Matthew 5:27-30

INTRO

Let me start by saying that we’re going to look at a very tricky topic.

Of course, all the topics that Jesus talks about here in the Sermon on the Mount are tricky - anger, divorce, giving…

But there is something particularly damaging about what we’re going to look at this morning.

From the reading, you can tell that we’re going to talk about lust. Because Jesus talks about lust.

A few days ago I was chatting to someone and we both agreed that lust and sexual sin in general is quite damaging to any community. So, we want to be really sober about the way we talk about this.

And because Jesus Himself is talking about this, it means this is serious. But it also means, there is hope. And we’ll cover those two things in our time together.

So, let me pray as we begin.

PRAY

Friends, let’s face it. We live in a world that bombards us with sexual content. From movies to TV series, even in seemingly innocent ads for perfumes and other everyday items.

Our culture has trivialised this. And, by doing so, at least two things happened.

We’ve lost our sensibility to this. Often we see very graphical scenes in movies and we don’t even flinch. It has become part of the air we breathe.

But another, much more damaging thing, has also happened. Lots of people have become trapped. Unable to flee these things and control their desires.

But this is not just a modern problem. You see, the problem with sexual content is not just about the eyes.

As Jesus shows, this is about the heart. It’s about what’s inside us. Which means that the whole of humanity has been struggling with this since Genesis chapter 3.

The question then is: how can we escape this vicious cycle? Is there any hope?

As I said, there is. And we will meditate on that hope. But the first thing we need to see is this:

1 - Lust is more serious than we think (27-28)

Before we think that Jesus is only talking about those who don’t trust Him or those who live pretty immoral lives, remember His audience.

Matthew 5:1–2 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them

You see, Jesus is talking about some distant group of people over there who, unlike His disciples, have completely messed up lives. He is, in fact, talking TO His disciples.

Which means, He is speaking to those who trust Him. People like you and me. And anyone else who cares to listen.

So, let’s not think this is about THEM, whoever THEM might be. This is, sisters and brothers, about us. About God’s people. Because it won’t take long to find out that we too can fall into lust.

But what are we talking about when we’re talking about lust? Let’s listen to what Jesus says in verses 27 and 28.

Matthew 5:27–28 ESV

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

We’ve been saying over the past few weeks that Jesus is expanding and bringing out the true meaning and application of the OT Law as He preaches this Sermon.

So, here’s the OT Law that everyone had heard before: “You shall not commit adultery.”

And if you know your Commandments, you will recognise that this is one of the 10 Commandments. It’s number 7.

Now, I think everyone would agree with Jesus here. Adultery really is a terrible thing.

It destroys marriages. It destroys communities. Families are torn apart, often never to be restored again.

Even those among us who don’t follow Jesus would hopefully say “I agree. Adultery is terrible.”

But what if I stop short of adultery? What if I have all these thoughts about someone other than my spouse but never act on them? Well, technically, I’m not committing adultery so I guess it’s okay?

Jesus says “Absolutely not.” Verse 28 again…

Matthew 5:28 ESV

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

You see, the religious leaders back in Jesus’ time only cared about external behaviour.

“Oh, you have these feelings for your neighbour’s spouse. Did you act on them? No? Then, it’s fine.”

Jesus says “It’s NOT fine!”

Because here’s the truth - the act of committing adultery is the symptom. It’s the external sign of the true, deeper problem: our sexual desires are often sinful.

Sin doesn’t start with our actions. Friends, it starts in our hearts.

Which is why lust is more serious than we think. To lust IS to sin. Period. As Jesus puts it in verses 29 and 30, giving in to lust will mean that we will suffer condemnation!

But what’s so wrong about lust if I never act on it? What’s the harm?

Let me illustrate the harm with a story.

There was once a powerful king. This king had everything - power, fame, the love of his people, he even had God at his side!

But one day, this king saw a beautiful woman bathing in a rooftop. And lust consumed this king.

He had wives but they weren’t enough. The king WANTED to have this woman. And so he did.

But it turns out she was married. And to make matters worse, the king got her pregnant. And her husband was in the army and refused to lie down with her out of solidarity with the other troops.

So what does the king do? He gets her husband killed in a battle. And now he can marry the woman.

Lots of us will recognise that story. It’s the story of the greatest king in the OT - the great king David.

As great and godly as he was, lust consumed him. He eventually caved in. Lust made him not just commit adultery but even moved him to kill the woman’s wife.

So, if we think we will NEVER act on lustful feelings, if we think we’re better than kin David, then we’re not being realistic. We’re playing with fire, hoping to never get burned. But we will get burned, sooner or later.

Friends, lust is more serious than we think.

Which brings us to our second point:

2 - The solution is more radical than we think (29-30)

Listen again to how radical Jesus is in these verses.

Matthew 5:29–30 ESV

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. 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.

The solution to lust isn’t superficial. It’s so radical that Jesus puts it in terms of sacrificing even certain body parts.

Now, let me be clear: Jesus is not being literal here. He is speaking metaphorically. But brothers and sisters, let’s not make any mistakes here: Jesus is telling us to be radical.

To be so radical that we should be willing to get rid of whatever might cause us to lust in the first place. As the old adage goes, we have to nip it in the bud.

Why? Because, as Jesus puts it, it’s better to suffer whatever loss we must suffer than to suffer condemnation in hell.

Lust is more serious than we think. Therefore, the solution is more radical than we think.

As the theologian John Owen said, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.”

But what does the solution look like in practice? What does it look like to “kill lust”?

It starts with our attitude towards it.

Sisters and brothers, we must be uncompromising. We must see these desires for what they are: sinful. Worthy of God’s judgement.

We must also realise that lust never delivers on the satisfaction that it promises.

As a theologian put it, lust is like being thirsty but craving salt to satisfy the thirst.

Lust promises happiness and fulfilment if we just give in! But when we do, we end up feeling empty…

So, why would we choose it? Specially when we know that it will lead to condemnation…

We have to play the “long game”. Let’s not live for the apparent pleasure that lust brings. It’s no pleasure at all.

And even if it was, it would only last a moment. We don’t live for the moment.

God’s people - we are called to live for eternity. I pray that the LORD would keep our focus on the paradise that awaits us.

That is where true, everlasting pleasure will be found! Let’s not give in to lust. Let’s live for that pleasure in God’s presence that awaits us!

But the solution also has to do with how we view ourselves.

We have to be humble enough to recognise that all of us could be tempted by lust.

The once US President Mike Pence had a rule that was shared by the evangelist Billy Graham. A rule which many came to see as too severe and even backwards.

These men would avoid being alone with a woman who wasn’t their wife. Why? On one hand, to avoid any public accusations of impropriety.

But on the other hand, to not even give any chance to lust. That’s not being backwards. That’s being wise.

Sure, maybe some of us won’t struggle so much that we need to go that far. But friends, how many Christian men and women would have benefited from following this rule?

Can we even imagine how many marriages would have been saved if more people adopted this rule?

Yes, let’s not be Pharisees. But let’s take lust seriously. Let’s be willing to adopt radical solutions.

If we are having these feelings towards someone, let’s wisely remove ourselves from these situations. Maybe it will be just for a while. But it might even mean finding another job or another roommate.

And it’s not just about ourselves. We need to be mindful of each other too.

You see, it can be so easy to incite lust. A flirtatious comment here. A bit of banter there.

I had a friend in Nursing School who entertained the advances of a fellow student for months. He confessed he was attracted to her. Then his girlfriend found out about it.

It all ended in disaster. Everyone was hurt. Relationships were broken.

This is what can happen when we don’t take lust seriously. When we aren’t aware of what our words can do.

Let’s be mindful of each other. Let’s foster a church family in which all of us are safe from this.

And here’s the wonderful thing: as we do these things - as we take lust and the solution to it seriously - we will showcase who God is. Not least because we can only do these things with His help!

There really is no such thing as self-help when it comes to becoming more like Jesus. We can’t help or fix ourselves. We need God’s help and it’s wonderful that He promises to change us!

But remember how this section of the Sermon on the Mount began - with Jesus calling His disciples salt and light.

Here’s what Jesus said about His disciples - us - being light. Matthew 5:16:

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Do you see? As we live this way, others around us will notice. And from the way we live, they’ll understand that we worship a God who doesn’t tolerate lust.

We worship a God who is faithful to us and to His promises. A God who then call us to be faithful to Him and to one another.

We have a chance to show something better those around us. I pray that the LORD would help us do this by the way we live.

But before we come to an end, I want to end with a final word of comfort. Let’s come to our shorter but much needed final heading…

3 - The hope is bigger than we think

My dear friends, it can be so easy to mishear what Jesus is saying.

We might think Jesus is saying this: “Sort out your life. Get rid of lust. THEN, you’ll be my disciple. THEN, you get to go to heaven.”

But that is NOT what Jesus is saying.

Remember, He is speaking to those who are ALREADY His disciples. He is speaking to those who WILL enter the kingdom of heaven.

He is saying “You’re on your way to heaven. You’re going to get there. And I want you to take lust seriously and fight against it. But I also know that you will sometimes fail.”

Jesus knows that we will fail. We will, at some stage, experience lust. Maybe not all of us - some will have to deal with other temptations. But Jesus is realistic. He knows this will happen.

And He is still willing to call us His disciples. In other words, even when we fail, there is hope.

All we have to do is turn to our heavenly Father and say “Lord, I failed. I’m sorry. I’m so grateful that you promise to forgive me. Now, please help me to fight against lust. Please help me kill it!”

And my dear brother, my dear sister, hand on my heart, I testify before you that He will help you.

If you are struggling with lust, I want you to know that there is hope. More hope than you can imagine.

Hope because you are still Jesus’ disciple. He is still for you. He will forgive you. And you will make it to paradise.

Hope because He will help you to beat this. It may take your whole life, it may be just like that… But He will help you.

And this is the hope Jesus offers to even those who don’t trust Him. It may be that you came here with all sorts of struggles with lust.

Perhaps now. Perhaps in your past. It has left a dark cloud over your life. I know what that feels like.

It may be that you think this is too good to be true. I’d love to speak to you after the service.

But I ask you: will you come to Jesus? Will you receive His forgiveness? Will you receive His powerful help to fight against this? Even today!

Yes, lust is more serious than we think. Yes, the solution is more serious than we think.

But praise be to God, because the hope is bigger than we think.

Let’s pray.