THE SIN OF ADULTERY
Matthew 5:27-30
"Ye have
heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But
I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend
thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast
into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not
that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
INTRODUCTION:
1.
Discuss significance/seriousness of adultery (Exodus 20:13-14, Leviticus
20:10, Hebrews 13:4, I Corinthians 6:9-10).
2.
Background of Matthew 5:27-30.
3. What
are some of the things this passage teaches us about all sin (not just the sin
of adultery)?
DISCUSSION:
I. Sin proceeds
from the heart.
A. Consider
Jesus’ words concerning the source of sin (Mark 7:21-23).
B. In order
to rid his life of sin, a person must possess a heart of self-denial
(Matthew 16:24).
C. In order
to rid his life of sin, a person must control the thoughts of his heart.
(Philippians 4:8).
II. Pleasures
of sin are only temporary.
A. Moses’
life serves as an example for us in recognizing the brevity of sin’s
pleasure (Hebrews 11:25).
B. One
brief moment of sin can cause a person to experience the consequences of sin
for a lifetime, perhaps an eternity.
C. In light
of the fleeting nature of the pleasures of sin, why would anyone be willing
to "take a chance" on the fate of their soul? Jesus taught that we
are to remove any obstacle from our lives that stands between us and heaven.
III. Punishment
for sin (hell) is real.
A. Hell is
a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30).
B. Hell is
pictured as a lake of fire, where Satan himself will one day be cast
(Revelation 20:10).
C. Hell is
a place of conscious, eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46).
CONCLUSION:
1. In
light of the reality of hell, we ought to take whatever steps necessary to rid
our lives of sin. This begins with keeping the thoughts of our hearts pure.
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