Matthew 5:27-32

Matthew 5:27-32 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

When I was a little boy I used to watch an afternoon creature feature after school. The Nashville, Tennessee station played sci-fi films from the 50's and early 60's. There were aliens and monsters and creepy mad scientists.

One movie was called X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes. The brilliant scientist Dr. Xavier performs experiments on his eyes to increase his capacity to see spectrums of light not natural to human abilities. This turns out to be a horrific experience. The scientist is driven mad by visions he can't stop. He sees through His eyelids and can't sleep. He accidentally kills a colleague and is on the run. He drives out into the desert and wanders into a religious tent revival. He tells the evangelist that he is beginning to see things at the edges of the universe, including an "eye that sees us all" in the center of the universe. The pastor replies that what he sees is "sin and the devil" and quotes the Biblical verse, "If thine eye offends thee... pluck it out!" The whole congregation chants, "Pluck them out! Pluck them out!" Xavier chooses to blind himself rather than see anything more. Ghastly stuff for an elementary aged boy.

Jesus says if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. If you have wondering eyes, looking lustfully at another, you are guilty of adultery in your heart, assuming you are married. If you are single and look upon another with lust, you are guilty of fornication in your heart. Pornography is a multibillion dollar industry. There is an immense amount of lust going on. Every married man who consumes porn is guilty of cheating on his wife in His heart.

Since pornography has become commonplace and accessible with the click of a computer mouse, what is a disciple to do? Remove that which has causes you to sin. I'm not suggesting mutilating your body in order to avoid sinful temptation. I do not read Jesus's instructions here literally, but prophetically. There have been those in the church who have read Jesus's teachings here literally. For instance the early church father Origen castrated himself. We can take a less abusive, but no less effective approach. Remove the ability to access porn so easily, by using filters or web browsing services that eliminate such material. Does that make one less lustful? No, but it is a beginning.

Why do we commit adultery? What causes such high divorce rates? Half of every marriage ends in divorce, whether Christian or not. My opinion is that we are looking for fulfillment of spiritual needs from sexual relationships. Such behavior is a form of idolatry. Whether we are aware of it or not, when we seek the pleasure of sexual immorality, we are replacing God with a short-term experience.

The basic definition of idolatry is to exchange the glory of the creator for a created thing. Read the apostle Paul in his opening to the letter to the Romans.

Romans 1:21-25 NIV

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

What is worship? It is to place someone or some thing, even some idea or activity, high is esteem within our hearts and minds. Take a look at your spending habits, you'll get an indication of what you esteem. Take a look at your time budget. Where and how do you spend your time? What are you day dreaming about? Fantasizing about? This points to your heart's desire. We all have this tendency to choose created things that give a short term satisfaction, but avoiding the deeper spiritual need.

The solution is to remove the idol from our sight, and from our clutches. Instead turn your eyes upon Jesus and turn your heart to the One who gives life and gives it abundantly. Train your heart and hands to reach for God.

When you notice that you run too quickly to the short-term thrill or comfort, bypassing prayer and searching the scriptures, that's a good indication that it's time to pluck out and cut off the parts of you (metaphorically speaking) that cause you to avoid God. Search your heart. Use your spiritual eyes to see the truth about what or whom you worship, and if there is need for change, pray for grace and self discipline. Admit to yourself that no person, place, thing or pleasure will fulfill your spiritual needs. You were meant for an intimate relationship with your creator, made possible only through Christ. Pursue Him only and the rest will fall into its proper place. Then you will be free to enjoy the delights of creation in the blessings of the Lord.