Posted on 04/20/2022 6:39:09 AM PDT by metmom
“‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery”; but I say to you that everyonewho looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart’” (Matthew 5:27–28).
The seventh commandment protects the sanctity of marriage, and anyone who relies on external righteousness to keep it is prone to break it. Just as anger equals murder, lustful desire equals adultery.
In Jesus’ admonition, “looks” indicates intentional and repeated gazing. Therefore He means purposeful looking that arouses lust. In contemporary terms, it condemns a man who sees an X-rated movie, watches a salacious television show, or visits pornographic websites. It encompasses any thought or action done to arouse sexual desire.
Jesus is not referring to accidental exposure to sexual temptation. It is no sin if a man looks away from a provocative scene. It is the continued look that Christ condemns, because that demonstrates an adulterous heart. And by inference this prohibition would apply to women also, who must not gaze at men or dress in seductive ways to elicit stares.
In earliest redemptive history, Job understood these principles: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? . . . If my step has turned from the way, or my heart followed my eyes, or if any spot has stuck to my hands, let me sow and another eat, and let my crops be uprooted” (Job 31:1, 7–8).
If the adulterous heart gives in to temptation, the godly heart will protect itself, praying, “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You” (Ps. 119:37–38; cf. 2 Tim. 2:22).
Ask Yourself
What could replace your next lustful thought or glance? Instead of focusing on what God has graciously restricted, what blessings, privileges, and freedoms can capture your attention instead?
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
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Studying God’s Word ping
Fearless preacher. One of my favorite pastors.
The author’s remedy sounds simplistic. People can be trapped in addictions. People can be possessed by addictions. Demon possession/influence is associated with ungodly addictions. Telling the heroin addict, “just stop & replace shooting up with eating apples”, generally will not deliver the person. Addicted people need supernatural help/deliverance, intercession from the saints and Spirit-filled/led Saints to help deliver them & hold them accountable.
Agreed.
My understanding is that addictions are really a symptom or response to a different spiritual issue. They are still sin, but addressing the symptom does not get rid of the cause.
Address the cause, and the symptom resolves.
I dealt with worry a lot and was praying about it I was on this endless treadmill of worry, repent, worry, repent,......
When I was praying about it, the Lord showed me that the worry was because I was not trusting HIM to take care of things. THAT was a tough word to hear, but I needed to hear it.
When I repented of that, the tendency to worry just kind of melted away. I did repent of the worry, too, because it was a wrong reaction to things, and as sin needed to be dealt with, but since I found out the root cause of my worry, and resultant control tendencies, both have been far less a problem than before.
Amen.
Desire is not the root sin--Pride is.
Pride of thinking your own desires matter more than the Law
Pride of thinking that your own desires matter more than the Lawgiver.
Pride of thinking that your own desires override those of others.
Pride is the root sin for every behavior/thought that we call sin. There is only one sin in reality--Pride. Everything else is a symptom. That is why it does not matter how small you think your sin is--it all leads to hell. It's because one has committed the only sin--pride.
Good point.
Metmom, your post is every bit as good (and even more helpful) as the article. Thanks.
Thanks
I agree with SouthernClaire. This was a very good post, and I hope it reaches the people it needs to reach.
Looks like someone is placing the yoke of the law back on the neck of believers.....
Indeed and that was the root of the sin of Satan as well who thought he was equal or above God. He was/is very proud of himself.
Thank you for sharing that.
...but it still has to be mowed.
Seems to me that the first sin was wanting what you are not supposed to have.
But before that, you must have been convinced that you will be better off, in some manner, if you get what you are not supposed to get.
?? Really??
I see it as a DANGER AHEAD sign.
My previous SoCal morning commute included Pastor Johnny-Mac. The initial half hour portion was occupied by Through the Bible (TTB) - all via KKLA.
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