MATTHEW 5:27-30
TEACHING ABOUT ADULTERY
INTRODUCTION
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deepens the traditional understanding of adultery by extending its definition beyond the physical act to include the intentions and desires of the heart. As recorded in Matthew 5:27-30, He emphasizes that even looking at someone with lustful intent is equivalent to committing adultery in one’s heart. This teaching underscores the seriousness with which Jesus regards the purity of thought and intention, highlighting that sin begins not just with actions but with the desires that precede them. The biblical prohibition against adultery, rooted in the sanctity of marriage as a covenantal relationship established by God, reflects this deeper call to holiness and integrity. Adultery, defined as voluntary sexual activity between a married person and someone other than their spouse, is consistently condemned in the Bible as a violation of the seventh commandment and a distortion of the marital bond. Jesus expands this understanding to include the internalization of lust, thereby calling for a transformation of the heart that aligns with the spirit of the law rather than merely its letter.
This teaching presents a radical call to holiness, challenging believers to examine their hearts and minds, recognizing that true righteousness begins with the purity of one’s inner life and a commitment to live according to God’s will. The hyperbolic language Jesus uses, such as removing one’s eye or hand if it causes sin, underscores the seriousness of avoiding any occasion of sin, emphasizing the need for spiritual vigilance. Rather than advocating physical self-mutilation, Jesus uses vivid imagery to stress the importance of removing anything from one’s life that could lead to sin. By highlighting the importance of inner purity and the need for self-discipline in controlling desires, Jesus calls His followers to a life of holiness and integrity, reflecting the sanctity of the marriage covenant and the foundational principles of the faith.
Matthew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’”
This passage, while simple in its wording, carries profound implications that Jesus sought to deepen beyond mere external adherence to the law. His teaching challenges not only the physical act of adultery but also the internal intentions and purity of heart, which are equally significant in the eyes of God.
Understanding Jesus’ Teaching
Jesus begins by acknowledging the traditional commandment against adultery, which God delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai and is part of the Ten Commandments. However, Jesus doesn’t merely repeat this command; He expounds on it. He does not say, “As it is inscribed” or “as you read,” but rather, “You have heard that it was said,” referencing the interpretations and teachings that Jewish rabbis had passed down over generations. This indicates that Jesus was addressing not just the original commandment but also the ways it had been taught and perhaps misinterpreted over time.
For four centuries before John the Baptist, Israel had no prophet, and during this period, many Jewish teachers had taken liberties in interpreting the Law. Their interpretations often strayed from the original spirit of the Law as intended by God. Jesus, in His sermon, sought to refine and correct these deviations, bringing His listeners back to the true essence of God’s commandments.
The Seriousness of Adultery
Adultery is a grave offense, not only against one’s spouse but also against the sanctity of marriage itself. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2380), adultery is defined as marital infidelity, where at least one of the partners involved is married to another. The act is so severe that it was included among the Ten Commandments and was punishable by death in the Old Testament (Lev 20:10-12; Deut 22:22-25).
The prophets equated adultery with idolatry, as both involve a betrayal of a covenant. Just as idolatry breaks the covenantal relationship with God, adultery violates the sacred bond between husband and wife. It infringes on the rights of the spouse and adversely affects the children, who look to their parents as role models. In the Old Testament, adultery was viewed as a pathway to hell (Prov 7:27) and was considered as serious as idolatry and murder.
Catholic Interpretation of Matthew 5:27-28
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:27-28 goes beyond the physical act of adultery to address the condition of the heart. He states that even looking at someone with lustful intent is equivalent to committing adultery in one’s heart. This teaching emphasizes that sin begins in the heart and mind, and thus, moral responsibility includes the intentions behind one’s actions. The Catechism of the Catholic Church echoes this by teaching that purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance (CCC 2521-2522).
The Greek text of Matthew 5:28 highlights the intentionality behind lustful actions, making it clear that deliberately entertaining lustful thoughts is a sin. This understanding underscores the importance of purity in both thought and deed, as the internal disposition of the soul is as crucial as external actions.
Reflection and Call to Purity
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:27-30 calls Christians to examine their thoughts, desires, and intentions. The challenge is to cultivate a pure heart that aligns with God’s will, avoiding even the internal sins of lust and covetousness. This teaching invites believers to a deeper conversion, where one’s thoughts and desires are purified by grace and directed toward love and respect for others.
In a world that often trivializes sin and encourages lower moral standards, Jesus’ call to purity is more relevant than ever. By cultivating virtues like chastity, modesty, and self-control, Christians can better conform their lives to Christ and witness to the truth of the Gospel. This journey toward purity is not just about avoiding sin but about embracing a life that reflects God’s holiness and love.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, who calls us to a deeper understanding of Your law. Grant us the grace to purify our hearts and minds, so that we may love with a love that is true and holy. Help us to reject the temptations that lead us away from Your will, and to embrace the virtues that reflect Your goodness. May we always seek to honor You in our thoughts, words, and actions, and live in the freedom and joy of Your truth. Amen.
Matthew 5:28 “But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
This statement, part of the Sermon on the Mount, illustrates Jesus’ deepening of the Old Testament commandment against adultery (Ex 20:14). Unlike the Jewish teachers of His time, who emphasized the physical act of adultery, Jesus addressed the internal disposition of the heart. He reveals that sin does not merely reside in external actions but begins with the intentions and desires within.
Catholic teaching highlights this verse’s emphasis on ‘purity of heart’ and the need to guard against ‘concupiscence,’ the inclination to sin that persists even after baptism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the “struggle against carnal covetousness entails purifying the heart and practicing temperance” (CCC 2517). Jesus’ teaching aligns with this by underscoring that looking at someone with lust is an internal form of adultery, violating the commandment to love and respect others as persons, not objects for selfish gratification.
Theological Insights and Moral Implications
Catholic theology asserts that even thoughts can be sinful if they involve grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent (CCC 1857-1861). Lustful thoughts, when deliberately entertained, can constitute mortal sin because they distort the purpose of human sexuality, which is intended to be an expression of love within the sanctity of marriage. Jesus’ radical teaching in this passage calls for a transformation of the heart, pointing out that true righteousness requires more than just avoiding sinful actions; it demands a heart seeking purity and holiness. This is consistent with the Beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8).
King David’s story serves as a biblical example of how lustful intentions can lead to grave sins. His prolonged gaze at Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:2) led him to commit adultery and eventually orchestrate her husband Uriah’s death to cover up the sin. This narrative illustrates the danger of nurturing sinful desires in the heart, which, if unchecked, can lead to a sequence of increasingly grave sins.
Jesus’ teaching warns us to cut off sin at its root, at the moment it begins to creep into our hearts. Uncontrolled desires can quickly escalate into intentional acts, like adultery, which Jesus condemns even when only harbored in the mind (CCC 2380).
Reflection and Call to Purity
As Christians, Matthew 5:28 calls us to reflect on our inner lives and strive for purity in thought and intention. This teaching challenges us to recognize the dignity of every person and to see them not as objects of desire but as beloved children of God. It invites us to seek God’s grace in overcoming sinful inclinations and to cultivate a heart that loves purely and selflessly. Purity of heart is not just about avoiding sinful actions; it is about aligning our thoughts and desires with God’s will, allowing us to experience His love more fully and love others in a Christ-like manner.
Prayer for Purity of Heart
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your grace and mercy. Help us to guard our hearts and minds against lustful thoughts and to see others with the purity and love that You desire. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. May we always strive to honor You in our thoughts, words, and actions, and may our lives reflect the holiness to which You call us. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Matthew 5:29 “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.”
This passage has deep implications for understanding the seriousness of sin and the lengths one must go to avoid it.
The Eye and the Occasions of Sin
Humans possess five basic senses – touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Among these, sight plays a particularly crucial role, as it provides 80% of our sensory impressions. The eyes, therefore, hold significant power in influencing our thoughts and actions, sometimes leading us into temptation and sin. This idea is supported by scriptural examples where the eye acts as a gateway to sin.
In the Bible, the eye is often depicted as a facilitator of sin. For instance, the original sin committed by Eve began with her gaze upon the forbidden fruit. “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom” (Gen 3:6). This act of seeing sparked a desire that ultimately led to the fall of humanity. Similarly, King David’s sin with Bathsheba began when he saw her bathing, which led to a series of grievous sins, including adultery and murder (2 Sam 11:2). The Bible thus frequently associates eyesight with moral failure, particularly in the context of lust and adultery (2 Pet 2:14).
The Significance of the Right Eye
Jesus specifically mentions the “right eye” in Matthew 5:29. The right eye is traditionally considered more dominant and symbolically represents something valuable or essential. The Bible often accords a sense of superiority to the right side of the body, as seen in the instructions for the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Ex 29:19-20). Therefore, when Jesus speaks of tearing out the right eye, He emphasizes the gravity of the sacrifice one must be willing to make to avoid sin.
However, it is clear that Jesus is not advocating for literal self-mutilation. The right eye represents the importance of controlling our senses and desires. Even if the right eye is removed, a person could still sin with the left eye, underscoring that the root of sin lies not in the physical organ but in the heart and mind.
Hyperbolic Teaching and Moral Vigilance
In Catholic teaching, the use of hyperbole in Scripture is recognized as a rhetorical device to stress a point. Jesus’ hyperbolic statement about tearing out the eye is a powerful call to take drastic measures to avoid sin. The Catholic Church teaches that this passage should not be interpreted literally but rather as a metaphor for the importance of spiritual discipline and the need to remove anything from our lives that could lead us into sin.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) reinforces this by discussing the virtue of temperance, which helps moderate the attraction to pleasures and maintain balance in life (CCC 1809). It also highlights the need to avoid occasions of sin (CCC 2847), aligning with Jesus’ radical approach in Matthew 5:29.
Reflection and Application
This passage challenges us to examine our lives and identify areas where we might be vulnerable to sin. It calls us to take proactive steps, even drastic ones, to remove these temptations. The ultimate goal is to prioritize spiritual well-being over temporary pleasures or attachments, ensuring that we align more closely with God’s will and prepare ourselves for eternal life.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to recognize the things in our lives that cause us to stumble and lead us away from You. If our right eye or any part of us causes us to sin, give us the strength to remove it from our lives. We pray that we may prioritize our spiritual well-being over any temporary pleasure or satisfaction. May we always choose to follow Your will and not our own desires. Thank You for Your love and guidance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Matthew 5:30 “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.”
Matthew 5:30 is a powerful part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches the deeper moral implications of the Law. In this passage, Jesus uses hyperbolic language to emphasize the severity of sin and the necessity of taking radical measures to avoid it. While the imagery of “cutting off your hand” might seem extreme, it is not intended to be taken literally. Instead, it highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual integrity over any worldly attachment or habit that could lead one into sin.
In biblical symbolism, the “right hand” is often associated with actions, authority, and service. It represents the deeds and behaviors that characterize our lives. If any action or habit – represented here by the right hand – leads us into sin, Jesus teaches that it must be “cut off,” meaning it should be completely abandoned, even if it is something valuable or seemingly essential. This aligns with the Catholic teaching on the importance of avoiding occasions of sin – situations or behaviors that could lead us away from God’s grace.
The Seriousness of Sin:
The Catholic Church teaches that sin begins in the heart, and thus, interior purity is essential. Jesus’ teaching extends beyond just physical actions to include our thoughts and desires. He calls for a purity of heart, as emphasized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):
– CCC 2517: “The heart is the seat of moral personality: ‘Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication…'” This verse underscores that purity of heart is crucial for seeing God.
– CCC 2336: “Jesus came to restore creation to the purity of its origins.” This restoration includes a call to chastity and the proper ordering of sexual desires.
St. Paul echoes this sentiment in his letter to the Colossians: “Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry” (Col 3:5). This calls for a radical commitment to living according to the Spirit rather than gratifying the desires of the flesh. The ultimate goal is to inherit the Kingdom of God, and nothing in this world is worth the risk of losing that eternal reward.
Reflection:
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:30 challenges us to seriously consider the areas in our lives that might lead us away from God. This might involve difficult choices, such as distancing ourselves from certain relationships, giving up habits, or avoiding environments that tempt us to sin. While these sacrifices may feel like losing a part of ourselves, the eternal reward of remaining in God’s grace far outweighs any temporary loss.
The call to “cut off” anything that causes us to sin is about making deliberate choices to pursue holiness and purity in our lives. This might include avoiding scandalous media, resisting the influence of immoral companions, or practicing moderation in our consumption of alcohol and other substances. Paul advises us to live by the Spirit and avoid the works of the flesh, which lead to destruction. Instead, we should cultivate the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your grace and strength to overcome the temptations that lead us away from You. Help us to recognize the seriousness of sin and to take the necessary steps to avoid it. Purify our hearts and minds, and grant us the courage to make sacrifices for the sake of our spiritual well-being. May we always strive to live in accordance with Your will, seeking holiness in all that we do. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Jesus’ teaching on adultery in Matthew 5:27-30 extends far beyond the physical act, reaching into the depths of our thoughts and desires. He calls His followers to a radical purity of heart, emphasizing that sin begins within, and that true righteousness requires the transformation of our inner lives. By using powerful imagery, Jesus stresses the importance of spiritual vigilance and the necessity of removing anything that might lead us into sin, whether it be an external action or an internal inclination. This teaching invites us to align our hearts and minds with God’s will, striving for holiness in every aspect of our lives, and respecting the sanctity of marriage as a covenant blessed by God.
As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the serious implications of allowing sinful desires to take root in our hearts. Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our own lives and to make the difficult but necessary sacrifices to safeguard our spiritual well-being. By seeking God’s grace, cultivating virtues like chastity and self-control, and remaining vigilant against temptations, we can grow in holiness and reflect the purity and love that Christ calls us to embody in our relationships and our lives.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wisdom of Your Word, which guides us in the paths of righteousness. Help us to purify our hearts and minds, so that our thoughts, desires, and actions may align with Your holy will. Grant us the strength to remove from our lives anything that leads us away from You, and to embrace the virtues that bring us closer to Your love and truth. May we live in the freedom of Your grace, always striving to reflect Your holiness in our lives. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.