Home Group Study

Sermon Date: 15 June 2018

Text: Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-30

Opening Discussion: The seventh commandment says "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Today, though, adultery seems more rampant than ever. The Janus Report on Sexual Behavior estimates that "More than one-third of men and one-quarter of women admit having had at least one extramarital sexual experience.” Why would you say adultery is so prevalent today?

Observation

What does God’s word say?

As you observe what God’s word says, answer the following questions from Matthew 5:27-30:

• How many pronouns can you find in Matthew 5:27-30? (A pronoun is used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing).
•  How many imperatives (commands) can you find in Matthew 5:27-30?

Read:  Matthew 5:27-30

What are your observations? What are the connections between lust and adultery?

Meaning

What does God’s word mean?

Here in verses 27 to 30, Jesus is giving another illustration of how the people had lowered the law of Moses, and how Jesus must lift it back up again in order to destroy their self-righteousness. “But - ” verse 28 “ - I say unto you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Jesus is saying to the Pharisees their standard is too low. God is concerned about the heart attitude. And

Jesus is really saying to all self-righteous people, you can’t say because you didn’t have sex with a married person that you are all right.  If you have ever lusted in your heart and mind, if you ever desired to commit this sin, you’re a sinner, and you are not righteous, and you cannot claim righteousness. 

Purity is important—not only purity in actions, but also purity in thoughts. Jesus says adultery is not the only thing to avoid. Adultery is an external behavior. But Jesus goes for the internal thoughts and motives.

Verses 29-30 are not suggesting that we should fight sexual sin by literally plucking out our eyes and cutting off our hands. I’m confident that even if we had only left eyes and left hands, we would still be able to find a way to have inappropriate sexual relationships and inappropriate sexual desires.

What these two verses are saying is that sexual purity in both action and thought is very important. It’s so important, that it’s worth sacrificing some otherwise good things if they might lead us into sin.

Read:  1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Colossians 3:4-5; Proverbs 5:15-20; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5.

What are your observations from these verses?

Application

How must I change?

• Is there a Truth to be believed?

The breaking of one of God’s commandments can lead to the violation of another. What other sins can adultery lead to? Why is it so important to think of the long term effects of breaking God’s laws, the 7th commandment in particular?

•  Is there an Attitude to be fostered?

Lust may be disguised and professed to be love. Purity and innocence begins as a state of mind. What arguments do those who favor pornography use to defend it? Meditate on Galatians 5:19-25; Ephesians 5:11-17; Jude 22-23

•  Is there a Behavior to be changed?

Many today think that they have not violated the seventh commandment unless sexual intercourse is actually performed. Is it okay to do anything and everything short of actual intercourse? How do Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:27-30 apply to such thoughts?

Closing Prayer: For purity, forgiveness, reconciliation, and contrite hearts; and for sin to be bitter so Christ will be sweet. Praise God for his forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and his son’s perfect righteousness.