Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

The above text was part of Jesus' sermon on the mountain. Jesus reminded the people of the 7th commandment which says, “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus then goes on to say that just looking at a woman with lust is committing adultery. Before we go any further, let's remember that the Ten Commandments are for everyone, men and women alike. Therefore it is wrong for women to commit adultery and if a woman looks at a man with lust she has committed adultery.

Today's technology has made it easier and popular to view men and women who have very little clothing on, or no clothing at all. Internet has made it difficult to keep from being bombarded with garbage. It comes in our mail in the form of spam mail, or it shows up on the computer screen as an uninvited popup screen. Even while looking up religious information a screen will sometimes pop up with images no person should be looking at. The television is also full of ads or shows with sensual or suggestive pictures and conversations. A person can't even stand in a checkout line at a store without seeing a magazine cover full of people with very little clothing on. It has become fashionable and popular to watch the various award shows, where the language and dress focus on the sensual, and to watch the Miss America and Miss Universe beauty contest where beauty and showing off the body is the majority of the focus. Those shows are designed to create lustful feelings in a person. To sit and watch it, allowing it to create feelings or thoughts of lust, is to commit adultery.

James gives us a warning of what happens when we allow lust in our hearts.

But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them.

Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin.

And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death.” James 1:14,15 (MKJV)

Each one is tempted by his lusts, but no one needs to stay tempted. Quickly look away. Pray and ask God to help keep the mind pure. Walk away from any conversations that fill our ears and minds with filth. Make a covenant with your eyes as Job did.

"I made a covenant with my eyes,

How then should I look lustfully at a young woman?” Job 31:1

Job guarded himself from lusts. He didn't get involved with the neighbors wives, nor did he have concubines or mistresses. He was faithful even when he was in pain and his wife scorned him.

There is another danger in not controlling our thoughts and feelings. Psalms 66:18 says,

“If I cherished sin in my heart, The Lord wouldn't have listened.” (WEB)

By cherishing a sin, actively hanging onto it, and refusing to let it go, God will not listen to us. There is hope though. The second we call out to God and ask for help, we have become willing to let go, and we recognize our need for God to help us. He will hear that prayer and will come to our rescue. He will clean us up and help us back into a relationship with Him.

For more reading on this topic:
Do Not Commit Adultery
Fidelity in Marriage
Love is...