Matthew 5:27-30 • Sex and the Kingdom
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Matthew 5:27-30
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 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. 30 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.
10 Commandments/Words - God’s framework for blessing among the people of Israel.
Adultery
Matthew 5:27-28- 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary - “(Adultery is) sexual intercourse by a married woman with a man other than her husband.
Lust - Verse 28
ESV - "Anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent."
Dale Bruner - "Every man who is looking at a woman in order to lust after her."
Tim Mackie - "Anyone who stares at a woman in order to fuel sexual desire for her."
Dallas Willard - Anyone who looks "upon a woman for the purpose of lusting for her - using her visual presence as a means of savoring the fantasized act."
Attraction - (is where) biological and environmental factors collide such that you experience physical arousal.
Lust - is an outgrowth of attraction but unlike attraction, lust nurtures desire for its own end.
Dale Bruner - To look at an attractive person can be a drive given in creation. To keep on looking, staring is a drive given in the fall from creation. Jesus condemns lustful looking, staring with the intent to possess, or at least to burn with passion. The other person is no longer really a unique human being, she or he is now simply kindling, tinder, a thing, a way for one to enjoy oneself to express oneself to feel one’s power.
Jesus wants to be Lord of your aroused state.
Mathew 5:29-30 - 29 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. 30 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.
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
How do Jesus’ words on adultery challenge cultural assumptions about sexuality in general and marriage specifically?
How do the differences in how men and women (generally speaking) experience attraction inform how we hear Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:27-30?
What would it look like to foster sexual formation in the way of Jesus absent of shame?
