How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:27-28 expand on Deuteronomy 5:18? The Original Command: Deuteronomy 5:18 “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus’ Expansion: Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” How Jesus Deepens the Command • Moves from external behavior to internal desire • Reveals that sin begins in the heart long before any physical act • Raises the standard of purity to include thoughts, motives, and intentions • Demonstrates that God’s law was always aimed at wholehearted obedience, not mere rule-keeping (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 4:23) Heart-Level Purity in the Wider Canon • Job 31:1 — “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze with lust upon a virgin?” • Proverbs 6:25 — “Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.” • James 1:14-15 — Desire conceives and gives birth to sin; Jesus pinpoints that conception stage. • 2 Timothy 2:22 — “Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace…” Why This Matters • Protects marriages by cutting off adultery at its root • Guards human dignity—no one is reduced to an object of gratification • Exposes universal guilt, showing the need for Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:23-24) • Calls believers to depend on the Spirit for inner transformation (Galatians 5:16) Practical Steps Toward Heart Purity • Guard the eyes: limit triggers that feed lust (Psalm 101:3) • Renew the mind with Scripture memory and meditation (Psalm 119:11) • Cultivate accountability with trusted believers (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Rejoice in marital intimacy as God’s provision, honoring the marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4) • When tempted, take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) Summary Deuteronomy 5:18 forbids the external act of adultery; Jesus presses the command inward, declaring that even lustful looks violate God’s standard. By moving the line from the bedroom to the heart, He affirms the law’s authority while revealing its fullest intent: a life of purity that springs from a transformed heart. |
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