Tree of Life
Hide The Pain
The best interpretation of "...lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," is that "in his heart" means PASSIONATELY, whole-heartedly. That there has already been adultery (like Jesus says), and that done in a very passionate, heart-full manner.
What is being pointed to is not just some passing fancy, and certainly NOT THE MERE THOUGHT that some woman looks "interesting."
Mt. 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
In contrast to "Thou shalt not commit adultery" Jesus the Christ is saying, if you look upon a woman to lust after her, that is indication you have already sinned.
The "lust" here is the same word that is used for "covet," the possessing of the object desired. ACTUAL ADULTERY. Not merely finding someone looks desirable.
The attraction of a man for a woman (and vice versa) is God-ordained and God created.
Find the other sex pleasing to the eyes and all that, yet NEVER HAVE THE LUST OF ACTUAL ADULTEROUS SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
The lust that means one has already committed adultery, that is what is to be avoided, the "lust" that is part and parcel of actual adultery, its heart part.
DO NOT ever want to possess someone whom one is not married to with so much "heart" that the lust is indistinguishable from sexual intercourse. Don't let it happen, or the "lust" is adultery (or fornication).
I agree that there's nothing sinful with recognizing that a person is beautiful or even admiring their beauty. The sin Jesus is talking about here consists in the act of looking at a woman in order to fantasize about her sexually. This would include imagining having sex with her. This would include the use of pornography in order to become sexually aroused. This would include masturbating while thinking about a woman (to whom you're not married) in a sexual way.
Simply looking at a woman and thinking: "Wow! What a beauty!" Is not a sin and can be a very appropriate response.
I hope we are in agreement on these things.
Upvote
0