2010-02-10 Adultery

Before we dive head first into what Jesus has to say, I want to rewind a couple of weeks to mark the target for this incoming bomb from Jesus.

Previously, Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Those who are starving and thirsting for GOD will get all of Him that they need.

Jesus goes from the physical side of life into the spiritual side of life.

God wants us to be spiritual, and connected with him through all of life.

With that in mind, and merely seconds later, Jesus goes from spiritual ideals about righteousness, and the kingdom of heaven, and being merciful AND STARTS stepping on toes.

Stepping doesn't cut it: Jesus breaks some toes, and feet, and ankles, and a few legs when he looks at the crowd before him and says,

“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27,28

For hundreds of years these people and their descendants were thinking ACT RIGHT, BE RIGHT, but Jesus totally puts it back the way God intended it:

BE RIGHT, ACT RIGHT.

People always tend to focus on outward actions first, in order to correct the inward life.

Jesus reminds us of the truth: Outward can look right, but inward can be wrong.

Inward first, outward second.

Heart change first, life change second.

Want right, do right. Devotion before motion.

Pure mind before pure action.

All sexual sin comes down to self gratification. This begins as an inward sin.

Suppose your right eye could do something worthy of hell. Wouldn't it be better to pull it out, suffer some loss, but inherit heaven?

If you know where the problem is, then you should do whatever it takes to fix it.

If you know you are going to hell because of your right hand, then you should chop it off.

You can't fix the problem until you know where the problem is.

BUT the problem is not the eye or the hand – it is your heart.

Jesus says, the guilt for all sin comes from the inside first – the wanting more than you have.

Tonight it is adultery – wanting sex from someone you are not married to.

“But she's not married” - she is someone else's, maybe not now, but eventually

“But he's my boyfriend” - but not your husband, so he's probably someone else's, eventually

“But we love each other” - no marriage means no love, no marriage commitment means you really don't love each other.

There is a price to be paid for sex, and it involves all of you being given to the other person, not just sexually.

You cannot serve 2 masters. God or self?

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Guilty.

We all fail this simple test, and it proves how much we NEED the forgiveness that God offers. 

Jesus is showing everyone they are guilty before God.

Do you understand how much you need forgiveness?

Now is a good time to say thank you for the cross.