Matthew 5:27-30 (CSB)– “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Did you meditate upon the impact that yesterday’s study had upon our way of thinking?
We always look at the outward actions, but God is always looking at the inward attitudes. What does that change in your way of looking at how we measure up to God’s standard?
Jesus once again starts with the basic concept (5: 27) – The law says, “Do not commit adultery.” Well, most of us can check that off the list as having never done that. But, Jesus wants to take it deeper. He wants us to understand that all sin starts in the heart. And, even if we do not perform a certain action – we are still guilty before God for the inward thoughts and attitudes. So, as He did yesterday, He gives us the broadened concept (5: 28 – 30) – Jesus says that looking lustfully at someone is the same as adultery.
He also addresses the issue of divorce. He approaches it in the same way. He starts with the basic concept (5: 31) – The law says, “A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.” But, He goes back to God’s original design. Moses because of man’s hardened condition allowed for written papers of divorce. However, Jesus wants us to understand the broadened concept (5:32) – Jesus says that unlawful divorce and remarriage is the same as adultery. He goes to the heart of the matter. Not the outward action, but the inward attitude. Once again, remember that our relationship with God is demonstrated by our relationship with others. If our attitudes toward others is wrong, then whether we outwardly do something, we are still wrong.
Too many people today think that Grace is a license to do whatever we want to. But God wants us to remember that there are always consequences. He wants us to understand that our “want to’s”
should line up with God’s desires if we have truly repented and become a citizen of His Kingdom. I truly believe if we really grasped what Grace is, it doesn’t make it easier for us to sin, but even harder.
Think about this today.
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