Day 1The significant things I see in the first set of verses is first, what Jesus defines as adultery. I think we all would say that adultery is having an affair with someone who is not your spouse. But Jesus takes it much farther than that. Just looking at someone with lustful eyes is wrong. And if we do find ourselves in a dangerous situation, or find ourselves lusting after someone else, Jesus calls for drastic measures to ensure that we don't do it again. Whatever it is that might tempt you, get rid of it. If it's on your computer, get rid of it. If it's at a particular event or place, quit going there. If it's on t.v., quit watching it.
Read Matthew 5: 27-32, Matthew 15: 19-20
Jesus raises the bar on all that is good, perfect and righteous. What do you see as significant in these verses?
In addition to that, Jesus also calls attention to our hearts in the second set of verses, saying that from the heart comes evil thoughts. As Christians, we should constantly be working on our own hearts, constantly striving for more purity.
In Psalm 51:10, David asks God for a pure heart in a psalm written after he had an affair with Bathsheba.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,And in Proverbs 4:23 we read:
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.These verses clearly show that it's what is in the heart that counts.
The most significant thing I see in these verses is Jesus calling us to be different from the world around us. It shows that our conversation on Sunday was spot on. There aren't degrees of sin. You aren't worse if you commit physical adultery then if you lust after someone. Jesus wants us to raise the bar on what is acceptable and take a sharp stand against the things that will cause us to stumble.
ReplyDeleteClearly we should protect our hearts. As Matt 15:19-20 point out we can be defiled by the wants and desires of our hearts.