (and females) who are convicted by taken this verse at face value. It is damning, this verse accusing us of a capital crime, or is it? About ten years ago I started translating the words seeking truer context. When I found out “woman” in this verse more often means “wife”. Did Christ say “You were told not to commit adultery, but I say unto you whosoever looketh on a wife (someone married to another man) to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart.”?
To me this makes way more sense. Sex was not discouraged in the OT. I would argue that neither should be lust. If you could have many wives and concubines legally why would it make sense lust is equal to murder? It doesn’t. Adultery is equal. Lusting after another man’s wife is adulterous, not merely being attracted to a beautiful girl.

 

[kaylagrl]

I’ve brought this up in a couple of threads but I feel it needs its own. Many like to quote this verse,

Matt 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.
At face value it condemns the instinctive desire to procreate. I accepted Christ as Lord during my engagement to my wife. At 22 years old, as a babe in Christ, porn addict, I assure you I felt the guilt of this verse. There are many tricks like classic conditioning, keeping a rubber band on my wrist to snap if I looked too long or too directly at a woman’s curves. I struggled with and still struggle to keep my eyes from temptation and thoughts pure.

This post is for the highly sexually driven males (and females) who are convicted by taken this verse at face value. It is damning, this verse accusing us of a capital crime, or is it? About ten years ago I started translating the words seeking truer context. When I found out “woman” in this verse more often means “wife”. Did Christ say “You were told not to commit adultery, but I say unto you whosoever looketh on a wife (someone married to another man) to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart.”?
To me this makes way more sense. Sex was not discouraged in the OT. I would argue that neither should be lust. If you could have many wives and concubines legally why would it make sense lust is equal to murder? It doesn’t. Adultery is equal. Lusting after another man’s wife is adulterous, not merely being attracted to a beautiful girl.

Welp, you can argue what the Bible means, but as a wife myself, my hubby lusting after another woman or being attracted to another woman then me is a no go. I'm not attracted to any other man but him. I don't think about any other man. I would hope he feels the same way, or we're about to have a come to Jesus moment.

 

[posthuman]

in my early teens i realized that one day all the girls i knew would become the wives of some man, somewhere.
just because in the current moment of time they hadn't yet married didn't mean that they would not, eventually.
so they were essentially all 'another man's wife' if they weren't destined to be my own.

 

[kaylagrl]

in my early teens i realized that one day all the girls i knew would become the wives of some man, somewhere.
just because in the current moment of time they hadn't yet married didn't mean that they would not, eventually.
so they were essentially all 'another man's wife' if they weren't destined to be my own.

Great point!! Nothing more to add.

 

[posthuman]

Lusting after another man’s wife is adulterous, not merely being attracted to a beautiful girl.

it's true that there is a difference between recognizing & appreciating beauty, and being full of lust

 

[kaylagrl]

it's true that there is a difference between recognizing & appreciating beauty, and being full of lust

I guess it depends how far your thoughts go. I can look at a man and say that's a good looking person and move on. But looking at that same man and being attracted to him as a married woman I think is different. A different intent.

 

[MattforJesus]

We cannot lust after any woman married or not that is not our wife.

But do not let temptations get you down for temptation is not a sin but only acting on it is a sin.

And our mind is going to think it is a beautiful woman if it is a beautiful woman, for our mind is not going to think she is ugly, and that is not sin.

If you see a nice looking car your mind will think that is a nice looking car, so it you see a beautiful woman you are going to think that is a beautiful woman.

Thinking it is a good looking woman is not sin but only acting upon it to lust is sin.

One preacher said he almost let temptations get him down for some people are bothered by temptations to where it affects them negatively as if they want to be so perfect that they cannot even get tempted, but Jesus was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin, so who are we to think we will not be tempted.

Do not confuse temptation, or making an observation, for lusting.

 

[posthuman]

We cannot lust after any woman married or not that is not our wife

I do not lust after my own wife.
Have I married the wrong woman?

Jesus was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin

Not tempted, but "tested"

James 1:13-16
God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

If you say Christ is 'tempted' then you have denied His deity and accused Him of having lust in His heart.

It is certainly sin when we have lust in our heart, not *only if we act on it* - have you not read the scripture in the OP??
We are far more sinful creatures than you seem to confess, bro. The more I understand how awful I am, the more glorious God's mercy to me is revealed to be. I can scarcely breathe without sin; every moment of every day I fail to reach the high mark of His majesty.

'having a good self image' is deception. Even having been made saints by Him, it is not by our merit, not even a little bit. Thinking of ourselves as better than the pagans makes us worse than the pagans, because we have seen the Truth; we don't have an excuse not to know.

 

[Runningman]

I’ve brought this up in a couple of threads but I feel it needs its own. Many like to quote this verse,

Matt 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.
At face value it condemns the instinctive desire to procreate. I accepted Christ as Lord during my engagement to my wife. At 22 years old, as a babe in Christ, porn addict, I assure you I felt the guilt of this verse. There are many tricks like classic conditioning, keeping a rubber band on my wrist to snap if I looked too long or too directly at a woman’s curves. I struggled with and still struggle to keep my eyes from temptation and thoughts pure.

This post is for the highly sexually driven males (and females) who are convicted by taken this verse at face value. It is damning, this verse accusing us of a capital crime, or is it? About ten years ago I started translating the words seeking truer context. When I found out “woman” in this verse more often means “wife”. Did Christ say “You were told not to commit adultery, but I say unto you whosoever looketh on a wife (someone married to another man) to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart.”?
To me this makes way more sense. Sex was not discouraged in the OT. I would argue that neither should be lust. If you could have many wives and concubines legally why would it make sense lust is equal to murder? It doesn’t. Adultery is equal. Lusting after another man’s wife is adulterous, not merely being attracted to a beautiful girl.

Under the Law, one could theoretically lust after as many people as they wanted to without actually engaging in the physical act of adultery. They may be able to nullify the commandment to not commit adultery by inwardly having intensely adulterous thoughts and desires. Therefore, there would be a lot of people drawing close to God with their lips, but having a heart far from Him.

God notices these things so Jesus points out that state of the heart and the intents of the heart in the Sermon on the Mount actually matter. I think this is about calling people to get serious with their relationship with God and not just put on a show.

 

[Dino246]

We cannot lust after any woman married or not that is not our wife.

Methinks you might have used the word "shouldn't" rather than "cannot". The problem is that we can lust, but should not.

 

[MattforJesus]

I do not lust after my own wife.
Have I married the wrong woman?



Not tempted, but "tested"

James 1:13-16
God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

If you say Christ is 'tempted' then you have denied His deity and accused Him of having lust in His heart.

It is certainly sin when we have lust in our heart, not *only if we act on it* - have you not read the scripture in the OP??
We are far more sinful creatures than you seem to confess, bro. The more I understand how awful I am, the more glorious God's mercy to me is revealed to be. I can scarcely breathe without sin; every moment of every day I fail to reach the high mark of His majesty.

'having a good self image' is deception. Even having been made saints by Him, it is not by our merit, not even a little bit. Thinking of ourselves as better than the pagans makes us worse than the pagans, because we have seen the Truth; we don't have an excuse not to know.

You can lust after your wife for she is your wife.

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus is God but He is also a man so He could be tempted according to His humanity.

Temptation is not a sin.

There is no good thing that dwells in the flesh so I am not saying that we are perfect.

Too many people have a relaxed attitude concerning acting like Christ when the Bible says a Spirit led life will not fulfill the desires of the flesh, because they have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

[MattforJesus]

Methinks you might have used the word "shouldn't" rather than "cannot". The problem is that we can lust, but should not.

We can lust but I am talking according to Jesus' commandment.

 

[Hungry]

You can lust after your wife for she is your wife.

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus is God but He is also a man so He could be tempted according to His humanity.

Temptation is not a sin.

There is no good thing that dwells in the flesh so I am not saying that we are perfect.

Too many people have a relaxed attitude concerning acting like Christ when the Bible says a Spirit led life will not fulfill the desires of the flesh, because they have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

I don’t disagree but it also says that it is better to take a wife rather than fall to temptation.

 

[posthuman]

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

"tested" not "tempted"
God cannot be tempted.

That is the same word as in 1 Corinthians 13:5, "EXAMINE yourselves to see whether you are in the faith"

 

[Pilgrimshope]

I’ve brought this up in a couple of threads but I feel it needs its own. Many like to quote this verse,

Matt 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.
At face value it condemns the instinctive desire to procreate. I accepted Christ as Lord during my engagement to my wife. At 22 years old, as a babe in Christ, porn addict, I assure you I felt the guilt of this verse. There are many tricks like classic conditioning, keeping a rubber band on my wrist to snap if I looked too long or too directly at a woman’s curves. I struggled with and still struggle to keep my eyes from temptation and thoughts pure.

This post is for the highly sexually driven males (and females) who are convicted by taken this verse at face value. It is damning, this verse accusing us of a capital crime, or is it? About ten years ago I started translating the words seeking truer context. When I found out “woman” in this verse more often means “wife”. Did Christ say “You were told not to commit adultery, but I say unto you whosoever looketh on a wife (someone married to another man) to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart.”?
To me this makes way more sense. Sex was not discouraged in the OT. I would argue that neither should be lust. If you could have many wives and concubines legally why would it make sense lust is equal to murder? It doesn’t. Adultery is equal. Lusting after another man’s wife is adulterous, not merely being attracted to a beautiful girl.

Jesus isn’t talking about providing for human lust or sex. He’s talking about the sanctity of marriage , and having a heart that God isn’t offended to dwell in .

the teaching there about lust is something to believe that God said it isn’t just the one verse but what he’s saying is “ the lust that you accept and look at women with is going to lead you to hell unless you repent of the lustful thinking “

it’s only someone who has lust in their heart who’s going to commit sexual sin is the idea to overcome sexual sin , Jesus is teaching us the root of the problem to turn against the inner issue of lust in our heart.


If we believe the gospel and then try planning an affair or watching porn we should feel terribly convicted it’s meant to lead us into changing the problem and getting control of our mind and heart that leads us astray

 

[posthuman]

Jesus is God but He is also a man so He could be tempted according to His humanity.

James tells us about how humanity is tempted. Humanity is drawn by their own lust in their own heart.
If Jesus is "tempted" as humanity is, then you are saying that He has lust of His own in His own heart, and He calls that sin. So you are placing sin in God, calling Him evil, therefore saying there is no salvation because Christ is not a worthy sacrifice.
In Him is no sin. He was born of a virgin, and sin entered the world through one man - He is perfect humanity, not humanity like us, who are fallen. The whole context of Hebrews 4 is priesthood, and a priest is not tempted by God when he is consecrated; he is "tested"
Christ was "tested" in every way that we are tested, but in Him is found no sin, yet in all of us is found much sin.
Therefore He is able to help us as our priest, not because He is just as full of sin in His heart as we are! But because He was examined in every way we are examined and tried, and He is proven holy and true!

 

[MattforJesus]

James tells us about how humanity is tempted. Humanity is drawn by their own lust in their own heart.
If Jesus is "tempted" as humanity is, then you are saying that He has lust of His own in His own heart, and He calls that sin. So you are placing sin in God, calling Him evil, therefore saying there is no salvation because Christ is not a worthy sacrifice.
In Him is no sin. He was born of a virgin, and sin entered the world through one man - He is perfect humanity, not humanity like us, who are fallen. The whole context of Hebrews 4 is priesthood, and a priest is not tempted by God when he is consecrated; he is "tested"
Christ was "tested" in every way that we are tested, but in Him is found no sin, yet in all of us is found much sin.
Therefore He is able to help us as our priest, not because He is just as full of sin in His heart as we are! But because He was examined in every way we are examined and tried, and He is proven holy and true!

Alright I will say tested and I am not saying there is evil in God but talking about the man Christ Jesus which there was no evil in Him either.

I only said tempted because of the Hebrew scripture that said He was tempted, so I will say tested, for I want to say it right.

 

[posthuman]

If we believe the gospel and then try planning an affair or watching porn we should feel terribly convicted it’s meant to lead us into changing the problem and getting control of our mind and heart that leads us astray

It's about salvation - no one is good but God alone; no one but our High Priest is without sin in their heart ((which is the source of temptation)). God is the only one who can cleanse our hearts, take out the old and give us a new.

Proverbs 20:9
Who can say,
"I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin"?

 

[MattforJesus]

"tested" not "tempted"
God cannot be tempted.

That is the same word as in 1 Corinthians 13:5, "EXAMINE yourselves to see whether you are in the faith"

Alright I will say tested and I am not saying there is evil in God but talking about the man Christ Jesus which there was no evil in Him either.

I only said tempted because of the Hebrew scripture that said He was tempted, so I will say tested, for I want to say it right.

 

[soberxp]

I’ve brought this up in a couple of threads but I feel it needs its own. Many like to quote this verse,

Matt 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.
At face value it condemns the instinctive desire to procreate. I accepted Christ as Lord during my engagement to my wife. At 22 years old, as a babe in Christ, porn addict, I assure you I felt the guilt of this verse. There are many tricks like classic conditioning, keeping a rubber band on my wrist to snap if I looked too long or too directly at a woman’s curves. I struggled with and still struggle to keep my eyes from temptation and thoughts pure.

This post is for the highly sexually driven males (and females) who are convicted by taken this verse at face value. It is damning, this verse accusing us of a capital crime, or is it? About ten years ago I started translating the words seeking truer context. When I found out “woman” in this verse more often means “wife”. Did Christ say “You were told not to commit adultery, but I say unto you whosoever looketh on a wife (someone married to another man) to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart.”?
To me this makes way more sense. Sex was not discouraged in the OT. I would argue that neither should be lust. If you could have many wives and concubines legally why would it make sense lust is equal to murder? It doesn’t. Adultery is equal. Lusting after another man’s wife is adulterous, not merely being attracted to a beautiful girl.

Lust another man's wife or girls no Excuse.
It's about respect to another,Think like this, you meet in heaven one day, and then she finds you lust her, what an embarrassing scene.