Friday, September 15, 2023

In The Heart Too?

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘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

We have looked at some 'impossibles' in the great sermon thus far, but this one may be for some the nemesis that tops 'em all - lust. We may think this sin was easier to avoid back in the days of the law of Moses since they actually had to commit the action to be guilty. Jesus upped the game when He said that just thinking the thoughts committed the sin. Yes, that fantasy reel rolling along in the mind brings the same condemnation as the physical act. Some ministers in past times took the extreme step of banning marriage in order to combat lust. No word on whether it worked or not; the congregations gradually died out when no children were born. So, is lust unbeatable to us? Must we only run from it as Joseph did with Potiphar's wife? As with all the other things we have studied in this great sermon, the answer lies with the minister, Jesus of Nazareth. 

Believe in Him, walk with Him, follow Him, and trust in Him. 

Bucky

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