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November of 1976

November of 1976. Jimmy Carter told an interviewer (from Playboy, no less), "Christ said, 'I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.' I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times.".

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November of 1976

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  1. November of 1976 • Jimmy Carter told an interviewer (from Playboy, no less), "Christ said, 'I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.' I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times."

  2. MENTAL ADULTERY Matthew 5:28

  3. SCENARIO • You are studying with someone… • You find out that the person is divorced for _______. • Later, as you study Matthew 19, they come across the divinely allowed reason for divorce. • While in Matthew 5, you come to verse 28. • AHA! A loophole! Mental Adultery! Yes! That’s what my spouse did.

  4. QUESTION? • Does Matthew 5:28 give someone the right to divorce their spouse for “Mental Adultery”? • Does it justify divorcing a mate for the thoughts of the heart?

  5. QUESTION? • Does Matthew 5:28 give someone the right to divorce their spouse for “Mental Adultery”? • Does it justify divorcing a mate for the thoughts of the heart? • If not, then what IS God saying here?

  6. MATTHEW 5:27-28 • 27"You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; • 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

  7. LET US CONSIDER: • WILLFUL INTENT – “Looks upon a woman to lust…” is more than a moment’s notice or a curious look. It refers to willful intent and purpose. A decision.

  8. LET US CONSIDER: • WILLFUL INTENT – “Looks upon a woman to lust…” is more than a moment’s notice or a curious look. It refers to willful intent and purpose. A decision. • AN ACTUAL ACT – You cannot divorce someone for what you presume or think they are doing. No matter how convinced you may be, there must be proof. Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16

  9. LET US CONSIDER: • GOD’S PURPOSE – is to preserve marriage, not to give us a loophole to get out of an otherwise unhappy or undesirable relationship. Just as God can see your spouse’s heart, He can see yours. 1 Samuel 16:7; Hebrews 4:12

  10. LET US CONSIDER: • MENTAL MURDER? – v21-22 have a parallel style. Cf. 1 John 3:15. Do these passages justify capital punishment for people who commit “Mental Murder”? Difference in consequences-no actual death, cohabiting.

  11. LET US CONSIDER: • MENTAL MURDER? – v21-22 have a parallel style. Cf. 1 John 3:15. Do these passages justify capital punishment for people who commit “Mental Murder”? Difference in consequences-no actual death, cohabiting. • FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD – James 4:4 says that these are adulteresses. Can I divorce my spouse for engaging in the worldly activities he had just listed?

  12. LET US CONSIDER: • CONTEXT – The discussion here is not about divorce or its remedies, but rather, about the character of a Christian.

  13. LET US CONSIDER: • CONTEXT – The discussion here is not about divorce or its remedies, but rather, about the character of a Christian. • Beatitudes • Salt, light • Respect for God’s word • A higher standard – anger, lust, oaths • Love

  14. LET US CONSIDER: • “IN THE HEART…” – thoughts defined by an action, not vice versa. Jews understood the phrase.

  15. LET US CONSIDER: • “IN THE HEART…” – thoughts defined by an action, not vice versa. Jews understood the phrase. • Genesis 17:17-Abraham doesn’t utter the words • Psalm 55:21-Smooth words, but desire is hostile • Jeremiah 9:26-Israel rejected God • Phrases: “You’re in my heart”, funeral in his heart”, etc.

  16. CONCLUSION • To use this passage to justify a divorce is to twist Scripture. Notice 2 Peter 3:15-16 • The real lesson is that a citizen in God’s Kingdom will set good things in his heart, set a good example for others, and strive to keep evil far from his heart. • God will judge our hearts as well as our actions - even if no one else knows.

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