In the Fulness of Time/Part 15

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Today’s philosophy concerning marriage in the minds of many, is that a young man and a young woman should “shack up” for a while to see whether or not they are compatible. If not, they are free to try this again, until they find an acceptable sex partner. This method is not considered by them as adultery; rather, it is merely a practical way of avoiding a bad marriage! What did our Lord say about adultery, as He expounded on the Seventh Com­mandment?

Seventh Commandment: “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery” Matthew 5:27-28

Matthew 5:27 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old, Thou shalt not commit adultery”

Under the Mosaic Law death was prescribed for adultery in Deuteronomy 22:22-27. The purpose is stated three times: “So shalt thou put away evil from among you” (22:21, 22, 24). Such evil would ruin the person, the family and eventually the nation. Purity of God’s people was part of the Law and was to be enforced. How different from present-day laxity in morality, which presumes that punishment does not prevent sin! Certainly God thought so.

Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath commit­ted adultery with her already in his heart.”

Once again Christ takes the physical committing of the act back one step to its contem­plation. Note once more that in Matthew 15:19 it is the sinful heart that is not only the source of murder (cf. 5:21-22) but of adultery and fornication as well. Still, there are three enemies, the world, the flesh and the Devil, and the Devil uses the other two as entrap­ments. Therefore, the admonition of Jesus is pertinent: “Whosoever looketh… to lust….” This includes two things, the eye and the heart. Some writers minimize the looking, as though there is no difference as to how long the looking lasts. The definite use of the present participle of blepo (looking) certainly shows it is more than a glance: “the one habitually looking.” It was Spurgeon who remarked that he was not responsible if a bird landed upon his head, but he sure was if the bird built his nest there! So here, the lengthy look will lead to the lustful look, which in turn will lead to the act itself.

In Christ’s teaching the looking to lust means that “he hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” This is even stronger than the admonition about anger; in 5:22 the clause “he shall be in danger of” means that the thought is there but no killing has yet occurred; but here, the committing of adultery has already occurred in the heart! There is another reason why the length of looking is mentioned as habitual. An accidental glance does not make all of us adulterers, as some would have it. Such a brief look can be con­fessed and forgiven before it becomes lustful. The longer the looking, the more likely it will become lustful and unconfessed; thus the heart-adultery is actually committed. Heart-adultery can ruin the unbeliever’s desire for the things of God and may lead to everlasting fire; likewise, it can ruin the believer’s effectiveness for God and may lead to physical death. Little wonder then, that Jesus used such strict interpretation of this commandment. He is about to become even more stringent as He summaries these two commandments in the verses that follow.

Summary of these two Commandments. Matthew 5:29-30

The Offending Eye. Matthew 5:29

Matthew 5:29 “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.”

This is the counterpart to 5:28. “looketh to lust” and there are those who would symbol­ize this command of mutilation with the argument that a person could look with lust using his left eye. However, Christ specifically mentions one member of the body perishing so that a person could be saved from hell. Lust is not the only reason for plucking out the eye. The important word is “offend” from skandalidzo, “to entrap.” Matthew 18:7-9 uses the same terminology with reference to “entrapping” or preventing little children from coming to Christ, and with the same punishment, everlasting fire.

The point being made in both instances is that some bodily member offends, or keeps the person from having a changed heart. Would it not be better to lose one’s eye or limb, literally, than to be cast into hell, literally? Why take away the literal meaning? Was Jesus thereby encouraging self-mutilation? No, but consider the contrast again: If the eye or hand or foot was the entrapment keeping you from heaven, would you even think twice about keeping the member of the body and go into everlasting fire? Of course not! You would literally get rid of the offending member.

The Offending Hand. Matthew 5:30

Matthew 5:30 “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.”

This is the parallel to 5:21-22 since the hand would be the instrument of killing when angry thoughts turned to murderous actions. In 5:29-30 the word “profitable” is used. It is from sumphero and has the idea of bringing together, or to be beneficial and thus advanta­geous. If we remember the main thrust of this section is to point to a better righteousness than that of the scribes and Pharisees, then these strict admonitions become clear. No one will enter Christ’s kingdom unless he has God’s righteousness; no one will have God’s righteousness if his heart has not been changed. He will still be expressing his wicked heart in anger, which puts him in danger of using his hand to murder. Better (more profit­able) to lose that hand and come to know Christ. Or, he will still be expressing his wicked heart by looking lustfully, with the result that he commits heart-adultery. Better (more profit­able) to lose his lustful eye if it is keeping him from changing his heart. If nothing short of this will bring you to God for righteousness, then forfeit the hand or eye and gain eternal life! These are Christ’s own admonitions as He presents His message concerning the Messianic Kingdom, which will come “In the fulness of time.”

Read Part 16