Monday 01 August 2016
"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 lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell." (vv. 27-30)
Psalm: Psalm 124
Background
The verses preceding today's extract from theSermon on the Mount are the key to understanding it, with itsrepeated contrast between "you have heard that it said" and "but Isay". In each case - murder, adultery, divorce, oaths - Jesuscontrasts the way Old Testament teaching was traditionallyinterpreted by the religious leaders of the time, the scribes andPharisees, with his own more exacting requirement. The overallthrust is to go behind a literal approach, which could easily leadto people finding ways to evade the rule, to the spirit of the ruleand the need for a change in our inner attitude.
Clearly verse 28 refers to more than just noticing an attractivewoman. And obviously, verses 29-30 are not meant to be takenliterally. Jesus has a habit of making striking statements to bringhome a point. You may think of other examples.
Note how the authority of Jesus comes out in all these sayings.
To Ponder
- To what extent is Jesus' teaching here practicable in today'sworld?
- In what other ways should a Christian's conduct should gobeyond conventional standards?