What’s in Your Heart?

casting-stones“You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not commit adultery.’ “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mat 5:27-28 NKJ 

Strong words from Jesus, but look at his reaction to the woman caught in adultery. “Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.  “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman is standing in the midst. (Joh 8:3-9 NKJ) The fact that she was caught in the act must have meant that her male counterpart must also have  been present and yet appears to be missing at the trial, or was they?  I say this because according to the words of Jesus, even to look with lust is to commit adultery in the heart.

In Genesis 3:6,  we are told that the woman saw—desired—and took. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Gen 3:6 NKJ) By the time, the act has taken place it is already too late.  The seed has already been planted and taken root.  I believe that when Jesus saw the crowd of self-righteous men standing around he bent down and started to write the names of those men that had also committed this sin even if it was only in their hearts.  The gospel tells us that the men, being convicted, turned and walked away.

 

About Terry Threadwell

Dr. Terry Threadwell has thirty five years ministry experience. Author, educator and Director of the Institute of Progressive Pentecostal Studies.
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