As Jesus continues His Sermon on the Mount, He exposes another hidden danger—lust.
Just as He revealed anger as the root of murder, now He unveils lust as the seed of adultery. This is not just a warning about behavior—it’s a call to purity at the heart level.
In a world saturated with sexual content, instant access, and distorted intimacy, this teaching from Jesus is not only relevant—it’s revolutionary.
Who Is Jesus Speaking To?
He’s still addressing His disciples and the crowd, teaching them that righteousness is far more than rule-following.
It’s a heart condition.
He speaks to men and women, religious leaders and fishermen, married and single alike.
And He speaks to us—in our phones, our thoughts, and our private moments.
What Jesus Said: Matthew 5:27–30 (NASB)
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”
What Happened?
Jesus intensifies the Law—not to crush us, but to awaken us.
Adultery doesn’t start in the bedroom—it begins in the mind and eyes.
His message is clear:
“Lust isn’t harmless. It’s heart-level adultery.”
This was (and still is) radically countercultural.
Instead of managing sin, Jesus calls us to eliminate access to it.
Tear It Out? Cut It Off?
Jesus uses hyperbole—dramatic language to make a point.
He’s not commanding literal mutilation. He’s calling for radical action.
If your eye, your phone, your app, your habit, or your late-night scroll is causing sin—get rid of it.
“It is better for you to lose…”
In other words: It’s worth the cost to live free.
Action Step: Identify the “gateway” in your life that leads to lust. Remove it. Not tomorrow—today.
Mood of the Scene
Heavy, sobering, direct—but full of grace.
Jesus isn’t condemning. He’s confronting in love. He knows the cost of sin and the power of purity.
He’s not asking for perfection—He’s inviting us into freedom.
Response from the People
Jesus’ words undoubtedly stunned His listeners.
They were used to external checklists. But Jesus was going deeper.
The religious elite kept the letter of the law—Jesus was after the spirit behind it.
And He still is.
What This Means for Us in 2025
Let’s be honest:
- Lust is mainstream.
- Temptation is a swipe away.
- Culture mocks purity and celebrates indulgence.
But Jesus doesn’t lower the bar. He raises it—and then empowers us by His Spirit to live above the noise.
How to Apply This Now:
- Recognize that lust begins in the heart. Don’t justify “just looking.”
- Remove access points, set filters, delete apps, and change habits.
- Refocus your desire—pursue God’s presence more than momentary pleasure.
- Repent, don’t retreat. God’s grace restores, but it also transforms.
- Reach out. Don’t fight in isolation. Find accountability and healing.
Final Prayer
Jesus, You see what I try to hide. Purify my heart and guard my eyes. Give me the strength to cut off what tempts me and the courage to walk in purity. I don’t want to settle for culture’s standards—I want to live by Kingdom truth. Make me holy, because You are. Amen.
