Matthew 5:27–28
Jesus takes adultery to the look and the desire of the heart
Study it word by word27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28But I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman in order to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
In its context
25Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
…
29And if your right eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you that one of your members perish and not your whole body be thrown into Gehenna.
30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you that one of your members perish and not your whole body go off into Gehenna.
Its words in the original
- ἨκούσατεĒkousate· hear, listen
Hear, listen; also heed.
- ἐρρέθηerrethē· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- μοιχεύσειςmoicheuseis· commit adultery
Commit adultery.
- βλέπωνblepōn· see, look
See, look; watch out.
- γυναῖκαgynaika· woman, wife
Woman; with a possessive, wife.
- ἐπιθυμῆσαιepithymēsai· desire, covet
Desire strongly, long for; also covet, lust after.
- ἤδηēdē· already
Already, by now.
- καρδίᾳkardiai· heart
Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.