Matthew 5:27–30 ‘But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’ (v28)
Even in our permissive age, most regard cheating on a spouse or partner as a reprehensible act.
Here is one of the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament which translates well into most people’s personal moral code and, of course, especially if you are the innocent spouse.
But not looking at a woman lustfully seems much more of a challenge. Males are highlighted here perhaps because in that culture they take the lead and have a greater propensity for being attracted by visual stimulus.
But the principle holds for women too. In these days when advertising utilises attractive women to sell products, and articles online often have scantily clad women in close proximity, it is hard to imagine many hotblooded males not facing a daily challenge.
But let’s be clear. The Greek suggests that lusting here is not a look which finds someone visually attractive – otherwise how would any man ‘find a woman’ without ‘sinning’?!
Rather, the wording imagines a man looking at a woman suggestively, as if it to entice her to imagine having sexual relations outside of marriage.
Hence the emphasis on ‘looks’. The command is ‘don’t imagine or start any kind of relationship that could lead to both of you being led astray’.
We are made sexual beings and will be attracted to some people and not others. We needn’t torture ourselves that we are evil for ‘fancying’ someone.
But Jesus warns that there is a massive difference between being aware of attraction and acting on it inappropriately.
A Prayer To Make:
God, You have made me a sexual being, for the right time and place. Give me grace to honour You with my body always. Amen.
An Action To Take:
Resolve to thank God for those you are attracted to, and not to say or do anything that would be wrong.
Scripture To Consider:
2 Sam. 13:1–21; Esther 2:12–18; 1 Tim. 5:1–8; 1 Pet. 3:1–7
