Curve-Busters (Or Where Jesus Thinks Adultery Begins)

I wanted to share some thoughts on this week’s elephant – adultery.  Here goes:

Matt 5:27-30
27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!

They are called “curve-busters.” They were those people in class that took away the chance that your teacher would provide extra points as a curve to compensate for many commonly missed questions. They were so smart that they got near perfect scores, and so no one else could benefit grace from a teacher because the standard was so high.

When Jesus spoke these words, he was preaching the Sermon on the Mount. In this section, he began mentioning some of the most commonly known commands from the Old Testament Law. He reminded them of do not murder, do not divorce, and do not commit adultery. If those rules weren’t hard enough, Jesus decided to become a “curve-buster.”

Most in attendance during this message probably thought good of themselves because they had not committed adultery. Jesus was completely aware of their self-righteousness when he said this statement. He claimed it wasn’t enough just to stay away from literal physical sexual adultery, he warned not to go there even in your mind. He knew that adultery doesn’t happen in a moment. It begins in a thought, a fantasy. In someone’s mind, he or she begins to imagine romance or life with someone other than their spouse. Then they flirt with that person, and then one day they make advances, and then comes the adultery.

Jesus says if you go there in your mind, you will one day go there with your heart. Don’t simply avoid physical adultery, run from the thoughts that get you there. Today, evaluate what thoughts you have let creep in your mind about a romantic relationship with someone other than your spouse. Confess that to God (who already knows about it, by the way), and ask him for help to save your marriage.