Sermon on the Mount – Do Not Commit Adultery • FOUNDED IN TRUTH – Messianic Livestream

In this Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, potentially led by Matthew Vander Els, the focus is on the radical teachings of Yeshua (Jesus) in the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon is described as both revolutionary and challenging, as it presents a different perspective on the Torah and God’s expectations for humanity. The teaching emphasizes that Yeshua’s ministry was about offering a glimpse of what the kingdom of God is like and what is expected of His followers in the present and the future.

The speaker explains that the Sermon on the Mount challenges the common understanding of the Torah, moving beyond a simple checklist of laws to a deeper understanding of God’s wisdom. It’s not merely about avoiding outward actions like killing, but about addressing the root issues in the heart, such as anger and contempt. Yeshua’s teachings often employed shocking and jarring expressions, as well as hyperbole, to force listeners to contemplate the deeper meaning of His words. His aim was to shift people’s thinking away from worldly values, where belittling others might seem insignificant compared to acts like murder.

The teaching then delves into the specific section of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapter 5, starting from verse 27, which addresses the issue of adultery and lust. It clarifies that in many evangelical traditions, lust has been incorrectly equated with sexual desire. However, the speaker argues that sexual desire itself is not inherently bad; it serves purposes like procreation and fostering connection within a committed, covenant relationship. The Bible even contains erotic poetry, such as the Song of Songs, which beautifully portrays the passion and intimacy between covenant partners. This intimate connection involves the release of chemicals in the brain, like dopamine and oxytocin, which reinforce bonding.

The core of Yeshua’s teaching on this matter, however, lies in the concept of lust as the abuse of sexual desire. Lust occurs when an individual makes a conscious decision to objectify another human being, stripping them of their inherent value and status as an image-bearer of God, in order to fulfill their own selfish desires in their heart. This act of objectification is likened to treating a living person as a mere thing, denying their agency and worth.

This understanding of lust connects to a broader theme prevalent throughout the Sermon on the Mount: the pursuit of power over others. The desire to lust often stems from wanting something that belongs to another and leveraging power in one’s mind to take it, requiring the stripping of the other person’s dignity. This echoes the story of the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve sought to determine good and evil for themselves apart from God, leading to a world where individuals establish their own standards, resulting in oppression and violence. Examples like Cain’s envy of Abel and Lamech’s boastful violence illustrate this destructive pattern.

Yeshua’s ethic, the speaker contends, goes back to the beginning of creation in Genesis 1:26-28, where male and female were created as equals, intended to serve one another and rule the world together, not over each other. The idea of man ruling over woman is presented as a consequence of the fall, a part of the curse. In the cultural context of Yeshua’s time, women were often blamed for men’s sins, with modesty being imposed on them to prevent men from lusting. The teaching refutes this, emphasizing that the responsibility lies with the individual to confront their own heart and desires. Temptation itself is not sin, but the conscious decision to embrace and act on that temptation is what Yeshua addresses.

To illustrate the seriousness of this issue, Yeshua uses hyperbolic metaphors such as gouging out one’s eyes or cutting off one’s hands if they cause one to sin. These are not meant to be taken literally but are intended to shock the listener into recognizing the extreme danger of unchained lust engulfing their lives. The problem, the speaker clarifies, is not the physical body part but the heart that produces these desires. True change requires a transformation of the heart, a new creation as described in Ezekiel 36 and Jeremiah 31.

Yeshua’s mission was to bring heaven to earth. Allowing lust and objectification in one’s heart perpetuates hell in the present. Humans, created in God’s image, are meant to reflect His goodness and love. Objectifying someone distorts this reflection to serve selfish desires. The time has come for a new humanity, embodying a new heart and spirit, to live as sons and daughters of the King, ambassadors of justice and righteousness. Believers have the authority through Yeshua to say no to temptation, just as He did.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Confront your heart: Regularly examine your thoughts and motivations, identifying any feelings of contempt, hatred, or the desire to control or objectify others.
• Recognize objectification: Be aware of when you might be reducing someone to their physical appearance or their usefulness to you, rather than valuing them as a whole person created in God’s image.
• Take responsibility for your thoughts: Understand that temptation is not sin, but the decision to dwell on and act upon lustful thoughts is. Do not blame others for your internal struggles.
• Cultivate a mindset of value: Consciously choose to see the inherent worth and dignity in every person, recognizing them as equally created in God’s image.
• Seek help and accountability: If you struggle with lust or objectification, seek prayer, counsel, and accountability from trusted individuals within your faith community.
• Practice self-control: When tempted, exercise your authority in Christ to resist and turn away from lustful thoughts and desires.
• Focus on genuine connection: In relationships, prioritize authentic connection, respect, and love over selfish desires.
• Be mindful of cultural influences: Recognize how the culture around you might normalize sexual objectification and actively resist those influences.
• Strive for a new heart: Embrace the call to be a new creation in Christ, allowing God to transform your desires and motivations.
• Stand against belittling others: Refuse to participate in any form of belittling or devaluing other human beings, recognizing this as contrary to God’s will.

References

• Matthew 5:27-30 (biblehub.com)
• Genesis 1:26-28 (biblehub.com)
• Ezekiel 36 (biblehub.com)
• Jeremiah 31 (biblehub.com)
• 1 Kings 11-13 (biblehub.com)
• Proverbs 5 (biblehub.com)
• Proverbs 7 (biblehub.com)
• Job 24:15 (biblehub.com)
• Hebrews (biblehub.com)

Books and Resources

• The Bible by various authors