Mat 5:27-28 | MHM | STEP | The Sermon on the Mount In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus, who gave the law, now teaches its true meaning. He shows that God cares not only about our actions, but also about our thoughts and desires. Jesus calls everyone to be pure in heart, not just in outward behavior, and warns against any actions or attitudes that lead to sin. v. 27 : Jesus repeats the commandment, You shall not commit adultery (Matthew 5:27 ). This commandment forbids not only the act of adultery but also all kinds of sexual impurity and even the desire for it. The Pharisees taught that only the physical act was wrong, but Jesus says that God sees the heart and cares about our inner thoughts (Psalm 66:18; Luke 18:11 ).

‏ Matthew 5:27-28

The Sermon on the Mount

In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus, who gave the law, now teaches its true meaning. He shows that God cares not only about our actions, but also about our thoughts and desires. Jesus calls everyone to be pure in heart, not just in outward behavior, and warns against any actions or attitudes that lead to sin.

v. 27: Jesus repeats the commandment, You shall not commit adultery (Matthew 5:27 ^a). This commandment forbids not only the act of adultery but also all kinds of sexual impurity and even the desire for it. The Pharisees taught that only the physical act was wrong, but Jesus says that God sees the heart and cares about our inner thoughts (Psalm 66:18; Luke 18:11 ^b).

v. 28: Jesus explains that even looking at someone with lustful intent is committing adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28 ^c). Sin begins with our desires. If we let sinful thoughts grow in our minds, it is already sin before any action takes place (James 1:15 ^d). Feeding our eyes or thoughts with wrong things leads to sin, so we must be careful what we look at or listen to (Genesis 39:7; 2 Samuel 11:2 ^e; 2 Peter 2:14 ^f). Like Job, we should make a covenant with our eyes to avoid impure thoughts (Job 31:1 ^g). Jesus also warns against dressing or acting to tempt others, because this too is sinful.