Eyes and Hands
People underestimate their sin, feeling good they did not do something worse. Jesus made clear in Matthew 5:27-30 that the sin of the heart is as serious as the act itself. Not only is the act of adultery a sin, but
the appetite for it is also sinful. Someone wrote, “The eye and the heart are the brokers of sin.” God has one forum for sexual activity: the marriage union of one man and one woman. Adultery is sexual relations with a person other than your spouse, if married. “Fornication” is the word used to identify sexual sin between two unmarried persons. Verse 28 reads, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Peter takes it further: (a) looking to lust after her; and (b) looking to get her to lust. “They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls.” (2 Peter 2:14) In our text, Jesus is referring to continual looking rather than a casual glance due to attraction. Matthew 5:29 records, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out.” And “if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off” (v. 30) is added a verse later. The phrase “causes to” is the Greek word skandalon: a stumbling block. Eyes and hands are the offenders in sexual sin. If you cannot restrain them, remove them. Jesus is not looking for body mutilation but self-control against sin. If sexual sin condemns an unbeliever to hell, then this behavior is certainly wrong for a Christian. Jesus’ followers must take drastic action. First, make a commitment regarding your eyes—“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1) Second, take control of your thoughts—“take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) Third, seek and depend on God’s grace daily—“Draw near to the throne of grace, that [you] may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
