Matthew 5:27-32
As we continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount we see Jesus referring again to the Law of Moses before calling His followers to a higher level of righteousness. This time He is speaking about sexual relationships and the sanctity of marriage. While the law forbade the act of adultery, Jesus focused on the lustful desires that lead to sexual impurity.
Before a sinful act takes place it must first be conceived.
James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. [15] Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
Sin begins with a temptation – a thought about doing something that is wrong, such as entering into an inappropriate sexual relationship. Having that thought is not a sin – even Jesus was tempted. The problem comes when we entertain the thought. If we let our minds dwell on the idea that has come into our mind, we start to picture it in our imagination and the desire to do that thing begins to grow. Over time that desire will turn into lust – an intense craving that prioritises our self-gratification above holiness and obedience to God’s will. At that point, as Jesus makes clear, we have already fallen into sin.
As those who seek to follow Jesus we need to guard our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 speaks of “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”. Jesus used the Greek word skandalizo (v.29) – which means to “entice to sin,” “offend,” or “set a trap” – to describe the way that our thoughts can lead us into sin. He used graphic images of plucking out an eye and cutting off a hand to make the point that maintaining a pure thought life requires firm self-discipline. Just as a person would choose to amputate a limb in order to prevent gangrene spreading to their body, so believers must be ruthless about getting rid of destructive thought patterns, relationships, habits or activities that might cause us to sin. If we find anything in our lives that might lead us astray, we need to remove it, totally and immediately.
King David knew what it was to allow his thoughts to lead Him into sin. His adultery with Bathsheba began when he saw her bathing and allowed his thoughts to dwell on how beautiful she was (2 Samuel 11:2). That thought led not only to adultery but also to murder. David later invited God to search his heart and test his thoughts and to show him if he was harbouring any thoughts that might lead him into danger. We can do the same.
Psalm 139:23-24 (TPT) “God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. [24] See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way—the path that brings me back to you.”
Prayer
Father God,
I know how easy it is for me to depart from Your ways, even though You only prohibit things that are not good for me. I thank You that You have forgiven me for my past sins but I recognise that You cannot take away all the consequences of my wrong choices. Thank You that You can make something good out of my mistakes.
I choose now to renounce any thoughts, habits or relationships I have been holding onto that might lead me into further wrongdoing. I invite You to search my heart and show me anything that the enemy might use to take me off the right track and I ask Your help in removing it completely from my life. I love You and I want to honour You.
Amen.
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