Matthew 5:27-30

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

In a world where discussions about sexuality are often polarized or avoided altogether, it’s crucial to revisit what God’s Word teaches us about this vital aspect of human life. Far from being a topic to shy away from, the Bible speaks openly and frequently about sex, presenting it as a beautiful gift from God when expressed within His intended framework.

The foundation for understanding God’s design for sex is found in Genesis 2:24: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” This passage reveals the profound nature of the marital union – a complete joining of two individuals in every aspect of life: physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually, and sexually.

Marriage, as God intended it, is a breathtaking gift. It’s a relationship where two people commit to each other wholly, seeing each other at their best and worst, yet choosing to love unconditionally. As Tim Keller beautifully articulated, “To be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything.”

Within this context, sex becomes a physical representation of the complete self-giving that characterizes the entire relationship. It’s not merely a physical act, but a profound soul-joining that reflects the unity God designed for marriage. This is why the Bible consistently teaches that sex belongs exclusively within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible and Jesus are incredibly pro-sex. After all, the very first command given to humanity in Genesis 1:28 was to “be fruitful and multiply.” God created sex and saw it as “very good.” However, because sex is so powerful and significant, Jesus strongly opposes anything that could undermine or destroy it as it was intended.

In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus addresses the issue of adultery, taking it beyond the physical act to the matter of the heart. He states that even looking at someone lustfully is committing adultery in one’s heart. This teaching reveals that God is concerned not just with our actions, but with the intentions and desires that drive them.

Lust, as Jesus describes it, is fundamentally about objectification. It’s when we strip another person of their humanity and view them merely as a means to satisfy our desires or fantasies. In our modern context, pornography stands as one of the most pervasive expressions of lust, with staggering statistics revealing its widespread impact even within Christian communities.

The destructive nature of lust cannot be overstated. It trains us to see other human beings as objects, teaching us to overlook the image of God in others and exploit them for our own pleasure. This is precisely why Jesus calls us to a “greater righteousness” – a way of living that values people as image-bearers of God, fueled by love rather than lust.

Jesus uses strong language to emphasize the seriousness of dealing with lust, saying it would be better to gouge out an eye or cut off a hand than to let these body parts lead us into sin. While not meant to be taken literally, this hyperbole underscores the drastic measures we should be willing to take in our fight against lust.

Practical steps in this battle might include being honest about our struggles with trusted individuals, implementing accountability software on our devices, setting clear boundaries for technology use, and critically evaluating our media consumption. The key is to take action, not just confess the problem.

It’s important to recognize that changing our minds on issues of sexuality should be driven by biblical truth rather than cultural shifts. We must be careful not to uncritically absorb society’s messages about sex and relationships.

For those struggling with sexual sin and the shame it often produces, there are two crucial truths to hold onto:

1. There is no shame in Christ. God’s love for you is not dependent on how successfully you overcome sexual sin. Bring your struggles to Him; He loves you unconditionally.
2. Do whatever it takes to fight sexual sin in your life. While we don’t earn salvation through behavior, followers of Jesus are called to actively combat lust and pursue holiness.

The good news of the Gospel is that Christ has taken our sin upon Himself, dying the death we deserved. Through His resurrection, He conquered sin, and now we can fight our battles from a place of incredible strength. God’s affections for us are secure in Christ, even as we struggle. Yet, He’s also committed to seeing us change and grow.

For those who feel permanently defiled or damaged by sexual sin, there is hope. When we accept Christ, He washes us, sanctifies us, and justifies us. As Isaiah 1:18 beautifully puts it, “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”

In light of God’s mercy and transforming power, we are called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1-2). This involves a continual renewal of our minds, learning to discern and follow God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.

As we navigate the complexities of sexuality in our modern world, may we hold fast to God’s original design, recognizing the beauty and power of sex when expressed as He intended. Let us pursue a love that values others as image-bearers of God, resisting the cultural tide of objectification and lust. And above all, may we rest in the transforming grace of Christ, which offers both forgiveness for our failures and power for change.