What is the meaning of Matthew 5:28? But I tell you “ But I tell you ” (Matthew 5:28) • Jesus speaks with divine authority, contrasting His teaching with common interpretations of the Law, just as He does in Matthew 5:21–22 and 5:31–32. • He places Himself above all human teachers—echoed in Matthew 7:29, where the crowds marvel that He teaches “as one having authority.” • This opening signals that what follows is not optional advice; it is the King’s decree (John 14:15). Anyone who looks at a woman “ that anyone who looks at a woman ” • The standard applies to “anyone,” underscoring that holiness is universal, not reserved for clergy or a spiritual elite (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15–16). • “Looks” reminds us that sin often starts with seemingly harmless glances—Job understood this when he said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes” (Job 31:1). • The phrase covers all women, not just married ones, showing God’s concern for protecting every daughter of Eve (1 Timothy 5:2). To lust after her “ to lust after her ” • Lust is a deliberate, cherished desire, not an involuntary notice. James 1:14–15 explains the process: desire conceives, gives birth to sin, and sin leads to death. • Scripture treats lust as a form of coveting (Exodus 20:17); it violates love by turning a person into an object. • Proverbs 6:25 cautions, “Do not lust in your heart after her beauty,” emphasizing that God’s standard reaches into our thought life (1 John 2:16). Has already committed adultery “ has already committed adultery ” • Jesus equates internal lust with the external act, exposing the true seriousness of heart-sin (1 Samuel 16:7; Hebrews 4:13). • This redefines righteousness: it is not merely avoiding scandal but pursuing purity of heart (Matthew 5:8). • Unchecked lust is spiritually destructive—Proverbs 6:32 calls the adulterer “senseless,” and 2 Peter 2:14 warns of those with “eyes full of adultery.” In his heart “ with her in his heart ” • The heart is the command center of life; Jeremiah 17:9 portrays it as desperately wicked, and Mark 7:21–23 lists evil thoughts—including adultery—as originating there. • By pinpointing the heart, Jesus shows that transformation must be internal, fulfilled through the new covenant promise of a renewed heart (Ezekiel 36:26). • Practical safeguards flow from this truth: guarding media intake, practicing accountability, and treasuring Christ above all (Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:1–2). summary Matthew 5:28 lifts the command “You shall not commit adultery” to the level of the heart. Jesus declares that even intentional, lingering looks charged with lust break God’s standard just as surely as the physical act. Because He sees and judges motives, disciples are called to cultivate inner purity by surrendering desires to Him, guarding their eyes, and depending on His Spirit to transform their hearts. |
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