Last time we began to look at the Seventh of Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20: You shall not commit adultery. Put more positively, you shall pursue sexual and moral purity. The sins of fornication and adultery are not merely physical acts, they can be metaphors for idolatry and the worship of false gods. Human sexuality is very powerful and handled properly is of benefit to the community and beyond; mishandled and it courts disaster.
Let’s look at it now from a New Testament perspective.
NEW TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE
Since Jesus Christ and the New Testament are full of ‘grace and truth,’ you might expect that it would be less severe regarding adultery than the Old Testament. After all, His opponents brought to Him a woman caught in the very act of adultery. They reminded the Lord that Moses commanded that adulterers should be stoned … but what do You say? (Of interest, why was the woman brought for execution and not the man? - John 8:5). Christ’s sterling reply? Whoever is sinless among you can cast the first stone at her (v.7). They all departed without one stone being thrown. The Lord sent the woman away in peace after giving her these final words: Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more (v. 11).
The fact is the New Testament condemns adultery in no uncertain terms, and even broadens to net. Jesus makes these comments straight out of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:27-32 (ESV):
You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit
adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with
lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your
right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better
that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into
hell. 30 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 your members than that your whole
body go into hell.
31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces his
wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 But I say
to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual
immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman
commits adultery.
These standards make the Old Testament look simple. Some may feel uncomfortable at this point. Relax. The New Testament is still full of ‘grace and truth.’
Let’s unpack this passage.
• In the heart (5:27): There is a persistent but deceptive thought that if you ‘fool around’ with another person but stop short of physical intercourse, then you are safe from the sins of fornication and/or adultery. According to Jesus, this is not the case at all. Merely looking at a person with ‘lustful intent’ renders the person an adulterer, even if they are ‘hands off.’
• Jimmy Carter: Jimmy Carter ran for President of the United States in
1976 under the banner of being a ‘born again’ Christian. Indeed, he was the
reason it became a household term. A dedicated and pious Southern Baptist,
Sunday school teacher, husband to Rosalynn and father of four, Carter was the
model evangelical Christian candidate. Yet, his innocent and honest comments in
an interview with Playboy Magazine made instant headlines. What did he
say? ‘I've looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my
heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me.’[1]
If such an upstanding individual confesses such things, where does that
leave the rest?
• Lustful intent: So as to prevent needless anxiety, make
sure you discern the difference between temporary fleeting lustful thoughts
versus those which are focused, intent, and all-too-regular. Martin Luther (1483-1546)
said it so well: 'You cannot keep birds from flying over your head
but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair’[2] In our
sex-saturated society, with sensuous imagery easily accessible, people need the
grace of God to prevent the ‘bird’s nest.’
• Practical Application Though there is only limited space,
remember the antidote to lustful thoughts begins with the advice of Romans
12:1-2: Give your body as a living sacrifice and your mind for renewal. The
toolbox for the overcomer includes the following:
• 1. The cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14),
• 2. God’s Word hidden in your heart (Psalm
119:11),
• 3. Name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11),
• 4. Prayer and praise in the Holy Spirit
(Jude 20),
• 5. If you are really keen to overcome, try
fasting - it really works (but make sure you are healthy enough to do it).
• Other Practical Tips: May we suggest some more? Get off the
pornography (ask for help, if necessary), don’t allow yourself in a
compromising situation (read about the hapless young man in Proverbs 7), and
dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:2-3). Being offensive is not fair on
others and can tempt a weak believer; furthermore, Scripture is not kind to
those who are deliberately offensive in word, deed, or dress - Matthew 18:7).
Related
to Jesus’ statements on adultery are involve divorce and remarriage, cutting
off sinful body parts, etc. Our goal, to the best of our God-given ability, is
to present an explanation that is Biblically faithful, balanced, practical, and
compassionate. There is still ‘grace, truth, and love’ and we want to show the
way forward.See you next month.
TO
BE CONTINUED
Photo
courtesy of Adobe Stock.
[1] Playboy interview, 1976. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/jimmy_carter_130252 Accessed 3 February 2021
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/757798-you-cannot-keep-birds-from-flying-over-your-head-but Accessed 4 February 2021
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