Matthew 5.27-30

So we have moved from the thesis, the main idea of the sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5.17-20, which is about what righteousness in the kingdom of God looks like. Now we are looking at the practical examples of how the rules of the law aren't abolished in Jesus' kingdom, but actually heightened. Jesus isn't concerned with the surface level issues, like killing and adultery, he is concerned with the real issues, like hate and lust. And so Jesus is tackling these issues one at a time. The first is murder, and we have seen that Jesus is trying to get to the source of sin and not just the result of sin. He wants people's hearts. And so let's move now to the next issue Jesus wants to tackle, adultery.

Let's read the passage:

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’^[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.


This is a really tough passage. 


Just to clear things up, I don't think that Jesus is being literal with the command that we need to cut off whatever body part that makes us sin. There have actually been people who have taken this to the extreme and have dismembered themselves. Origen, the Church Father, actually castrated himself because he took this command literally. Later in his life, he said that this was wrong and stupid. But how it came about is not that crazy or uncommon. 


People do stupid things or believe crazy things when they don't pay attention to language and how literature works. When we read certain passages that are meant to be figurative and read them literally, we can believe things or do things that are way out there. And the same is true of passages that are mean to be literal and we make them figurative. That is why it is always important when reading the Bible to look for the Author's intended meaning. 


But we can get so focused on how to read the difficult and radical teaching and miss the practical application for our lives. 


Jesus calls those to follow him not only to not commit adultery, but to not desire sin, ultimately. How many times do we say in reference to sin that, "if only I weren't a Christian", or "if I wasn't a Christian" I would do that. 


Are we coming legalistic in our lives? 


Jesus' point is that it's not the action that is the sin, it is the rebellious desire inside of us that ultimately says, my way is better than God's. 


Think about it. 


Every sin is a result of a rebellious desire inside of us that thinks we know best or that what we want is more important than what God wants. 


And so Jesus wants us to change, not just legalistic actions that will make us look good, like the Pharisees, but he wants our hearts to be transformed to want what Jesus wants instead of what we want. Because the truth is, what God wants is ultimately better for us. 


It's like the parent who tells the kid, "look both ways before you cross the street." 


This instruction is for the good of the child, not just to boss. 


The same is true of God.


So what are the sinful desires in your life? Is it looking at a woman lustfully? Is it material wealth? Is it a desire for popularity or recognition? Is it for self-promotion or for attention?


What is the sinful, rebellious desire that you need to get rid of in order to follow Jesus?


People who follow Jesus surrender everything, even their secret, sinful desires.