Overcoming Lust

Pastor: Jonathan Murrell

We are continuing our study of Matthew 5 in the context of the Sermon on the Mount. As we saw last week with murder, Jesus starts to get very specific. He systematically addresses what it means to be righteous. Or in other words, how do you truly serve and love God? The Pharisees were reducing righteousness down to only your actions. And while actions are important, God looks at the heart. But the religious culture over-emphasized outward behavior and appearance. Jesus is snapping them out of this performance-based religion with His sermon.

True righteousness is both external and internal.

Jesus addresses both and He makes it memorable and impactful for His listeners. Jesus is making sure no one feels comfortable. Jesus is making sure no one escapes the Sermon on the Mount. Something is going to resonate with you. And you can either disagree, run, or accept the truth and change.

And today’s topic is a big one: adultery, lust, and sexual temptation.

Matthew 5:27

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

You shall not commit adultery is the 7th Commandment. It is simply understood as any unlawful sexual relations outside of a marriage: whether your own or someone else’s.” Sex was designed by God for one man and one woman to be enjoyed in the covenant relationship of marriage. Sex is intimate, vulnerable, and sacred for the husband and wife who are united by God.

But good and godly marriages get ruined when adulterated with sexual sin. It breaks the vow with your spouse and God. It exchanges something beautiful with something evil. But Jesus goes on to expand what adultery is.

Matthew 5:28

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

When someone gets caught sinning, and they say, “I’m sorry.” Have you heard the question? “Are you actually sorry for what you did? Or only sorry you got caught?”

You see, some don’t commit external adultery because they are scared to get caught. They don’t want to face the potential consequences. But that fear doesn’t stop them from adultery in their heart. They just find a more “acceptable way” to lust than to physically sleep with someone. And in this case, that is looking and lusting after another person. For us to be truly righteous, that’s not acceptable. That’s not the standard God gives us.

Matthew 5:29-30

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. 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.

Why does Jesus single out the right hand and right eye? Typically the dominant ones. To get rid of one of your dominant eye/hand would be very difficult.

Have you had to use your non-dominant hand? How silly do you feel? It is not fun! So getting rid of a dominant hand or eye would be very difficult. So what is Jesus’ point?

Jesus is not being literal and condoning self-amputation because it’s not a cure. Because lust is a problem in the heart and mind. You could still sin with your other hand or eye. The eyes and hands are only instruments to a lustful heart. Jesus is using graphic hyperbole to demonstrate the seriousness of sin and to identify anything that separates us from God.

While it doesn’t seem profitable or logical to lose something you think is necessary. If there’s a part of our life given over to sin. It’s better for that part to die and be inconvenienced, than to condemn our whole life.

Are you willing to sacrifice a small part of your life to be righteous?

Do you take sin as seriously as Jesus does?

For those of you struggling with sexual sin,

• Confess and be cleansed (1 John 1:9)

• Take action… now

• Change your heart. Renew your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Remember that God is a God of redemption, forgiveness, and power. He can turn the ugliest things in your life and make them beautiful. He can break the strongest chains of sexual sin and bring freedom. We want to live lives that are righteous and pure externally and internally.

Psalm 19:14 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartBe acceptable in Your sight,O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.