God’s Mission in Matthew

God’s Mission in Matthew "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.‘ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, 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. And if your right hand causes you to sin, 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 (NIV)

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Many of us view ourselves as doing well because we are not engaged in a certain sin.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Many of us view ourselves as doing well because we are not engaged in a certain sin. Yes Jesus raises the bar on our behavior. Even looking at woman with lust is equated with the sin of adultery.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Many of us view ourselves as doing well because we are not engaged in a certain sin. Yes Jesus raises the bar on our behavior. Even looking at woman with lust is equated with the sin of adultery. This points to a profound misunderstanding of the meaning and purpose of sex.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery The Bible tells us that sex involves something more than the physical act.

God’s Mission in Matthew "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh.“ But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

God’s Mission in Matthew Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. I Corinthians 6:12-20 (NIV)

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Paul’s teaching here is that the physical act of union also creates an emotional and spiritual union.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Paul’s teaching here is that the physical act of union also creates an emotional and spiritual union. Paul also teaches that what we do with our bodies is of great importance to the Lord.

God’s Mission in Matthew Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.“ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

God’s Mission in Matthew However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:25-33 (NIV)

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Paul’s teaching here is that the physical act of union also creates an emotional and spiritual union. Paul also teaches that what we do with our bodies is of great importance to the Lord. The position of women in the Ancient world left much to be desired.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Ideally, sex would occur within marriage: a relationship that fully acknowledges the humanity of the other.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Ideally, sex would occur within marriage: a relationship that fully acknowledges the humanity of the other. Women benefited greatly from this since the idea was that their husbands would care for their needs as part of being one flesh with them.

God’s Mission in Matthew "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.‘ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, 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. And if your right hand causes you to sin, 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 (NIV)

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Looking at a woman lustfully begins the process of objectifying her.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Looking at a woman lustfully begins the process of objectifying her. Once this process begins it dehumanizes the woman leading to her total degradation.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. 18,000 to 20,000 of these people are brought into the United States. Many for the purpose of working in the sex trade.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. 18,000 to 20,000 of these people are brought into the United States. Many for the purpose of working in the sex trade. Within the United States around 300,000 women work in the sex trade.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery According to the FBI the average age at which a woman enters the sex trade is 13.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery According to the FBI the average age at which a woman enters the sex trade is 13. The typical way they leave the sex trade is through death.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery According to the FBI the average age at which a woman enters the sex trade is 13. The typical way they leave the sex trade is through death. Some Christian organizations such as ahavakids.org try to rescue women from this life.

God’s Mission in Matthew A drug dealer can sell a little bag of drugs on the street just once.

God’s Mission in Matthew A drug dealer can sell a little bag of drugs on the street just once. A weapons dealer can sell a little hand gun on the street just once.

God’s Mission in Matthew A drug dealer can sell a little bag of drugs on the street just once. A weapons dealer can sell a little hand gun on the street just once. A trafficker can sell a little kid on the street 10, 15, 20 times a day; day after day after day.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Prostitution and Child trafficking are simply the logical conclusion of the objectification of women.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Prostitution and Child trafficking are simply the logical conclusion of the objectification of women. Those who use pornography are contributing to the problem.

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Prostitution and Child trafficking are simply the logical conclusion of the objectification of women. Those who use pornography are contributing to the problem. Christ’s warning is stark.

God’s Mission in Matthew "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.‘ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, 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. And if your right hand causes you to sin, 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 (NIV)

God’s Mission in Matthew Lust and Adultery Why would God permit a person to enter his kingdom who views others as simply objects to be used and discarded?

God’s Mission in Matthew