Sermon On The Mount - Part 4

In addressing adultery and lust, Jesus goes beyond external behavior to deal with the heart - the root of all sin. He speaks directly to these intimate topics because He loves us too much to leave us broken, just as He transformed Mary Magdalene from prostitution to become the first commissioned gospel preacher. The enemy counterfeits God's precious gifts of marriage, sexuality, and covenant love by substituting lust for covenant love and immediate gratification for sacred commitment.

When Jesus speaks of looking with lust, He refers to intentional focus and pursuit, not accidental observation. This is about seeking to fulfill God-given appetites in ungodly ways. The Bible instructs us to flee sexual temptation by submitting to God in worship, causing the enemy to flee instead. There is always a way of escape, and we are never victims without choice, as demonstrated by Joseph's response to Potiphar's wife.

Jesus elevates marriage as a supernatural covenant between husband, wife, and God that reflects His relationship with the church. While acknowledging divorce may sometimes be necessary, He calls us to seek reconciliation first. For singles, sexual purity represents a covenant with God until marriage. In our generation, lust has been normalized, monetized, and weaponized, but Jesus offers both grace and truth - not condemning but calling us to transformation and practical steps toward purity.