“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall 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 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. 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.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32)
Applications from This Text:
- Jesus’ use of hyperbole emphasizes the seriousness of sin.
- Anything that can morally or spiritually trap us must be avoided.
- Eternity is more important than a moment in this life and purity is more important than our culture’s permissiveness, and any sacrifice is worthwhile to please God.
- We are responsible human beings who have a choice in what we do with our natural desires—make good choices!
- Divorce is a terrible option permissible in only the ugliest of marital situations and should never be the preferred option by Christians.
- We must exert every effort to divorce-proof the church.