THE
SINFULNESS OF ACTS AND THOUGHTS OF IMPURITY
Matthew 5:27-30
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world as well as the
Light of the Word. Without His insight and interpretation, most people will
think that they are free from the condemnation of sin. Hearing the word, “Thou
shalt not kill”, the majority of people in the world will claim to have
kept this God’s Word. Hearing the true explanation, “Whosoever is angry
with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment,” every
mouth is stopped and all the world become guilty before God (Romans 3:19).
Christ’s true interpretation makes everyone see the need for forgiveness and
salvation.
Our Lord now explains and applies the next commandment,
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Limited understanding,
again, will lead most people to conclude that they are morally upright and
righteous. That superficial righteousness is lost as we listen to Christ’s
revelation on the commandment. “Whosoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Christ effectively takes the veil of deception away to make everyone in
the world see the need for salvation in Him. Christ makes the world see the
need for divine mercy and He makes the church see the need for heart-cleansing.
1. COMMAND
AGAINST AN IMMORAL DEED
Matthew 5:27; Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 22:22-24; Proverbs
6:32-35; Romans 1:29-32; 13:9,10;1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21;
Revelation 2:19-23; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2,3; Hebrews 13:4.
“Ye have heard ...”
We have heard from the voice of conscience, from the voice of society,
from the voice of self-interest, from the voice of judgement and from the voice
of priests and preachers. “Ye have heard that it was said
by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.” This moral
law had been in effect before the dispensation of the law (Genesis 20:1-7;
38:24) and it is still in effect today after the dispensation of the law; in
this dispensation of grace (Matthew 19:16-18; Romans 13:9,10). Christ has not
come to excuse and conceal the sin of mankind; No! He came to expose and
cleanse the sin of the world. He has not come to condemn and leave man under
condemnation; No! He has come to reveal the guilt and condemnation of all men
in order to make men seek God’s forgiveness, mercy and salvation through
Christ. His light searches us that His love may save us.
2. CONDEMNATION OF
AN IMPURE DESIRE
Matthew 5:28; Exodus 20:14,17; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 7:7; 2
Samuel 13:1-4; Colossians 3:5,6; James 1:14,15;1 John 2:16; Genesis 6:5;
Proverbs 15:26; 24:9; Isaiah 55:7.
The Pharisees and scribes had reduced the commandment
which prohibits adultery to the mere physical act of adultery. They imagined
that as long as they were not actually guilty of the act, they
were perfectly innocent and free from guilt or condemnation. The
great mistake of the Pharisees was that they never read the Ten commandments
properly. If they had truly considered and thoroughly studied them, they would
have seen the error of isolating each of the commandments. While the seventh
commandment says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”, the
tenth commandment says, “Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour’s wife.” This law forbids lust in the heart or improper
desire of “inordinate affection” for any woman in the heart.
Here again, we have Christ faithfully showing us the insufficiency of external
righteousness. His inspired interpretation and faithful revelation of what is
in man’s heart helps us to see our need of Christ as Saviour and Sanctifier. “Wherefore
the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).
3. CONSIDERATION
OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE DELIVERANCE
Matthew 5:29,30; Psalm 119:37; Job 31:1; Proverbs 5:8-13;
Proverbs 6:25-29; 7:25-27; Romans 6:13; 8:13; Galatians 5:24; 2 Corinthians
10:4,5; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Mark 9:43-48.
Christ is not only the Teacher come from God, He is also
the great Physician (Doctor) sent from God. He is the Saviour with the
divine Word. He is also the Surgeon with divine Wisdom. For a man with a
cancerous eye or hand, there are times when ‘plucking out the eye’ or ‘cutting
off the hand’ becomes necessary to save the whole body. It is the last resort
when all other treatments fail.
“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and
cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” If a man or a woman as dear and precious to you as your
right eye, be an occasion of offending God; a means of exciting unholy desires
in your heart, delay not to separate from him or her. “And if thy right
hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for
thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should
be cast into hell.” If anyone who is as necessary, useful and
profitable to you as your right hand be a constant means of impure desires or
immoral deeds, cut her or him off and let there be a total and final
separation.
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