Dude Staring At Jesus

Introduction- The Hyper-sexualization of Black Women in the Media

“The most disrespected person in America, is the black woman. The most un-protected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America, is the black woman.”

May 22, 1962, Malcolm X delivered a speech in Los Angeles, California, in which he spoke to and about Black women.

This speech presented Malcolm X’s observation of what it means to be a Black woman in America.

THE Blackburn Center in their essay:

The Historical Roots of the Sexualization of Black Women and Girls wrote:

the way that our society views Black girls as more mature and less innocent than their white peers may allow predators such as R. Kelly to exploit them. Research has shown that Black girls are viewed through a hypersexual lens — and as a result, are less likely to be believed when they report sexual assault. This begs the question: where exactly does this belief stem from, and how can we combat it?

Like many issues involving race in our country, the view of Black women and girls as hypersexual has its roots in racism. Understanding how our culture came to believe that Black women and girls were more sexually advanced can help us to eradicate this harmful way of thinking — and protect ALL women and girls from sexual violence. Before the slave trade took hold in America, European travelers to Africa were both fascinated and appalled by the dress and practices of the Africans that they encountered there. The minimal amounts of clothing worn by Africans (appropriate in a hot climate), the fact that some tribes practiced polygamy, and the seemingly suggestive tribal dances led these Europeans to believe that Africans were sexually lewd. William Smith wrote that African women were “hot constitution’d Ladies” who “are continually contriving stratagems how to gain a lover.” The initial stereotype of Black women as sexually promiscuous arose from these writings. Later, these notions (among others) were used to justify enslaving Africans. During the era slavery in the United States, the idea that Black women had insatiable appetites for sex was used to justify the rape of enslaved women by their owners. For owners, this practice had the added effect of producing additional enslaved people. Under the laws of the time, any child born to an enslaved person would also be enslaved. As a result, an owner would be able to increase his personal wealth through committing horrific crimes. Because enslaved people were considered property, enslaved women could not legally be raped under the law at the time. In contrast, enslaved men who engaged in relations with white women (whether consensually or forcibly) would be put to death. Other factors during the slavery era led to the view that Black women and girls were highly sexual. First, enslaved women and girls were frequently pregnant. This was encouraged as a way to increase the number of enslaved people on a plantation, and often rewarded. When an enslaved woman or girl became pregnant, it was often used as proof that she had an insatiable sexual appetite. At the same time, enslaved people were regularly put on auction blocks in naked or nearly-naked states. This display of Black women stood in stark contrast to white women, who were clothed nearly head to toe. It reinforced the idea that white women were modest and pure, while Black women were immodest and sexually lewd. After the Civil War and the end of slavery, the sexual victimization of Black women and girls did not end. The crime of rape was common, yet from the end of the Civil War until the 1960’s, no Southern white male was convicted of rape or attempted rape of a Black woman or girl. If assaulted by a Black man, many Black women and girls did not report the crime to authorities, for fear that the assailant would be put to death. The portrayal of Black women and girls as sexually promiscuous “Jezebels” continued throughout the 20th century — and is prominent to this day. Memorabilia from the 1900’s often show Black women and girls as highly sexualized, with large breasts and buttocks. They may be pregnant, have multiple children, or simply be shown as one-dimensional sexual beings. Some memorabilia from this era sexualizes children as well, depicting pregnant Black children, or young Black children with breasts covering their genitals with a paper fan. In movies and pop culture, Black women were generally depicted as highly sexualized “fallen women” — when they weren’t being shown as “mammies.”

The point being made was clear, and not subtle: in American society, Black women and girls were viewed as promiscuous and sexually deviant, even from a young age. With a history like this, is it any wonder that our culture currently views Black girls in this way? It is tempting, in 2019, to talk about racism as though it were a thing of the past. It is not. Racism seeps into our subconscious in a variety of ways, including by influencing how we think about Black women and their sexuality. By openly confronting these stereotypes, we can change the way that the next generation of Black girls are viewed — and start to undo the centuries of harm that have been inflicted on Black women and girls through these stereotypes.

Power of Looking & Seeing

Genesis 3:6–7 ESV

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Saw Daughters of man Were Attractive

Genesis 6:1–2 ESV

1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.

David

2 Samuel 11:1–2 ESV

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

Transition To Body- Jesus Corrects Faulty Interpretations of OT Scripture

You Have Heard

Matthew 5:27 ESV

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

Committing Adultery in OT

Exodus 20:14 ESV

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Deuteronomy 5:18 ESV

18 “ ‘And you shall not commit adultery.

Adultery was considered one of the most serious offenses because it broke the relationship that was a reflection of God and his people. Adultery was often used to describe the way in which the people of Israel went after gods other than Yahweh (cf. Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 4:13b).

Wilkins, Michael J.. The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew (p. 244). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Ezekiel 16:32 ESV

32 Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband!

Hosea 4:13–14 ESV

13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

Ultimately Adultery Is A Sin Against God

Psalm 51:4 ESV

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Coveting Your Neighbor’s Wife in OT

Exodus 20:17 ESV

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Deuteronomy 5:21 ESV

21 “ ‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

Jesus Fulfills The Scriptures

Matthew 5:17 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

fulfill

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.144 πληρόω

to give the true or complete meaning to something—‘to give the true meaning to, to provide the real significance of.’

But if we look closely, we will see that Jesus is contrasting his interpretation of the Old Testament with faulty interpretations and/or applications. In each antithesis, Jesus demonstrates how the Old Testament is to be properly interpreted and applied and, thus, how the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled

Wilkins, Michael J.. The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew (p. 240). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Body

Examine Ourselves From The Inside

Matthew 5:27–28 ESV

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

lustful intent

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.20 ἐπιθυμέω; ἐπιθυμία, ας

to strongly desire to have what belongs to someone else and/or to engage in an activity which is morally wrong—‘to covet, to lust, evil desires, lust, desire.’

Lust is Wordly

1 John 2:16 ESV

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Proverbs 6:25 ESV

25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

Enticed by Your Own Desire

James 1:14–15 ESV

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

adultery

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.276 μοιχεύω; μοιχάομαι; μοιχεία, ας

sexual intercourse of a man with a married woman other than his own spouse—‘to commit adultery, adultery.’ From the standpoint of the NT, adultery was normally defined in terms of the married status of the woman involved in any such act. In other words, sexual intercourse of a married man with an unmarried woman would usually be regarded as πορνεία ‘fornication’ (88.271), but sexual intercourse of either an unmarried or a married man with someone else’s wife was regarded as adultery, both on the part of the man as well as the woman.

heart

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 26.3 καρδία, ας

the causative source of a person’s psychological life in its various aspects, but with special emphasis upon thoughts—‘heart, inner self, mind.’

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 26.3 καρδία, ας

It is often possible to render καρδίαa by a number of different terms depending upon the immediate context, for example, ‘mind,’ ‘intention,’ ‘purpose,’ or ‘desire.’

Ezekiel 6:9 ESV

9 then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations.

Lusts Originates In the Heart

Matthew 15:19 ESV

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Oppose Sin With Precise Self-discipline

Matthew 5:29–30 ESV

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

sin-

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.304 σκανδαλίζω

to cause to sin, with the probable implication of providing some special circumstances which contribute to such behavior—‘to cause to sin

Discipline Your Body

drastic- acting rapidly or violently

extreme in effect or action : SEVERE

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:24 ESV

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 ESV

26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

All else fails, do like Joseph & Forest Gump-

Run Forrest, Run!

In Forrest Gump, little Forrest, wearing leg braces, was being bullied by the other kids from school and while he was wondering whether to run or fight (make that, run or get the crap beaten out of him by the bullies) his small, female friend, yelled at him, “Run, Forrest. Run!”

Be Sober-minded & Watchful

1 Peter 5:6–9 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

sober-minded

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 30.25 νήφω

to be in control of one’s thought processes and thus not be in danger of irrational thinking—‘to be sober-minded, to be well composed in mind.’

Resist the Devil (Fight the good fight!)

James 4:7–8 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

1 Timothy 6:11–14 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Honor Holiness Of Marriage Covenant

Matthew 5:31–32 ESV

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Deuteronomy 24:1 ESV

1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house,

Widespread of Divorce Within the Culture

Since divorce was a widespread phenomenon in the ancient world, God instituted a regulation through Moses that was designed to do three things:

(1) protect the sanctity of marriage from “indecency” defiling the marital relationship;

(2) protect the woman from a husband who might simply send her away without any cause;

(3) document her status as a legitimately divorced woman so that she was not thought to be a harlot or a runaway adulteress.

Wilkins, Michael J.. The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew (p. 246). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Genesis 2:24 ESV

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

vows- to promise solemnly : SWEAR : to bind or consecrate by a vow

Illustration: Performing Traditional Marriage Vows at Wedding Ceremonies (in addition to custom vows)

Groom: I,____, take thee,_____, to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

Bride: I,_____, take thee,_____, to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

plight- pledge

troth- “allegiance, fidelity, faithfulness, loyalty; oath, pledge, promise; betrothal or marriage vow; betrothal; honour, integrity; holiness, righteousness; confidence, trust; creed, faith; fact, reality, truth”

sanctity (not to be confused with sanctimonious)- holiness of life and character : GODLINESS, the quality or state of being holy or sacred : INVIOLABILITY

covenant- a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action

Holding Marriage In Honor Among All

Hebrews 13:4 ESV

4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

divorce

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 34.78 ἀφίημι; χωρίζω; ἀπολύω; λύσις, εως

to dissolve the marriage bond—‘to divorce, to separate.’

The LORD Hates Divorce

Malachi 2:13–16 ESV

13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Malachi 2:16 NKJV

16 “For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.”

sexual immorality

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.271 πορνεύω; ἐκπορνεύω; πορνεία, ας

to engage in sexual immorality of any kind, often with the implication of prostitution—‘to engage in illicit sex, to commit fornication, sexual immorality, fornication, prostitution.’

Transition To Close- Dude Staring At Jesus

The Memphis Grizzlies point guard, Ja Morant, served a 25-game suspension due to his social media posts involving firearms displayed twice within three months.

After the suspension, Morant made a powerful comeback in his first match, invoking a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored 34 points, grabbed six rebounds, and provided eight assists in his late-season debut.

Morant keenly awaited returning to the team after his suspension. He shouldered the full weight of the team's performance during his absence and recognized personal therapy's crucial role in his individual growth.

Morant showcased an applaudable game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 3, 2024.

He led the Memphis Grizzlies to triumph with a 106-98 victory after punching 26 points, 13 of them scored in the last quarter, and dishing out 10 assists.

Historically, Morant has recorded average stats of 28.5 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in his 13 games against the Spurs.

Post-game, Ja Morant was seen handling an interview with reporter Kelcey Wright Johnson with his daughter by his side. Fans observed Morant's conscious effort to refrain from making eye contact with the reporter.

NBA fans make fun of Ja Morant for not looking at sexy reporter during walk-off interview

Brothers… This is what peak eye discipline looks like

Bro was standing there reciting Bible verses in his head.

Bro is flexin that eye-discipline

A focused king!

Dude Staring At Jesus!

The LORD God, Jesus Christ, Can Give Us New Hearts

1 John 1:7–9 ESV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 51:10–12 ESV

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

If anyone be in Christ

2 Corinthians 5:16–18 ESV

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Offer Your Bodies as a living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Close- Stare At that Dude Jesus!

In Your Struggle Against Sin

Hebrews 12:3–4 ESV

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Looking to Jesus!

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

That’s Why Paul Said…

Ephesians 5:24 ESV

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:25–31 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

The Profound Mystery of Marriage Refers To Christ & the Church

Ephesians 5:32 ESV

32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

For God So Loved the World!

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus Bore Our Griefs

Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Confess With Your Mouth

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Capability Of That New Heart

Romans 10:10 ESV

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.