Adultery in the Heart

Can you truly commit adultery in your heart? Well, Jesus said you can and if He said it - it's the truth. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus continues to reveal to us the sins of the heart and how those sins have eternal consequences. Let's continue our bible study on Matthew 5:27-30.

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old,[c] ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[d] 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Firstly Jesus looked at "Do not commit murder." Now he refers to another commandment, "You shall not commit adultery."  With both of these commandments, there was a consequence according to the law but Jesus is saying that the consequences for these will be based on what is in your heart rather than what you do outwardly.

Adultery is defined as a physical act, an act involving either voluntary sexual intercourse, a kiss, or other sexual acts between a married person and someone other than their spouse. In some cases, a non-sexual but intimate relationship is considered an act of adultery. Adultery is known as cheating, being unfaithful, or having an affair. It is a sin according to the word of God and is grounds for a divorce. Adultery breaks up marriages and families. It is an act that is often done in secret for fear of the repercussions. 

Whether the adulterous acts are discovered, confessed, or remain hidden, the people involved are always aware of what occurred. The thoughts of the affair, although entirely private, can replay in their minds over and over, any time they want, without anyone else knowing. So, which is worse: repeatedly engaging in sinful thoughts in your mind and heart, or acting them out physically?

Jesus teaches that both are sinful acts that believers should not engage in. While the penalty for the physical act was already clear, Jesus takes it a step further by addressing the severity of what happens in our hearts and minds. He reveals that sinful thoughts and desires carry an equally, if not more, severe penalty. "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart," Matthew 5:28.

But why would a thought carry so much weight? Because what we meditate on in our hearts reflects the true condition of our soul and is the root from which actions grow. Jesus calls us to purity, not only in behavior but in the very depths of our thoughts and intentions, as they ultimately determine the direction of our lives. "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life," Proverbs 4:23.

In life, we may deceive others, pretend, lie, put on a façade, and act out the best Oscar-winning performances to hide the truth, but we cannot do that with God. When we come to God in prayer, it is a moment to humble ourselves, acknowledging that He sees and knows everything. We should be inclined to say, "Lord, you know me better than I know myself. When others fail to catch the sinful acts I commit in my heart and with my body, you already see it all. Lord purge me of anything that separates me from You and could ultimately lead me to eternal separation in hell." 

Can you imagine trying to lie to God in prayer? Pretending to be innocent while He already knows the truth? While you may successfully deceive others, there is no hiding from God.

No one may ever discover what you do in private, but God knows. Whatever it is that is causing you to be a candidate for hell's fire, cut it off, cut it out of your life completely. It is better to lose whatever leads you to sin, even if it feels like losing a part of yourself than to remain whole and face eternal separation from God. Jesus said it clearly in Matthew 5:29-30, "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."

I want to make it to Heaven, and I hope you do, too. Whatever it is in your life that leads you away from God—you know what it is—cut it off and let it go. In the end, this is a battle for our souls, and we must ensure that our hearts and every part of our being remain pure, every day and in every way. That’s what Jesus calls us to do.

We don’t know when we’ll take our last breath, so we must stay ready. It’s not an easy journey, but let’s keep fighting the good fight of faith.

“For the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

  "Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart." (Psalm 44:21)