This morning’s study in Matthew 5 zeroed in on verses 27-30.  While this passage was simple in concept, it was far from easy in execution.  

Let’s start off by reading the passage together.  Matthew 5:27-30

Like the last section of verses we studied through, this was another “you have heard it said”, “but I say to you” passage.  Jesus is saying once again that sin goes deeper than the outward “act” of sinning.  The Pharisees were very focused on the externals, while Jesus was focused on the heart, from where the action springs.  

“Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart”, (Matthew 5:28).

The Greek word for who looks (blepō) means not merely looking at, but gazing at.  The dictionary defines gaze as to fix the eyes in a steady intent; to look often with eagerness or studious attention.  Did you notice the words fix, steady, and intent?  That is revealing that this is more than a casual glance at a pretty lady.  Lust (epithymeō) is in the infinitive mood which indicates something that continues with purpose and result.  To (epithymeō) means to set the heart upon; long for; covet; desire.  Given the infinitive mood, we learn that lust rarely stays “in the mind”.  If left unattended, lust will turn into action (Proverbs 4:23).  

As a side note.  I looked fixed up in the dictionary and found it to mean: securely placed or fastened : stationary. When I pondered the word “fix”, a couple of passages came to mind.  

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling,
fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as
our apostle and high priest.”, (Hebrews 3:1). 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!”, (Isaiah 26:3).

Ok, let’s break down the next part of the verse – “has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.  Has already (ēdē) means even now.  Like right now, right this minute!  For months now, the Spirit has been urging me to pay attention to the little words, and I am gleaning so much from doing that.  “In” (“in his heart”) was one such word.  In (en) denotes a fixed position, but it also denotes instrumentality.  His heart (kardia) defines the thoughts and feelings of the MIND.  

The Pharisees focused on the outward actions, and Jesus focused on the heart, the mind.  So much goes on “between our ears” that makes us guilty before God, but nobody else knows about it.  We can appear righteous before people.  The trouble is that often people who are so horizontally focused on appearance that they find themselves feeling righteous when they are far from it.  The purpose of the Law was to reveal man’s inability to be righteous before God.  Realizing it is impossible to be perfectly righteous places mankind in the perfect state of mind to realize they need a Savior.  

As I read the next part of this passage, questions began popping into my mind.  

“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.” (Matthew 5:29-30).

Question 1 — “Is Jesus talking literally here?”.  This question will be answered as we continue on.  So we will move to question two and circle back to this one.

Question 2 —  “Why did Jesus say ‘if your right eye causes you to sin…’, when we see with both eyes?  (And yes, this is really how my mind works – haha).  In the Greek language, the word right (dexios) refers to right or the right hand, but it is also used metaphorically to mean a place of honor or authority.  Keep authority in your mind as we look at the word eye (ophthalmos).  Eye means eye, but it is also used metaphorically to mean the eyes of the MIND, the lens through which you view life, your perspective.  

Ok, now put those two definitions together.  The authority you give your mind to think thoughts that cause you to sin is what Jesus is talking about here.  The word authority brought to mind “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”, 2 Corinthians 10:5.  We have authority over our thoughts.  

Circling back to Question 1 for a second – I do not believe that Jesus was speaking literally here.  (But that in no way weakens the message He was giving).  Here’s why I say that.  Tear it out was written in the imperative mood.  It was a command, not a suggestion, meaning to actively root out.  “Root out” made me think of getting to the root of the problem, to what causes us to sin, and get rid of it.  

For example, if where you work there is a temptation to have inappropriate thoughts or an inappropriate relationship with someone who is not your spouse, it’s better to quit that job and get another, than it is to stay there and sin (whether in thought or in deed).  

Or how about this.  If you struggle with pornography, it’s better to have zero access to the internet, to a smartphone, or to movie channels on your tv, than it is for you to keep them and end up sinning.  

I know that sounds pretty radical, but that’s how we are to deal with things that cause us to sin.  When Jesus said pluck out your eye and throw it from you, His words were pretty radical.  Throw it (ballō) (also in the imperative mood), means to throw with effort and force.  The dictionary definition of effort is: effective force as distinguished from the possible resistance called into action by such a force.  Did you catch that?  Resistance.  There will be resistance when we attempt to rein in our thoughts and to rid our lives of things that cause us to sin.

Question 3 —  What did Jesus mean when He said it’s better to pluck out your right eye or cut off your right hand “…than for your whole body to be thrown into hell”?  We determined that Jesus wasn’t saying to literally pluck out your eye or cut off your hand, but rather that you were to make a serious effort to get to the root cause of your sin and get rid of it.  David Guzik comments, “Jesus wasn’t talking literally here because even a blind or handless person can still commit adultery in his mind.”  

With that being said, I believe that the concept of the whole body being thrown into hell was a way for Jesus to get across the truth that how we see things affects how we do things.    

I’m ending my time in Matthew 5:27-30 with three main takeaways.  

Seeing things through God’s perspective,
according to His truth (not my feelings or my opinions),
is of utmost importance.

Take drastic measures to remove anything that trips you up
and interrupts your intimacy with Jesus.  

Walking in obedience to God ain’t for sissies!!