Matthew 5:27-28 (Lust)

[mcart909]

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV):
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Is this an injunction against a single man having a sexual fantasy about a single woman? I do not think so.

For one, in no sense can a single man commit commit adultery with a single woman; by definition, adultery involves at least one married person. Hence, I think Jesus is admonishing married men only.

Second, having a sexual fantasy about a member of the opposite sex does not constitute lusting after him/her. Jesus is admonishing men who chase after other women in an attempt to do the deed. But sexual fantasies do not necessarily indicate a higher-order desire to follow through with the imagined activities.

In summary, I believe Matthew 5:27-28 has been misinterpreted greatly. This passage does not prohibit single men (or women) from having sexual thoughts/fantasies about the opposite sex so long as there is no intent to make them a reality.

Thoughts?

 

[Leah]

In any case, I refrain from thinking about sexual fantasies about men. And there are times when it's been very hard for me to do that, but none the less, I refrain from those thoughts. They're not edifying nor are they helpful in your walk with God.

 

[PETE_]

It seems to indicate that the thought is even wrong not merely the act. So would that not apply to single people, since the act is also wrong.

 

[KJVisTruth]

If you have been looking at other verses, they tell you to be holy... in both heart and mind. I do not believe Matt. 5:27-28 has been misinterpreted.

 

[ArcticFox]

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV):
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Is this an injunction against a single man having a sexual fantasy about a single woman? I do not think so.

For one, in no sense can a single man commit commit adultery with a single woman; by definition, adultery involves at least one married person. Hence, I think Jesus is admonishing married men only.

Second, having a sexual fantasy about a member of the opposite sex does not constitute lusting after him/her. Jesus is admonishing men who chase after other women in an attempt to do the deed. But sexual fantasies do not necessarily indicate a higher-order desire to follow through with the imagined activities.

In summary, I believe Matthew 5:27-28 has been misinterpreted greatly. This passage does not prohibit single men (or women) from having sexual thoughts/fantasies about the opposite sex so long as there is no intent to make them a reality.

Thoughts?

Jesus was presenting this information to us to bring some degree of 'shock.' People probably were able to think alone the lines of the argument you made, and so justified their sexual fantasies or even exploits.

However, Jesus sets the bar even higher, and says that even THINKING about a woman in a sexual way is adultery. Jesus makes it clear that the concept of 'adultery' goes beyond merely having sex outside of your marriage covenant, but can go so far as any sexual indiscretion.

I think you'd be hard pressed to support the position that sexual fantasy is acceptable, even if you have no plans to carry it out. Jesus said that hating your brother in your heart is akin to murdering him (1 John 3:15). In like manner, having sex with a woman in your mind (or any sexual action) is akin to actually doing it, and you thus carry the guilt thereof (though not all of the earthly ramifications; you don't lose court standing in a marriage nor can you be affected by an STD in a fantasy).

Jesus came to earth to teach, and one of the things he taught us is that sin proceeds from the heart (Matthew 15:18). It is in the heart where sin is bred, and the action is the outward working of sin. With or without that outward working, we are guilty of our sins.

Matthew 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Jesus distinguished 'adultery' and 'sexual immorality' as two items. Although we can be sure they are related, we can also know that not being married is not a license for sexual fantasizing.

Let me pray a simple and quick prayer: Lord, we are all a weak and sinful people. Oh Father, change us more and more to the glory of your Son. Make us holy in Him. Purify us of our sexual sins, all of us. Purify our minds, body, and spirit of sexual immorality, and make us wholly yours. AMEN

 

[mcart909]

I think you'd be hard pressed to support the position that sexual fantasy is acceptable, even if you have no plans to carry it out.
Jesus said that hating your brother in your heart is akin to murdering him (1 John 3:15). In like manner, having sex with a woman in your mind (or any sexual action) is akin to actually doing it, and you thus carry the guilt thereof (though not all of the earthly ramifications; you don't lose court standing in a marriage nor can you be affected by an STD in a fantasy).

Hating your brother is akin to murdering him because hate is inherently sinful.

Thinking sexual thoughts about a member of the opposite sex is not akin to having sex with her because sexual thoughts are not inherently sinful. Pre-marital sex is only sinful because it creates a bond between two people who are not prepared to foster it--thus causing emotional/spiritual decay. There are no detrimental effects of me fantasizing about making love to a member of the opposite sex.

Jesus' injunction in Matthew 5:28 was against GREED, not sexual thoughts/fantasies.

 

[Leah]

Well, the point is that any kind of perversion or lust is sin and God is very much against them. He makes that crystal clear all throughout His Word.

Therefore, don't do it. Stop trying to justify sin rather than being in agreement with God.

 

[TheListener]

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV):
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Is this an injunction against a single man having a sexual fantasy about a single woman? I do not think so.

For one, in no sense can a single man commit commit adultery with a single woman; by definition, adultery involves at least one married person. Hence, I think Jesus is admonishing married men only.

Second, having a sexual fantasy about a member of the opposite sex does not constitute lusting after him/her. Jesus is admonishing men who chase after other women in an attempt to do the deed. But sexual fantasies do not necessarily indicate a higher-order desire to follow through with the imagined activities.

In summary, I believe Matthew 5:27-28 has been misinterpreted greatly. This passage does not prohibit single men (or women) from having sexual thoughts/fantasies about the opposite sex so long as there is no intent to make them a reality.

Thoughts?

By that reasoning then it also must be ok for two people to have sex before marriage provided they are both single.

Hmmm... Doesnt sound right does it...

 

[JimfromOhio]

Proverbs 4:23, it says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." An example of one great Bible man who sinned after "thinking". David with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). David woke up from a nap, went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman taking a bath. Through the eyes of David, enter into his mind, he sees a beautiful naked woman and began thinking about her. I am a man, and I have a GOOD IDEA what he was thinking. David's thinking led him to self-serving which was motivated by lust and envy. This is where God has a problem with me (as well as with all Christians).

I lust after my wife but that is WITH God's blessing. My wife is beautiful because she is my woman. I married her and I will always flirt with her, romance her and chase her.

However, lusting her before marrying her? That's another issue. Did I treat her as my "object" or as a "true girlfriend" with true intimacy of love and affections. (That's the issue that ALL men face and we ALL FAILED). David was called by God that "David was after His own heart" and David himself also FAILED.

Affections DO include sexual feelings but at what motives? Self? or Desiring the woman you want to marry someday? How should I handle my lust? Is my lust godly or sinful? Lust itself is not sin but how you USE lust is what God looks for in the "heart". What is YOUR HEART after when you "lust" another woman?

Back to my wife: By using an example from First Peter 3:7, Peter actually suggests that God designed women to be under the protection of a man, benefitting from his strength. And serving women by lending them that strength is one of the main ways we show them a Christlike, sacrificial love.

 

[mcart909]

By that reasoning then it also must be ok for two people to have sex before marriage provided they are both single.

Hmmm... Doesnt sound right does it...

???

 

[ArcticFox]

mcart, I wonder as to why you posted this.

Do you wish to encourage people to pursue sexual fantasies about others? Or do you desire someone to reassure you that you can justify what you want to do?

I have a sense that you must be in doubt about this if you posted it in such a manner. I think now would be the most appropriate time to seek mature counsel. Seek the advice of older Christians, especially our silver-haired elders. You will find centuries of experience and Bible study in a handful of individuals.

 

[mcart909]

Well, the point is that any kind of perversion or lust is sin and God is very much against them.

Having thoughts about making sweet love to a member of the opposite sex is not "perverse" in any way. And your definition of lust is not correct.

Therefore, don't do it. Stop trying to justify sin rather than being in agreement with God.

If the teaching that "sexual thoughts=bad" made intuitive sense to me, I would be more inclined to "be in agreement with God". As it doesn't, I am more inclined to believe that Matthew 5 has been misinterpreted (especially when my alternate explanation seems plausible).

 

[mcart909]

Arctic Fox,

I posted this because I feel too many Christians beat themselves up needlessly over this issue. When sexual thoughts come to mind, I see nothing wrong with engaging them a little (provided they are not of a perverse nature).

 

[tqpix]

The Greek word that was translated as "woman" in Matthew 5:28:

-----------

G1135
γυνή
gunē
goo-nay'
Probably from the base of G1096; a woman; specifically a wife: - wife, woman.[/b]

-----------
.

Therefore, one can read the verse as:

"But I say vnto you, That whosoeuer looketh on a [married] woman to lust after her, hath committed adulterie with her already in his heart."

 

[ArcticFox]

Arctic Fox,

I posted this because I feel too many people beat themselves up needlessly over this issue. When sexual thoughts come to mind, I see nothing wrong with engaging them a little (provided the fantasy is not of a perverse nature).

Alright mcart, I'm not going to try to force anything on you here.

I can tell you though that I really think you're making a big mistake. I would spend a lot more time researching and thinking about it before I practiced it. I know that I'm not going to be justifying any such behavior on my end; if I'm fantasizing about women other than my wife, I'm going to be repenting and asking forgiveness.


And if I were single, I'd be doing the same for fantasizing about any woman, stranger, girlfriend, or fiance.

 

[dakirk08]

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV):



by definition, adultery involves at least one married person.]

i never took greek but i did take a semster of hebrew and i learned a lot about misconeptions of words. often when translating it is very difficult to decipher the exct meaning of a word because of the limitations language puts on it. i know in greek there are like 7 different words for love. dont quote me on the quantity. yes you need to have an idea of what adultery is but how can one know for sure that is the correct translation of that word relating to english? i dont know i may be way off which has happened on more than one occasion lol, and like i said i never took greek so i dont know for sure im just giving out food for thought

 

[dakirk08]

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV):
by definition, adultery involves at least one married person.

i never took greek but i did take a semster of hebrew and i learned a lot about misconeptions of words. often when translating it is very difficult to decipher the exct meaning of a word because of the limitations language puts on it. i know in greek there are like 7 different words for love. dont quote me on the quantity. yes you need to have an idea of what adultery is but how can one know for sure that is the correct translation of that word relating to english? i dont know i may be way off which has happened on more than one occasion lol, and like i said i never took greek so i dont know for sure im just giving out food for thought

 

[Athaliamum]

The OP said two single people did it not? Well then if both are single there is obviously not a relationship there, therefore it is lust because you are having fanasies about someone you hardly know, you can't say that's not perverse! The sexual thoughts are not about extending the bond of love in physical form, there is no love - you don't know them therefore it's lust. If you do know them then court - create that relationship.

If however you don't want to court her - stop making a harlot of some other man's furutre wife in your mind.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Is this an injunction against a single man having a sexual fantasy about a single woman? I do not think so.

For one, in no sense can a single man commit commit adultery with a single woman; by definition, adultery involves at least one married person. Hence, I think Jesus is admonishing married men only.

?

Not so fast romeo. Here is a greek lexicon (Liddel Scott) http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=#68301

Notice the definition is not only to commit adultery with a woman but is also to debauch a woman. The Biblical definition has to be taken from the context of all sexual sins to be included under "adultery" of the 7th commandment. The "whosoever" Jesus says in Matt 5:28 means more than "whosoever is married and looks...". A single man debauches a single or married woman in his mind when you do any of the following in your heart:
Deut. 22:13-21 (NLT)
"Suppose a man marries a woman and, after sleeping with her, changes his mind about her [14] and falsely accuses her of having slept with another man. He might say, 'I discovered she was not a virgin when I married her.' [15] If the man does this, the woman's father and mother must bring the proof of her virginity to the leaders of the town. [16] Her father must tell them, 'I gave my daughter to this man to be his wife, and now he has turned against her. [17] He has accused her of shameful things, claiming that she was not a virgin when he married her. But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity.' Then they must spread the cloth before the judges. [18] The judges must then punish the man. [19] They will fine him one hundred pieces of silver, for he falsely accused a virgin of Israel. The payment will be made to the woman's father. The woman will then remain the man's wife, and he may never divorce her.
[20] "But suppose the man's accusations are true, and her virginity could not be proved. [21] In such cases, the judges must take the girl to the door of her father's home, and the men of the town will stone her to death. She has committed a disgraceful crime in Israel by being promiscuous while living in her parents' home. Such evil must be cleansed from among you.



Deut. 22:22-29 (NLT)
"If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the other man's wife must be killed. In this way, the evil will be cleansed from Israel.
[23] "Suppose a man meets a young woman, a virgin who is engaged to be married, and he has sexual intercourse with her. If this happens within a town, [24] you must take both of them to the gates of the town and stone them to death. The woman is guilty because she did not scream for help. The man must die because he violated another man's wife. In this way, you will cleanse the land of evil.
[25] "But if the man meets the engaged woman out in the country, and he rapes her, then only the man should die. [26] Do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no crime worthy of death. This case is similar to that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor. [27] Since the man raped her out in the country, it must be assumed that she screamed, but there was no one to rescue her.
[28] "If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, [29] he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her.

 

[jsimms615]

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV):
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Is this an injunction against a single man having a sexual fantasy about a single woman? I do not think so.

For one, in no sense can a single man commit commit adultery with a single woman; by definition, adultery involves at least one married person. Hence, I think Jesus is admonishing married men only.

Second, having a sexual fantasy about a member of the opposite sex does not constitute lusting after him/her. Jesus is admonishing men who chase after other women in an attempt to do the deed. But sexual fantasies do not necessarily indicate a higher-order desire to follow through with the imagined activities.

In summary, I believe Matthew 5:27-28 has been misinterpreted greatly. This passage does not prohibit single men (or women) from having sexual thoughts/fantasies about the opposite sex so long as there is no intent to make them a reality.

Thoughts?

I don't think you could be more wrong. Sexual fantasies about women in your mind can lead to acting out those thoughts later. Your mind is the real battleground of the devil. If he can get your mind to dwell on it then you will eventually act it out.
You are called upon in scripture to keep your mind pure.