Matthew 7:24 (NASB)
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."
I want to keep this key verse to the Sermon on the Mount before us so we don't lose sight of the purpose for the Sermon on the Mount. In fact, in a broader sense, if we lose sight of this verse, we lose sight of the whole purpose for the incarnation of God.
Matthew 16:21-23 (NASB)
[21] From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
[22] Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."
[23] But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
The words, "stumbling", and "block", in verse 23, are the same Greek word. I have to tell you that when I looked up the meaning for this Greek word I was surprised. The English phrase, "stumbling block", in my opinion, does not come close to the true meaning that this Greek word is trying to convey. It would seem that Jesus is being too harsh on Peter in this passage, unless you understand what this Greek word means.
The Complete Word Study of the New Testament says this word means: (G4625) "A trap or stumbling block. It is the trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed, and which, when touched by the animal, springs and causes it to close causing entrapment. It involves a reference also to the conduct of the person who is thus trapped. It always denotes an enticement to conduct which could ruin the person in question." (CWS-NT)
This word does not convey something placed as a stumbling block in someone's path by accident. This word shows intentional maleficence. Maleficence is used to describe the actions of doing or causing evil. It is the quality of being harmful or evil. (WordWeb)
Dare we declare that Peter was being used as a trigger in a trap that is ready to spring and capture Jesus? Is it possible that Satan uses Peter as the trigger to a trap that presents a bait to entrap Jesus? Peter cannot think of Jesus as anything other than an earthly king who will rule the whole world. Jesus is trying to prepare Peter and the other disciples for His inevitable crucifixion, death, and burial. But, Satan would use Peter, and anyone else he can, to convince Jesus that a better plan, would be to take the world now and avoid the coming agony.
In my mind there is no other explanation for Jesus' harsh accusation of Peter; "Get behind Me, Satan!" And beyond that, the use of this Greek word makes the point clear. Peter is the trigger that presents a bait to entrap Jesus and distract Him from His Father's will, and plan.
By now you are saying to yourself, the pastor has lost his way. He is not even in the Sermon on the Mount, and yet he said he was going to preach about a portion of the Sermon on the Mount.
The reason I have started here is because understanding this passage helps us to understand Jesus' teaching on adultery in our text from the Sermon on the Mount today. Who would have thought that Jesus' interaction with Peter in Matthew 16 would help us understand Jesus' teaching on adultery? So let's look at our text in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:29-30 (NASB)
[29] "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
[30] "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell."
In these two verses, "makes" and "stumble", are the same Greek word. This word means: (G4624) "a trap or stumbling block. To cause to stumble and fall. In the New Testament, figuratively to be a stumbling block to someone" (CWS-NT) This Greek word comes from the Greek word that Jesus used in Matthew 16:23 to describe Peter's reaction to His announcement that He was going to suffer and die, which we looked at earlier.
In the strongest language He can use, with the most graphic picture to illustrate this truth, Jesus tells us that if our eye causes us to stumble, gouge it out. If our hand causes us to stumble, cut it off. In other words, if something causes you to stumble, get rid of it or get away from it.
But the graphic pictures Jesus paints seem radical. The thought of the pain, blood, and gore of gouging out you own eye seems too radical. The thought of the pain, blood, and gore of cutting off your own hand seem too radical.
Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 3, 2003
(Bold items added dgb)
In April of 2003, hiking his way through a 3-foot-wide section of Utah's Blue John Canyon, Aron Ralston had no warning before the giant boulder shifted onto him, pinning his right arm in a crack in the canyon wall.
He had been stuck for four days when his water ran out. On the sixth day, the 27-year-old mountain climber knew there was only one way he could survive. Using a pocketknife, Ralston cut off his own arm.
He made the cut below the elbow and applied a tourniquet. He then administered first aid from a kit in his backpack. Rigging anchors, he fixed a rope and rappeled 60 feet to the floor of the remote canyon near Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah.
Ralston, an avid outdoorsman, then began to hike back to his truck. He encountered two tourists, and had been walking for seven miles when a rescue helicopter spotted him...
What is so offensive to God that He would find gouging out your eye or cutting off your hand a reasonable alternative?
Aron Ralston cut off his own arm to save his life. Christ would have us gouge out our own eyes, or cut off out own hands, to save us from spiritual death.
Matthew 5:27-28 (NASB)
[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 lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
This answers our question: What is so offensive to God that He would find gouging out your eye or cutting off your hand a reasonable alternative? The loss of relationship with God is that offence.
It is also appropriate that Jesus would use the sin of adultery to illustrate this truth because in the marriage relationship, adultery is the vilest offense. It is a breech of trust and promise. It is the revelation of a complete lack of integrity in the individual that participates in that sin.
There are some important words used in verse 28. "Looks (G991) means, to see. Spoken of persons and referring to constant fixation of the eyes upon; to examine." (CWS-NT)
The word makes it clear, it is one thing to look at a woman, but it is quite another thing to have a constant fixation of your eyes upon her. This kind of stare will take the mind to places it should not go.
What is it that draws the line between these two actions? Do not suppose that you can determine the amount of time this stare should, or should not take. Do not suppose that you know what is in the heart of another individual. It is not your job to make that judgment.
There is only one thing that can determine this complicated evaluation in each individual. It is the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. If an individual is subject to, and listening to the Holy Spirit they will turn away.
Another important word in verse 28 is the word lust. "Lust (G1937) comes from two Greek words, 'in', and 'the mind'. It means to have the affections directed toward something, to lust, desire, long after." (CWS-NT)
This is where the look goes when the individual will not hear, and is not subject to, the Holy Spirit. This is where temptation turns to sin in the heart, even though the physical action may never be carried out.
Already, is another important word in this verse. "Already (G2235) means now, even now, already. Marking an action as completed." (CWS-NT) This is the surrender of the will to the temptation. Given the opportunity, the individual would carry out the physical actions of this temptation and sin.
There is one more important word in verse 28 we need to take a closer look at, it is the word heart. "Heart (G2588), the seat and center of the human life. In the New Testament, used only figuratively. As the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, i.e., the heart or mind." (CWS-NT)
We will talk about that in a moment but before I start my conclusion, I need to say one more thing briefly. Another aspect of the sin of adultery is the aspect of the trap that is set. Remember Peter in our opening passage. Satan uses him as the trigger to a trap. Like the trigger to a trap, Peter presents the bait. A bait set to capture Jesus away from the will of His Father.
It is very important that we do not let Satan use us in any way to spring a trap that would capture someone away from their relationship with God. That can be done in many ways but to be listening to the Word, and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, to be subject to Him will prevent Satan from using us in this way.
Specifically, in relationship to the sin of adultery in the heart as Jesus talks about it here, dress and behavior are important consideration in a discussion of this sin. Don't let yourself be use of satan as the trigger to a trap, that presents sexual immorality, as the bait to capture someone's heart away from God.
Ladies, when you get dressed each morning, please consider two things.
Yes, the man has a responsibility to listen to the Holy Spirit concerning that line where the temptation becomes the sin. Ladies, you have the responsibility to listen to the Holy Spirit concerning the way you dress so Satan has fewer avenues to tempt men.
In some cases, the one who looks, and the one who is seen, are both guilty of adultery in the heart. That brings us to take a closer look at the heart.
In verse 28, Jesus said: "I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Let's take a look at the word heart for it is the key to our spiritual welfare.
The Greek word Jesus uses for heart means, "Heart (G2588), the seat and center of the human life. In the New Testament, used only figuratively. As the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, i.e., the heart or mind." (CWS-NT) This is where the ruler or king of a person's life sits on the throne.
There are two important things to consider when talking about the heart, or the throne of a man or woman's life.
1. The Condition of the Heart
2. The Intentions of the Heart
Matthew 15:17-20 (NASB)
[17] "Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated?
[18] "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.
[19] "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
[20] "These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man."
It is always important to make a distinction between temptation and sin, especially when you are considering sins that are committed in the heart. The condition of the heart determines the actions lived out in our daily lives.
It would be helpful to understand that all sins are committed in the heart, even before the physical act is committed. It is the surrender of the will that is the action of the heart in sin.
To give consent in the heart is to commit sin in the heart. The actions of my heart are personal. No one knows them except God and me. When the consent of the heart becomes an outward physical action, it reveals the condition of my heart.
That is what Jesus was trying to tell the people in this passage. Again, He uses the illustration of sins that are sexual in content and expression. He says that this defiles a man; in fact, He uses the word defile several times here.
The Greek word used here for defile means: "defile (G2840), to make common, unclean, pollute or defile; to pronounce or call common or unclean. [syn. - stain]." (CWS-NT)
If the condition of the heart is common, unclean, polluted, defiled, and stained with the consent to sin, it will produce the physical actions of sin in that individual's life.
The second important factor in considering the heart of a man or woman, and distinguishing between temptation and actual sin, are the intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)
[12] For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Understanding several important Greek words in this passage will help us understand the intentions of the heart.
The first is "intentions (G1771). What is in the mind, idea, notion, intention, purpose." (CWS-NT) Unlike other Greek words, this word goes further than just the thought or an idea in the mind. This word is stronger and includes the intentions and purpose of a person's life.
Satan can place within your mind the thought of something wrong or evil, it's called temptation. What the heart does with that evil or wrong thought creates the intentions of the heart. The intentions of the heart lead an individual to sin or righteousness.
The determining factor will be the person sitting on the throne of the heart, the one who is in charge of the life of that heart. If self is on the throne then self-gratification and sin will come out. If Christ is on the throne then temptation is rejected and sin is avoided. Paul says the guide for the heart is the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)
[12] For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
This same word is used in:
1 Peter 4:1-6 (NASB)
[1] Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
[2] so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
[3] For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
[4] In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
[5] but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
[6] For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
The word "purpose" in verse 1 is the same word used for intentions in Hebrews 4:12. We are to arm ourselves with the same determination that Christ had in following His Heavenly Father's will here on earth. Jesus would not let Peter be a stumbling block to Him. He would not take the bait to spring the trap. The intentions of His heart are to do God's will above all else in His life. He is our example.
There is one last word that helps to bring complete clarification to this topic. To avoid adultery, or any other sin for that matter, it is helpful to consider the word spirit found in verse 6. We are to "live in the spirit according to the will of God."
The word spirit used here means: "to breathe, the mouth or nostrils, a breath, of the vital breath, 'breath of life.'" (CWS-NT)
When I see a beautiful woman, I cannot control the temptations that Satan may present in my mind. In my heart, on my own, I cannot even resist the sin he presents to me. The only way I have ever been able to cast aside the temptations that Satan presents to me, especially in this area, is by letting Christ have control of every area of my heart and life.
To live, to take a breath, is to do the will of God. This is the intention of the heart. (dgb) What are the intentions of your heart? Who is on the throne of your life? Who is in control of your life?
The right answer to these questions, is the key to your spiritual welfare.
CWS-NT - AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary - New Testament (CWS_NT). Cedar Rapids: Laridian Electronic Publishing, 2007.
NASB - New American Standard Bible (NASB). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2002.
WordWeb - WordWeb is an iPhone implementation of the WordWeb International Dictionary and Thesaurus. Anthony Lewis 2009, WordWebSoftware.com.
I want to thank my research assistant, Debi Peck, who does hours of research to provide many of my resources. I also want to thank Vonda Watson-Bostick and Robyn Harper, who help me with editing.