Background:
In Matt. 5:17-26, Jesus makes it clear that He has not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it and make it perfect by showing the true spiritual intent and application of God’s Law. In that passage, He starts with the Sixth Commandment: “You shall not murder.”
Today we continue with what Jesus teaches about the Seventh Commandment: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’” (5:27)
Adultery and Lust
Adultery is a breach of the marriage vow. It breaks the solemn covenant entered into between husband and wife and God. The gravity of this sin brings down the judgment of God.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4 ESV)
Even the Pharisees condemned adultery. They clamored for the death of the woman in John 8:4-5 who was guilty of this sin. But being hypocrites, they screamed bloody murder to the adulterous woman while at the same time they made light of disobedience to one’s parents – the Fifth Commandment (Matthew 15:4-6). Their application of the law that prohibits adultery extended no farther than to the physical act of adultery itself, supposing that if the transgression was restricted to the mind, God would be indifferent.
Is there any doubt why Jesus feels the dire need to clarify the Law?
“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (5:28)
In November 1976, former President Jimmy Carter made these remarks during an interview with Playboy Magazine:
“The Bible says, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ Christ said, I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery. I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times.... This is something that God recognizes, that I will do and have done, and God forgives me for it.”
But what happened after that interview?
Yes, you guessed it.
Playboy sold many extra copies that month. President Carter became a public laughing stock. His political enemies had a field day flooding the press with their slanderous comments!
Remember Jesus’ Beatitude #8? “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:10)
While I ponder the wisdom of giving an interview to a publication such as Playboy, I applaud President Carter’s integrity and his boldness in speaking publicly on biblical truths.
Simply put, marriage and adultery do not mix. When adultery occurs, what happens to marriage?
Marriage and Divorce
In ancient times women's had little or no place in society. So God instructed Moses to write a law that forbade a man to divorce his wife at a whim, leaving her defenseless without any explanation of her status.
“…. ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’” (5:31)
The man had to file a legal document stating his reasoning for divorcing his wife, and at least give her the protection – a safety net -- of being able to say, "My marriage has ended, and I have a certificate to prove it."
Jesus is also correcting a misunderstanding of what God had in mind when he instructed Moses to write about the legal process of divorce (Deut. 24).
“But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery….” (5:32)
Jesus is not advocating divorce, but He acknowledges divorce as inevitable in a sin-filled society. He gives an exception to the general rule that it is wrong for God's people to divorce and remarry. The exception being husbands and wives who find themselves victimized because their partner has chosen unfaithfulness.
SO WHAT? (What will I do with what I have read today?)
Since Jesus talks about divorce, we can assume that marriages during His time on earth were just as unhappy as some marriages today. Unhappiness in marriage can be extreme unhappiness. And extreme unhappiness can often lead to adultery.
Adultery is arguably the number one cause for divorce today. And “lust” is just another name for “adultery.”
The wise course amidst marital unhappiness is NOT to commit adultery or to look toward divorce, but to seek godliness. There is no denying the existence of pain and struggle in marriage. Rather than taking the "easy" way out, the wise choice is to let our Creator, our Almighty God, our Redeemer guide and lead the way.
When the going gets tough, the tough goes to God. Pastor Mike often says, "Keep on keeping on!"
Pauline Lo Alker
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