Reflection on Mt 5:27-28
Original sin, which consists in revolt against God and His commandments, has deeply wounded all spheres of human life. In terms of carnality, this wounded nature becomes manifest in sinful lusts which affected Adam and Eve immediately after the fall (Gen 3:7). Therefore, God laid down the sixth and ninth commandments to prevent the infection of the sin of impurity.
In these words spoken in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus points out the root of adultery. He says that one can commit adultery not only physically but in one’s heart too if one unites oneself to a lustful thought. In such case, the instrument of sin is an impure look and the place of sin is the human heart – a lustful, impure mind.
A) “Whoever looks at a woman lustfully…”
Sinful lusts are aroused through an impure look. Today, the entire visual space is filled with impurity: the internet and television (pornography), billboards, women wearing obscene clothes (women are obliged to see to it that their appearance be modest and decent lest they become the cause of temptation and fall for others). Behind this all is hidden an impure spirit to which one easily opens one’s heart through eyes. Impure looks are also tied up with unhealthy curiosity “to know and see everything”, when one is entrapped by an unclean spirit. Immoral music and rock music, too, inflame the heart with sinful lusts. Another stimulus to impure desires is hedonism (indulgence in eating or drinking, alcohol, laziness, oversensitivity…).
1) What caused King David to fall into sin? 2Sam 11:2
“Then it happened one evening that David … walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.”
2) What happened to the two old men when they saw Susanna? Dan 13:8-9
“And the old men … were inflamed with lust towards her: And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.”
3) What did a woman’s beauty cause in the hearts of the old men? Dan 13:56
“…beauty has seduced you, lust has perverted your heart.”
4) Why should men turn their eyes away from and look not upon a woman’s beauty? Sir 9:8
“Turn your eyes away from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another’s beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman, and by it passion is kindled like a fire.”
5) What did Job, the just man, do so that he might not sin with his eyes? Job 31:1
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.”
6) How do women entice the eyes of men? Jdt 10:4
“And she put sandals on her feet, and put on her anklets and bracelets and rings, and her earrings and all her ornaments, and made herself very beautiful, to entice the eyes of all men who might see her.”
7) What does true woman’s beauty consist in? 1Tim 2:9-10
“I also want women to adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”
8) What does Jesus say about temptations? Mt 18:7
“Woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”
B) “…has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
St James writes: “…the lust, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin…” (Jam 1:15). If a lustful thought occurs in your mind, it is not yet a sin. But if with your mind or will you agree or unite to an impure thought, look or feeling, i.e. conceive it, you commit a sin in your heart. And unless you fight against it, you infect and contaminate your mind with impurity and you kindle a fire of lusts which like a drug obscure the mind and dominate the will so that you lose control of yourself and fall into sin. Impure thoughts have dire consequences: immoral life behind which is possession by an unclean spirit, disturbed balance of mind, dissoluteness, moral and spiritual degradation, broken families, abortions, venereal diseases, AIDS, perversion, drug addiction, crime, and even death.
Therefore it is necessary to strive for purity of mind and heart: to avoid the occasion of sin – impure looks, thoughts and feelings which can cause sin. An old Latin proverb says: “In fuga salus” – “Salvation in flight”. Do not look at impure images, do not discuss with thoughts but flee – do not agree to it, do not let any sinful thought into your heart or mind. Avoiding the occasion of sin, you will keep your heart and mind pure.
God has also given us a new heart – the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her heart is pure, humble and holy, and she will give you the strength to overcome all temptations of the Evil One.
1) What does the Lord say about the human heart? Jer 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”
2) What comes from the human heart and defiles a man? Mk 7:21-23
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
3) What is the human heart inclined to? Gen 8:21
“…every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.”
4) How did King David pray after his fall into sin? Psa 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
5) What did the Lord do to Saul’s heart when He wanted to make him king? 1Sam 10:9
“As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart …”
6) What did the Lord promise through the prophet Ezekiel? Ezek 36:26
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
7) When did the Lord fulfil the promise? Jn 19:26-27
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’”
8) Who is this “new heart”?
The Blessed Virgin Mary.
9) How did the Apostle John receive the “new heart”? Jn 19:27
“…and from that hour the disciple received her into his own (eis ta idia).”
10) Who will see God? Mt 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Remember: The most important rule in the fight against impurity is to avoid the occasion of sin, to protect your eyes and thoughts. “Salvation in flight.” Do not look at impure images, do not discuss with thoughts but flee – do not agree to it, do not let any sinful thought into your heart or mind. Avoiding the occasion of sin, you will keep your heart and mind pure.
Download: Reflection on Mt 5:27-28
