-- { Matthew 5:27-30 }  ²⁷“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.  -- NRSV

Dear Friend, grace and peace be unto you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.  Amen.

This sermon series on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is about learning who we are, as children of God and followers of Jesus. In knowing who we are, we are enabled by God's grace to make godly decisions and know what to do to live God's Kingdom now.

How are you doing so far with this series? Just to be honest with you it gets tougher as we go along. You may not have actually realized what Jesus said on many of these issues. But if you and I are serious about living God's Kingdom now we need to be informed and then empowered to live Jesus' teachings.

Immorality and adultery cause a great deal of destruction, hurt and pain - both within and without a person. Many people are affected by such behavior. 

I am a visual person and I like to watch movies, though I must say, I really enjoy reading much more. Reading has a richness that movies will never have. If you go to a movie that is rated "R" you know three things: 

1. it has a lot of violence and killing in it - our theme last week - "You shall not kill" or 

2. it has some bad language that we don't consider civilized, or 

3. it has some sex, immorality, adultery - our theme for today. 

Of course it could have all three.

Jesus says that to kill oneself in suicide or to kill another person is prohibited in His Kingdom. Today, in our Scripture He says that adultery is prohibited in His Kingdom. Both actions are very destructive of a civilized society. But of course Jesus amplifies the Sixth Commandment to include our thoughts. He is always dealing with what is within us - our thoughts, our mind, our spirit. He knows that if these are in line with His Kingdom, the living out of our lives will be also.

Jesus clearly calls His followers to a specific standard of living. In our Scripture today He warns that lustful looking and certain behavior needs to be seriously dealt with.

The Law: You shall not commit adultery (6th Commandment)

This is God's Law against sexual immorality - all sexual immorality. 

1. It protects all families and neighbors - society in general.

2. 2It commands His children to not commit this sin.

The real meaning

Jesus says that adultery is not only the actual act, but is committed by any one of three acts that increase in intensity:

1. A deliberate look.

2. Passion within the heart: desiring and lusting (an over powering desire to have someone, something, anything) after another person.

3. The actual act of sex with someone other than one's own spouse.

Simply stated, Jesus is saying that there is eye adultery, lust adultery, and body adultery.

You might ask, "Well, can't I look at another person and appreciate them without that being eye or lust adultery?" The answer is, "Yes." But that may be difficult at times, in fact some cultures and faiths, completely cover there women so that men do not commit eye adultery. Of course they are only fooling themselves. The eye can not only see visually but the mind can create visions. This is where Jesus is going with this command. It really involves what is within you as a person as to how you look at others. And how under control you are to resist a temptation to commit adultery?

The two guilty culprits: the eyes and hands

Why did Jesus use the eyes and the hands to illustrate His point? Some believe because a man is moved primarily by thoughts that arise from sight, and a woman is moved primarily by touch. 

Without the eye and the hand one could argue that thoughts of adultery might not take place. But certainly Jesus does not want us all to be blind with no hands. Jesus is not talking literally here. He would never be that cruel. He simply makes a powerful point that this is a very serious matter and that we should do everything to try to control our desires. And of course it was for eye adultery, lust adultery and body adultery that Jesus went to the Cross. He offers forgiveness for these sins as well as others.

The danger

There are two dangers you and I must be aware of.

1. We are to watch out so that we do not stumble. You and I can count on stumbling blocks - temptations - littering our path through life. Watch out so that they do not trip you up. Guard your eyes and hands so that they do not find themselves where they should not be, feeding a desire to lust and adultery.

2. We could be separated from God forever. Unless a sin of adultery is dealt with through confession and forgiveness our future is uncertain. We need Jesus more a part of our life to resist this sin.

The answer

Jesus doesn't give us the problem without the answer. He has three answers to our being tempted to eye adultery, lust adultery and body adultery.

1. Surgery: cut out the offending body member. Jesus is not saying that we are to do this literally, but cut out the action of our body members that may be awakening adultery in us - the lustful look, the lustful touch - stop doing these things or receiving them from others.

2. Death: let the offending body member perish. Jesus means that we are to resist the feel good temptations. We are to practice self-denial and self-control. Like Joseph in the Old Testament when he ran from Potiphar's wife when she sexually tempted him.

3. Repentance: turn from any sin of adultery. Jesus does not say that we should not commit adultery only because it is wrong. He says that adultery leads to a serious eternal consequence. Jesus warns us that acts of adultery are not acceptable in God's Kingdom now or ever. 

Adultery is a sin that can be easily rationalized: "He/she doesn't show me enough attention. I need someone else and he/she is so much more understanding. I feel so much better with him/her. I'm sure God understands. But even if He doesn't, I don't care. This feels too good." 

God understands all right. He understands how we could be ruining our life and our eternal relationship with Him. God loves us to much to want that to happen, so Jesus gives us a clear warning that eye, lust and body adultery are not living God's Kingdom now. 

St. Paul said, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Galatians 5:16)

What you and I need is more of Jesus' presence through the Holy Spirit in our lives to live God's Kingdom now. Martin Luther said, "We are to fear and love God so that in matters of sex our words and conduct are pure and honorable, and husband and wife love and respect each other."

The desires of our nature are strong. Pray for strength to resist their pull on your life. Don't let them drag you away from living God's Kingdom now. Let your words and conduct be pure and honorable. Live God's Kingdom now by respecting marriage relationships and being an encourager of them.

Heavenly Father, as You help us know who we are, help us know how to live each day of our lives. We have Your guidance and it is our desire to be faithful but stumbling blocks come our way and we are always in danger of falling. Lord, when that happens give us a way of escape just like Joseph had. Help us be alert to the many dangers that tempt us. Intervene upon our behalf, deliver us and empower us to live Your Kingdom now.

In Jesus Name,