Sermon on the Mount: Lust

Matthew 5:27–30 (ESV)

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."

A Higher Standard

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus isn't interested in surface-level obedience—He goes deeper. Matthew 5:27–30 is one of the clearest examples of this. While the Law said, “Do not commit adultery,” Jesus reveals that the real battleground is the heart. Even a lustful look is enough to break the commandment in God’s eyes.

Jesus isn't introducing new laws—He's fulfilling them by revealing their true intent. He calls His followers to a righteousness that exceeds mere behavior modification. It's about transformed hearts, not just clean records.

The Heart of the Matter

Lust is often minimized or excused in today’s culture. But Jesus doesn’t treat it lightly. Lust is not just an internal, private issue—it’s a distortion of how we view others. It reduces someone made in God's image to an object of consumption.

Jesus reminds us that the problem isn’t just what we do—it’s what we want. The issue isn’t simply adultery, but the desire behind it. When we allow lust to live unchecked in our hearts, we’re not just at risk of sin—we’re already there.

Radical Action for Radical Holiness

The language Jesus uses—tearing out an eye, cutting off a hand—is shocking. And that’s the point. He’s using hyperbole to drive home the seriousness of sin. He’s not advocating self-mutilation, but He is calling for radical measures to fight the things that separate us from God.

What do those measures look like today?

  • Setting boundaries with what we watch or scroll through.

  • Choosing accountability over secrecy.

  • Guarding our thoughts, not just our actions.

  • Redirecting our desires toward God’s design for love and intimacy.

Jesus is calling us to live with eternity in mind. He’s not trying to shame us—He’s inviting us into a life that’s whole, pure, and holy.

Grace-Filled Transformation

If this passage stings, you're not alone. Jesus’ words cut deep—but they also heal. He doesn’t just leave us with conviction—He offers grace and power to change. We aren’t left to fight sin in our own strength. Through the Holy Spirit, we can have renewed minds, clean hearts, and transformed lives.

This passage isn't about fear or guilt—it’s about freedom. Jesus wants more for us than fleeting satisfaction. He offers a life of purpose, intimacy with God, and relationships rooted in love, not lust.

Final Thoughts

Lust is serious because the heart is sacred. Jesus invites us to treat both with the reverence they deserve. He calls us not just to avoid sin, but to desire righteousness—to hunger and thirst for a purity that comes from God alone.

So, let’s not settle for behavior management. Let’s aim for heart transformation. Because when Jesus changes our hearts, everything else follows.