In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  Even when we lustfully look at another woman we commit adultery in our heart.  Wishing to do so can be just as sinful as the act itself.

     If one wants to go to Heaven he will do what ever it takes according to God’s terms. Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 5:29-30, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."  Christ is warning us to get rid of whatever it is that is going to keep us out of Heaven.  Here before and after this warning Jesus is discussing adultery caused by lust and also adultery caused by a divorce and remarriage; both of which will cause us to be lost.

     Jesus says in Matthew 5:32, "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except fornication causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."   "But I say", Jesus is putting marriage back the way God ordained it in the beginning.  Marriage is for life and mankind needs to learn this.  "Whoever"—applies universally.  It doesn’t mean somebody but whoever means everybody.  It is all inclusive. "Whoever" includes all people, both Christians and non-Christians.  All people who marry are bound by God’s marriage law.

     This passage focuses upon the position that one puts his spouse in when he puts her away, but not for fornication.  She commits adultery when she is put away and marries another since she is still bound to her former husband "as long as he lives" (per Romans 7:2-3).  Most divorced people remarry and if she does remarry she commits adultery.  Jesus’ point is that the one who put her away is co-responsible for it and because he put her in that position he will share in her guilt.  Verse 32 is very simple and plain.  The Lord could not make it any clearer.  But men are still to this day tampering with what the Lord has said.

     It is not difficult to understand the definition of adultery.  Adultery is sexual intercourse by a man with another man’s wife, or by a woman with another woman’s husband.  Notice the later part of the verse, "whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery."  Notice in this case there is a remarriage of her that was put away which is required before the adultery is committed.

     Why is the one marrying her guilty of adultery?  The definition of adultery is sexual intercourse with another person’s spouse.  She is still bound to her first husband.  In God’s eyes he has taken another man’s wife and because of this each time he engages in sexual intercourse with another man’s wife he is committing adultery.  What Jesus says in verse 32 is simple and plain.  The Lord could not make it any clearer.  But men are still tampering with what the Lord has said.

Questions Section 2

Matthew 5
(Click on the button of the answer of your choice.)

1)  (Matthew 5:28) To look lustfully at a woman

      One commits adultery in his heart.

      Is alright if all we do is look lustfully.

      Is not a sin.

2)  It is sinful to look lustfully at a woman.

3)  (Matthew 5:29-30) We must get rid of

      Our garbage.

      What ever that is going to cause us to be lost in Hell.

      Our good deeds.

4)  Christ is warning us to get rid of whatever it is that is going to cause us to miss Heaven.

5)  (Matthew 5:32) If one divorces his wife for any reason other than fornication

      He causes her to commit fornication.

      It is alright since so many other people are doing it.

      He does not cause her to sin.

6)  The word "whoever" does not include all people.

7)  (Matthew 5:32) One who marries a woman who is divorced

      Does not commit adultery.

      Does commit adultery.

      Jesus did not say what happens.

8)  Whoever marries her that is divorced commits adultery.