Keys Of the Kingdom Godly Character for a Godless World

Cut It Out Matthew 5:27-32

Cut It Out Matthew 5:27–32 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 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. 30 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. 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Cutting Lust Out of the Picture Jesus goes deeper than adultery being the outside observable sin. It goes far deeper than that into the heart of our desire and lust. Lust opens the door to the desires that are outside of God’s ordained boundary for sexual enjoyment found only in marriage. Lust leads to adultery that splits the intimacy of a couple and ruins the sacredness of marriage.

The Ugly Duckling Jesus’ view on divorce could be considered extreme, but it guards the God-ordained institution of marriage against the human- made “solution” of divorce. Except for marital unfaithfulness, Jesus leaves no room for any other issue in a marriage to be so divisive to divide the intimate nature of sacred marriage.

Key of the Kingdom When you are caught in the temptation of lust, Jesus always provides a way out. But each of us must have the courage and character, the self-control, to use that escape. Sin is temptation’s lackey. They’re always hanging around together. Divorce tends to do more harm than good to everyone involved, and it is not an option in marriage except in the case of infidelity.