How does Matthew 5:28 connect with the commandment in Exodus 20:14? Setting the Scriptural Context • Exodus 20:14: “You shall not commit adultery.” • Matthew 5:28: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The Seventh Commandment: More Than Marital Fidelity • Protects the sanctity of the marriage covenant established in Genesis 2:24. • Upholds God’s design for sexuality: exclusive, heterosexual, lifelong union. • Safeguards families and community integrity (cf. Proverbs 6:32-35). Jesus Deepens the Command: From Act to Attitude • He does not replace the command; He reveals its fullest intent. • Lustful intent equals adultery “in the heart,” showing sin begins internally (cf. James 1:14-15). • By bringing the internal dimension to light, Jesus reaffirms the law’s moral standard and exposes hidden sin. Why the Heart Matters • Scripture views the heart as the control center of life (Proverbs 4:23). • Outward obedience without inward purity produces hypocrisy (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 23:25-28). • True righteousness requires transformation from the inside out, promised in the new covenant (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Practical Implications for Modern Disciples • Guard the eyes and mind: Job 31:1 — “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” • Cultivate holy desires through Scripture meditation and prayer (Psalm 119:11). • Pursue accountability within the body of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2). • Flee, don’t flirt, with sexual temptation (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). • Celebrate marriage as an object lesson of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). Supporting Scriptures • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 — God’s will is sanctification, abstaining from sexual immorality. • Hebrews 13:4 — Marriage is to be honored and the marriage bed kept undefiled. • 2 Corinthians 10:5 — Take every thought captive to obey Christ. Conclusion: Unified Moral Standard Exodus 20:14 establishes the boundary; Matthew 5:28 reveals the battlefield. Together they show that God’s concern is not only outward behavior but the purity of the inner life, calling believers to wholehearted, covenant-faithful love. |
    |