You have Heard ... But I say to You ... Adultery
Introduction. We continue to look at the section of the Sermon on the Mount where each point begins with “it was said” or “has been said.” Each was loosely based on Scripture, and presented something that was morality acceptable to most religious people, but they were only focused on general principles, which was unacceptable to Jesus. He knew these laws had been given to regulate our spirit and our body. The forbidden act could not occur without first defiling our spirit. Jesus wanted His disciples to know: Guilt always occurs the moment our spirit is defiled; the action only compounds it!
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It was said:
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But I say:
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God’s intent in all law was to remove the feelings that lead to the act. If the feelings are not present, then any temptations that could arise will never find any place in the heart to begin their base of operations. Remember, “fleshly lusts war (strateuo - have a strategy) against the soul.” If the emotions have been removed, there is no longer a way to make a strategy. The reason why Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin,” (Heb. 4:15-16) is because this is how He approached all of God’s laws. When God forbids an act, Jesus examined all the emotions and attitudes that might lead Him to desire the activity. Realizing that sin was such a terrible thing, and even the things leading up to it are defiling, He never allowed Himself to feel the emotions. His true disciples must follow Him in this by so regulating their conduct and life that the act becomes impossible, because the circumstances and emotions leading up to it are deemed the point of sin, and the battle is fought at this level.
This is very evident in the subject of adultery. The lustful look always makes adultery possible, so this is where both the prohibition and the guilt for the violation begins. “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.” (Mt. 5:27-28). While a shallow disciple sees only the act itself as the point of sin, and allows his heart to lust and desire as long as the act is avoided, he is building his life on sand. Insightful disciples know Jesus is right. They do not even allow the temptation to find a place in the heart and are therefore truly pure regarding the command. In this way they are building on the rock of hearing and doing His words.
God had sought to make this clear with the 10th commandment, but Israel had ignored or missed it: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Deut. 5:21). Within the word covet/desire are the emotions of pleasure and longing over the possessions of another. These are the emotions making temptation possible. If we fight the battle here, we are making temptation bearable.
James takes us through the steps. “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.” (Jas. 1:14-15). Only desire can create temptation. If there is no desire, or it is crushed in infancy, there will either be no enticement or it will be easily destroyed and temptation cannot take root deeply enough to take us to the birth of sin. Jesus kept His own temptations manageable by destroying any desire or interest the moment it appeared. That is why Jesus revealed the true guilt of adultery occurs in the moment of desire. Whenever we see that the act itself is wrong, any desire for the act is also wrong.
Since Jesus identified “looking at a woman to lust” as the moment he “committed adultery with her in his heart,” we need to understand the exact meaning of that look. This is even more important when we consider that it is not only true of adultery, but of any sin that begins with “looking at ... to lust.” The term “looking at” it is a present active participle, emphasizing continuous action. This is not an initial glance, immediately crushed and never repeated. This is a “lingering looking,” designed to create the pleasure of desire within the heart.
How long is this lingering look? Anything more than the initial glance moves us into continuous action. So, within that first second it is doubtful that we lingered, but after that first second, the longer we linger, the more certain it has become continuous. This is the moment James described as being “drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Thus, a “lingering looker” is using this enticement to savor the desire. He wants to enjoy “longing for,” and the “igniting of sexual passion!” At that instant, adultery has been committed in his heart. If it is not stopped, and it becomes habitual, it can lead to anyone becoming one “having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin.” (2Pet. 2:13).
Thus, the first glance that sees an enticement is dangerous, because it can lead to “lingering looking” that creates sin. Regardless of what is seen, no one has any control over the first glimpse or glance. The look Jesus described is either the second lingering look after glancing away, or not looking away after seeing her and allowing the emotions of desire to form. It is the lingering look that takes in beauty, sexuality, immodesty, etc. and allows lust to grow. No matter what happens after that moment, sin has already conceived and repentance is necessary.
Even Job knew these principles and had incorporated them into his life. “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? ... 6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity...9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door... 11 For that would be wickedness; yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment... a fire that consumes to destruction” (Job 31:1, 6, 9, 11-12). Job lived thousands of years before Jesus taught this, yet had made a covenant/contract with his eyes that he would not allow a “lingering looking” toward a virgin. He would not allow his heart to be “enticed by a woman.” As one who honored God’s will, he had made this covenant to look away from all women except his own wife, because he knew that even the look created “wickedness” and “iniquity deserving of judgment.”
Job knew that any look has the risk of enticement so he made a covenant with his eyes to look away. He knew God had created this passion to be enjoyed only with his wife. Any stirring toward another woman conferred guilt. God later warned about this in Proverbs: “Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love.” (Pr. 5:18-20). Jesus wanted His disciples to see it the same way. Any first look leading to a lingering looking needs repentance, because any desire/pleasure outside of marriage violates the law against adultery.
This is why Joseph conquered and David fell. Even though Joseph’s enticements were far greater than David’s. David fell with a “lingering look,” while Joseph endured all the enticements and temptations Potiphar’s wife could devise. Note that even a woman can be guilty of “longing eyes:” “His master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused ... So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.” (Gen. 39:7-12). Her longing eyes and direct appeal failed because Joseph refused to lust. Although it went on “day by day” with her ingenuity to create enticement, he never allowed the lust to conceive. As Job, Joseph saw her request as “great wickedness” and a “sin against God.”
David committed a grave sin facing far less temptation, because he allowed the “lingering look.” David was walking on the roof of his own home and an initial glance into a courtyard or bathing area of a home below revealed a woman bathing. If he had looked away and never allowed lust to form, all the tragedy that followed would have been avoided! But “she was very beautiful to behold” and David allowed her beauty to lead him to linger. After asking and learning she was the wife of Uriah, he should have repented for violating the 10th commandment and immediately went to be satisfied by his own wife, but the fire was too strong and he did not resist. (2Sam. 11:2-4).
Conclusion. Jesus has given us the true steps to sanctification regarding adultery. If we are ever to learn how to possess our vessel in sanctification and honor, we must begin with the “lingering look” and remove it. Even seconds is enough to defile the spirit and become guilty of this sin. While the Gentiles who know not God glory in sexual desire and relish the opportunity to lust, the true disciple of Jesus realizes that it will only make us children of wrath if we succumb to them.
This is very evident in the subject of adultery. The lustful look always makes adultery possible, so this is where both the prohibition and the guilt for the violation begins. “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.” (Mt. 5:27-28). While a shallow disciple sees only the act itself as the point of sin, and allows his heart to lust and desire as long as the act is avoided, he is building his life on sand. Insightful disciples know Jesus is right. They do not even allow the temptation to find a place in the heart and are therefore truly pure regarding the command. In this way they are building on the rock of hearing and doing His words.
God had sought to make this clear with the 10th commandment, but Israel had ignored or missed it: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Deut. 5:21). Within the word covet/desire are the emotions of pleasure and longing over the possessions of another. These are the emotions making temptation possible. If we fight the battle here, we are making temptation bearable.
James takes us through the steps. “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.” (Jas. 1:14-15). Only desire can create temptation. If there is no desire, or it is crushed in infancy, there will either be no enticement or it will be easily destroyed and temptation cannot take root deeply enough to take us to the birth of sin. Jesus kept His own temptations manageable by destroying any desire or interest the moment it appeared. That is why Jesus revealed the true guilt of adultery occurs in the moment of desire. Whenever we see that the act itself is wrong, any desire for the act is also wrong.
Since Jesus identified “looking at a woman to lust” as the moment he “committed adultery with her in his heart,” we need to understand the exact meaning of that look. This is even more important when we consider that it is not only true of adultery, but of any sin that begins with “looking at ... to lust.” The term “looking at” it is a present active participle, emphasizing continuous action. This is not an initial glance, immediately crushed and never repeated. This is a “lingering looking,” designed to create the pleasure of desire within the heart.
How long is this lingering look? Anything more than the initial glance moves us into continuous action. So, within that first second it is doubtful that we lingered, but after that first second, the longer we linger, the more certain it has become continuous. This is the moment James described as being “drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Thus, a “lingering looker” is using this enticement to savor the desire. He wants to enjoy “longing for,” and the “igniting of sexual passion!” At that instant, adultery has been committed in his heart. If it is not stopped, and it becomes habitual, it can lead to anyone becoming one “having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin.” (2Pet. 2:13).
Thus, the first glance that sees an enticement is dangerous, because it can lead to “lingering looking” that creates sin. Regardless of what is seen, no one has any control over the first glimpse or glance. The look Jesus described is either the second lingering look after glancing away, or not looking away after seeing her and allowing the emotions of desire to form. It is the lingering look that takes in beauty, sexuality, immodesty, etc. and allows lust to grow. No matter what happens after that moment, sin has already conceived and repentance is necessary.
Even Job knew these principles and had incorporated them into his life. “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? ... 6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity...9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door... 11 For that would be wickedness; yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment... a fire that consumes to destruction” (Job 31:1, 6, 9, 11-12). Job lived thousands of years before Jesus taught this, yet had made a covenant/contract with his eyes that he would not allow a “lingering looking” toward a virgin. He would not allow his heart to be “enticed by a woman.” As one who honored God’s will, he had made this covenant to look away from all women except his own wife, because he knew that even the look created “wickedness” and “iniquity deserving of judgment.”
Job knew that any look has the risk of enticement so he made a covenant with his eyes to look away. He knew God had created this passion to be enjoyed only with his wife. Any stirring toward another woman conferred guilt. God later warned about this in Proverbs: “Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love.” (Pr. 5:18-20). Jesus wanted His disciples to see it the same way. Any first look leading to a lingering looking needs repentance, because any desire/pleasure outside of marriage violates the law against adultery.
This is why Joseph conquered and David fell. Even though Joseph’s enticements were far greater than David’s. David fell with a “lingering look,” while Joseph endured all the enticements and temptations Potiphar’s wife could devise. Note that even a woman can be guilty of “longing eyes:” “His master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused ... So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.” (Gen. 39:7-12). Her longing eyes and direct appeal failed because Joseph refused to lust. Although it went on “day by day” with her ingenuity to create enticement, he never allowed the lust to conceive. As Job, Joseph saw her request as “great wickedness” and a “sin against God.”
David committed a grave sin facing far less temptation, because he allowed the “lingering look.” David was walking on the roof of his own home and an initial glance into a courtyard or bathing area of a home below revealed a woman bathing. If he had looked away and never allowed lust to form, all the tragedy that followed would have been avoided! But “she was very beautiful to behold” and David allowed her beauty to lead him to linger. After asking and learning she was the wife of Uriah, he should have repented for violating the 10th commandment and immediately went to be satisfied by his own wife, but the fire was too strong and he did not resist. (2Sam. 11:2-4).
Conclusion. Jesus has given us the true steps to sanctification regarding adultery. If we are ever to learn how to possess our vessel in sanctification and honor, we must begin with the “lingering look” and remove it. Even seconds is enough to defile the spirit and become guilty of this sin. While the Gentiles who know not God glory in sexual desire and relish the opportunity to lust, the true disciple of Jesus realizes that it will only make us children of wrath if we succumb to them.
- For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit (1Th. 4:3-8)