Love vs Lust

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’^e 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If 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. 30And 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. (Matthew 5:27-30)

Thoughts: Jesus did not eliminate the commandment against adultery.  Three times it is recorded that he accused his generation as "an adulterous generation."  This follows an Old Testament theme that God's people are the "bride" of God, and that to worship other gods is to commit adultery against God to whom we have pledged our faithfulness (or troth).
    Here Jesus reaffirms the commandment against adultery even enhancing it by pointing out that adultery begins in the heart.  In our day of epidemic and rampant pornography, this passage still speaks.  Statistics from "Enough is Enough" indicate that 87% of college age men and 30% of college age women doubleclick for pornography weekly or more.  Pornhub claimed 87.8 billion views last year- up 10 billion from the year before and another 15 billion higher than 2015.  Studies show that pornography leads to positive attitudes toward extra marital affairs.
    Some site the passage of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery as his tacit approval of adultery.  He tells those who would stone her for her adultery, "let him who is without sin cast the first stone." He was allowing mercy and showing adultery is not the unforgivable sin.  But he also tells her to "Go and sin no more."  This implies Jesus believes adultery is a sin that is to be forsaken. To obey is better than sacrifice or forgiveness.   In Acts 15 the apostles asked the Gentile church to abstain from sexual immorality to distinguish themselves from the pagans.
     In the rest of the New Testament adultery is also forbidden.  2 Peter 2:14 "with eyes full of adultery they never stop sinning."  James 2:11; Rom. 1:16, 2:22; Some passages warn against continually committing adultery without repentance Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor 6:9; Rev. 22:15.
     The commandment against adultery does not disappear because a lot of people break it.  It tears at our marriages, and scars children with deep scars.  Adultery is one of the things that is tearing at the fabric of the western church, and is plugging the ears of those who need to hear of the hope and good news of Christ.  Love is so much more real than the fake love of pornography or sexting.  The design of God is for human love to be protected by the bounds of marriage and enhanced by trust and commitment.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to value faithfulness and love over lust and adultery.