Jesus' View of Adultery

Renewing Your Mind

Ligonier Ministries

Religion & Spirituality, Reformed, Study, Jesus, Preaching, Christianity, Scripture, Spirit, Bible, Holy, Theology, Christian, God, Teaching

4.8 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 28 September 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Lust doesn't merely lead to adultery. It is adultery of the heart. From his sermon series in the gospel of Matthew, today R.C. Sproul considers Jesus' arresting words on sexual sin. Though the world treats lust lightly, its guilt is real—yet so is God's grace for the repentant.

Get R.C. Sproul's commentary on the gospel of Matthew for your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4280/offer

Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the ebook edition of the Matthew commentary for your donation of any amount: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global

Meet Today's Teacher:

R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Meet the Host:

Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast.

Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Transcript

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0:00.0	In the second century, the apologist, Justin Martyr, in defending Christian truth claims,
0:08.1	he pointed to the Christian ethic of chastity as proof of the power of the gospel.
0:16.3	No apologist in his right mind today.
0:19.5	Whatever asked the critics of Christianity to examine our
0:23.8	sexual behavior as proof of the gospel.
0:33.5	Chastity, that's not a word we hear often these days. Sexual deviance has celebrated and it marches in
0:41.0	our streets. Yet Jesus' standard was high. Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her, he said,
0:47.9	has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin,
0:53.9	pluck it out, and cast it from you.
0:56.9	What did Jesus mean? Well, I'm glad you're joining us to find out on this Sunday edition
1:02.2	of Renewing Your Mind. Today we're continuing a short three-part series from the
1:08.2	Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew's Gospel. And that's why,
1:12.6	when you give a gift today in support of renewing your mind at renewingermind.org, we'll send
1:18.6	you R.C. Sproles' commentary on Matthew, which includes his insights from his study and preparation
1:24.3	for the sermon you'll hear today. But be quick as this offer ends at midnight.
1:30.5	Well, here's R.C. Sprole in Matthew Chapter 5, beginning in verse 27 on Jesus' view of adultery.
1:41.2	You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery.
1:50.2	But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin,
2:09.9	pluck it out, and cast it from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
2:25.9	And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you.
2:33.9	For it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish,
2:39.7	then for your whole body to be cast into hell.
	...

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