I. Introduction
A. A reporter was visiting an old folks home and met three very old looking men. The reporter asked the first fellow what was the secret of his long life. The man replied that he never smoked, never drank alcoholic beverages, never caroused around and was happily married to the same woman for 60 years. The reporter asked how old that first man was and he answered, 96 years old. The reporter turn to the next man who looked considerably older than the first and asked him the secret of his long life. The second man answered, well, I smoked a little, I drank a little, I caroused around a little, my first wife divorced me so I married my second wife and we’ve been married 43 years. The reporter asked him how old he was and he replied, I’m 66 years old. The reporter turn to the third man, who looked worse than the other two, and asked him his secret. He answered that he smoked three packs of cigarettes a day, I drank two fifths of “Old Overholt Pure Rye Whisky” every day, I caroused to the early hours of the morning six days a week, I’ve never been married. The reporter asked him his age and he replied 17.
1. Adultery is immorality and adultery causes great destruction, hurt and pain, both within and without the person
a. There are at least three reasons why a person commits this immoral act
(1) The ego: the sense of conquering, taking, capturing, controlling, knowing, seeing, experiencing, enjoying, and on and on, a person's ego is boosted and inflated
(2) The inner need for attention and sharing
(3) The raw lust of the flesh
(a) Immorality is so common that it is often thought excusable and acceptable if it is agreed to by the partners, and if other lives are not directly affected
(b) From what I have experienced in the Army and in the ministry Immorality is very prevalent in all levels of society
(c) And it seems that the higher up in society one gets, adultery and all kinds of sexual immorality is more and more prevalent
b. Humans have always tended to glorify the body and the flesh
(1) Exposing the body
(2) Dressing the body for sexual attraction
(3) Looking at and observing the body and its movements
(a) All are often acceptable practices of society
(b) Inward desire (lust) and the act of sexual pleasure itself are often thought to be so much a part of nature and normality that to restrict them is considered abnormal and straight-laced
(4) Christ is strong, insistent in His demand for purity so strong that He insists on radical surgery rather than allowing the hand or eye to sin
(5) An immoral eye and hand will carry the whole body into hell, Christ says, so pluck out the eye and cut off the hand
(6) But what do we say?
(a) He doesn't mean this literally
(b) And we use this fact as a way to water down the sharpness and the strictness of His point
i) Lets turn to James 1:14-15
(7) However, we ignore and neglect His words to our detriment
(a) Today such loose sexual morals leads to such horrors as AIDS and Syphilis
(8) And this is Jesus very point
(a) However, our thought life is as dangerous as real life
James 1:14-15 (NKJV)
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. {15} Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death
B. We may fantasize and lust as a result of reading immoral magazines and books, lustfully look at the movements of a person walking, and call it recognizing beauty, dress to sexually attract, take pleasure in the stimulation and sensation of sex
1. But Christ clearly warns, lustful looking, touching, and behavior will cause the whole body to be cast into hell
a. The matter is so serious that radical surgery is called for
b. No diluting, no evading, no explaining of His words and what He means can change the severe judgment that awaits the immoral person
(1) Let us turn to Matthew 5:27
II. Body
A. The Law
Matthew 5:27 (NKJV)
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.
1. Adultery, sex, the Bible does not teach that sex is wrong
a. But the Bible does teach that sex can be used wrongly, and the wrong use of sex is sin
b. Sex has been given by God for at least three reasons
(1) Sex causes a person male or female, to be attracted to another of the opposite sex
(a) Therefore, sexual attraction is one of the major tools that brings about marriage
(2) Sex is a tool with which to love
(a) Sex, properly rooted and expressed in God, is one of the deepest and richest involvements and expressions of love
(3) Sex creates life
(a) God has given people the privilege of being sub-creators of life-under Him
i) Turn to Exodus 20:14
2. The law against adultery is the seventh commandment of the ten
Exodus 20:14 (NKJV)
You shall not commit adultery.
a. Lets turn to Exodus 20:17
3. God's law is given for three reasons
a. First, to assure the respect and protection of all families and neighbors
(1) God will take vengeance upon those who destroy families through adultery
Exodus 20:17 (NKJV)
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."
(2) Also turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6
1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 (NKJV)
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.
(3) Turn to 1 Corinthians 6:18
b. The second reason is to protect a man from judgment, the judgment of perishing in hell as we shall see
c. Third, to protect a man from sinning against his own body
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
(1) Lets turn to Matthew 5:28
B. The real meaning
Matthew 5:28 (NKJV)
"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1. The real meaning of adultery
a. Adultery is often said to be sexual unfaithfulness by a married person
(1) This is true, but it is much more
(2) Man's idea of adultery is shattered by Christ
(3) Christ says adultery is not only the actual act, but adultery is committed by any one of five acts:
(a) A deliberate look
(b) Passion within the heart, desiring and lusting
(c) The actual act of sex with someone other than one's own spouse
(d) Divorce relationships
(e) Spiritual unfaithfulness toward God or apostasy from God
(4) Said another way, Christ says there is eye adultery, heart adultery, and body adultery
(a) This is a shattering revelation that strikes at the experience of every young person and adult
(b) There is no question that many dream and imagine, and if they had the opportunity they would commit the act
(c) All they lack is the opportunity and a boost to their courage to sin
(d) The eyes can lead to lust by looking upon persons or pictures or stimulating objects
(e) The eyes can be used sinfully in several ways
i) To look and search for another person in order to lust
ii) To let another person know that one is available
iii) To attract, suggest, and entice
iv) To gratify lust where an experience is not possible
b. There are two other matters that need to be thought about at this point
(1) Suggestive communication. This can arise from
(a) Unclean talk such as jokes, foul words, and suggestive statements made in passing
(b) Luring talk that arises when sharing with the opposite sex
i) This tends to lead a person to let down his guard or to play loose with his conviction and mortal commitment
ii) Such sharing often dallies with enticing phrases and suggestive propositions that arouse pleasure
iii) Suggestive conversation can occur anywhere, at work, at school, at parties, over the phone, or just standing around talking
(2) Dress.
(a) This arises from exposing parts of the body or from following the latest fad in dress that might be designed to display or attract
i) Turn to 2 Peter 2:14
(b) There is real danger in using one's eyes sinfully
(c) Peter warns that a person can lose control
2 Peter 2:14 (NKJV)
having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
(d) The seriousness of adultery is seen by the drastic action suggested by Christ in vs. 29-30
2. The believer can conquer the eyes and lust and can keep from committing adultery by doing a few simple things
a. In relation to others...
(1) Stay away from places that lend themselves to suggestive lust
(2) Stay away from persons who might be suggestive and enticing-no matter how enjoyable and pleasing
(3) Refuse invitations to functions or socials that might lead to suggestive conversation or enticement
b. In relation to self
(1) Dress appropriately decently, dress to please the Lord
(2) Behave at all times as a genuine Christian believer.
(3) Build a testimony by conversation and behavior as a Christian believer
(a) Turn to Job 31:1
c. In relation to the eyes and mind
(1) Make a covenant not to look at or think about immoral persons, places, or things; and don't
(2) Job said of himself
Job 31:1 (NKJV)
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
(a) Turn to Philippians 4:8
(3) Keep the eyes and mind upon things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report
(4) I used to belong to a Christian Men’s Forum on line. We were discussing the eye problem as to the Internet. There are thousands if not millions of Internet site dedicated to pornography. Many of the en on our site worked with computers on the Internet. One man gave us the best answer for resisting the temptation of Internet pornography. He sais, when I feel tempted, I turn off my computer and go home to my wife.
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things
(5) Start immediately: begin to think upon the positive and the moral day by day. Keep the mind upon the positive for the rest of your life
3. In the presence of others
a. Guard one's self at all times
b. Run when suggestive statements are made
(1) Excuse yourself, show displeasure by statements or force if necessary
(2) Get away immediately, not allowing the pleasing words to stimulate and gratify your flesh
(a) Turn to Matthew 15:19
(3) The flesh revels in expressions of pleasure and appreciation over the way one looks, dresses, works, serves, performs, and on and on
(a) A young youth pastor was with the youth group at summer camp. One the second day he went to the senior pastor very disturbed and said, I have a problem with all these young 16, 17, and 18 year old girls in their bathing suits sitting around the pool. I am really disturbed. The elder pastor just told him, thank God for the beauty He has created and go about your business.
(b) A person must simply appreciate such and then move on immediately Lingering to enjoy and revel in appreciative remarks will lead to attraction. Everyone is human.
Matthew 15:19 (NKJV)
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
i) Lets go to Matthew 5:29
C. The two guilty culprits, the eyes and hands
Matthew 5:29 (NKJV)
"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
1. Why did Christ use the eyes and hands to illustrate His point?
a. Experts say that a man is moved primarily by thoughts that arise from sight, and a woman is moved primarily by touch
b. It is the eye and hand that are the culprits in adultery
(1) Staying with verse 29 we see
D. The danger
1. The danger is twofold
a. First is offending or stumbling
(1) The word "offend" in the Greek means to stumble; to be baited; to be lured; to be tripped up
(2) The eyes and hands are stumbling blocks
(a) Turn to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
b. Second is being condemned to hell
(1) The sin is serious, extremely serious
(2) Unless the sin is dealt with, it will cause a person to be cast into hell
(a) I don’t want you to think that adultery is the unforgivable sin
(b) But Jesus is warning His disciple of the greatest consequence
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (KJV)
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, {10} Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
c. Turn to 1 Corinthians 6:18
2. The sin of immorality ruins the body as well as the soul
a. This is a terrible fact, yet it is a fact that is seldom considered
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
(1) We stay with Matthew 5:29 and go on to verse 30
E. The answer
Matthew 5:29-30 (NKJV)
"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. {30} "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell
1. Three things to consider as part of the answer
a. Surgery: cut out the offending body member
(1) The lustful look and the lustful touch should be cut out of one's life, completely
Proverbs 10:31 (NKJV)
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out
(2) Paul does make positive provisions for the problem of lust in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9
1 Corinthians 7:8-9 (NKJV)
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; {9} but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
(3) The last two words, “with passion” are not in the orignal text so that the verse more rightly says, For it is better to marry than to burn
(a) So it could be interpreted burn with passion or burn in hell
i) Turn to Romans 6:13
b. Death: let the offending body members perish
(1) What feels good and pleases the flesh is not always good
(2) Self-denial is sometimes called for
Romans 6:13 (NKJV)
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
(3) Repentance: turning from being cast into hell
(a) Lets turn to Galatians 5:16
(b) Adultery is a sin that feels so good and seems so natural that it can be easily rationalized
(c) The warning given to adulterers is for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
(d) A man must repent, that is, turn to God from adultery
F. The Law from last week and the Law from this week may be the most problematic to humanity
1. Unrighteous anger defined as murder
2. And adultery, sexual lust
a. We have people to forgive and be reconciled to
