Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Adultery of the Heart

“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.”
Matthew 5:27-28

Human imagination is a wonderful gift. It is one of the gifts that distinguish us from the animal kingdom. We have the capacity to dream. Surely, this is God-given? We may dream of childbirth without pain or of engines that will fly, and our dreams are stepping stones of creativity. Without imagination, our lives would be bland and repetitive. We are blessed to be able to dream.

However, as with every other gift from above, dreams can be dangerous. Unless we exercise God’s gifts responsibly, the blessing can soon become a curse. The so-called seven deadly sins are a good example. Every sin is the corruption of something good: appetite becomes gluttony, confidence becomes pride, love becomes lust. This is exactly what happens when we indulge in adultery of the heart.

Jesus widens the application of the sixth commandment by teaching that unrighteous anger falls under the same condemnation as murder. He deals with the seventh commandment in exactly the same way. The scribes and Pharisees interpreted “You shall not commit adultery” in a very narrow way. Jesus broadens its scope. To have the Law written on one’s heart is to know that a truly lustful look is, essentially, no better than an immoral act. Both are condemned. This is obviously a word for today. Society seems to be insatiable in its desire for sexual imagery. Advertisers take full advantage of the attraction of the risqué. Sex sells magazines. Movies and TV dramas pump their story-lines full of illicit relationships. As we watch, our imaginations are corrupted.

Admiration for beauty is one thing; adultery of the heart is another. Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. If we allow our imaginations to be fed by sights that lie beyond the boundaries of what is acceptable in the Kingdom of God, then we should not be surprised when our imaginations get us into trouble, and we fall. It is better not to look at all.

Father God,
I praise You for the good things in life,
for the food upon my table,
for the company of friends,
for the lifelong companionship of the one I love the most.
Help me to honor these gifts by living faithfully.
May every other attraction fade as I fix my eyes on Jesus.
Amen.