Jesus teaches that adultery begins in the heart with lustful intentions and desires. Merely looking at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in one's heart. To avoid sin, one must deal radically with whatever causes them to stumble, even if it is as precious as an eye or a hand. True righteousness comes not by following rules externally but by having a transformed heart through faith in Jesus Christ.

1. INSIDE OUT Part 3 – Adultery Mathew 5:27 to 30

2. I – INTRODUCTION Historical and Contextual background More than anything else, the Jews desperately wanted a Messiah as this was prophesied. They wanted to get into the Kingdom. In Mathew 5 to 7, Jesus describes the characteristics of Kingdom citizens (verses1 to 12), the function of Kingdom citizens (13 to 16) and the basis of conduct of Kingdom citizens which is God’s laws (13 to 17) He clarified to them that the standard of righteousness required to get into the Kingdom anchored on God’s laws but is primarily internal. (vs. 20) He gives them six illustrations to drive the point (Verse 21 to 48) In verses 27 to 30, Jesus gives here the second illustration contrasting how they have misinterpreted God’s law and given emphasis on the external rather than the internal (heart righteousness)

3. I – THE DEED OF ADULTERY “ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:” vs. 27 "Nakadungog kamo sa giingon, `Ayaw pagpanapaw.` (Cebuano) A.) What is adultery In the Bible the word means sexual intercourse with anyone other than one’s marriage partner, although in the Old Testament it refers sexual intercourse between man and women when one or both of them is married.

4. B.) The seriousness of adultery - Old Testament laws require adulterers to be stoned to death. “ And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death” – Leviticus 20:10 “ Ug ang tawo nga manapaw sa asawa sa laing tawo, bisan kadtong nagapanapaw sa asawa sa iyang isigkatawo, sa pagkamatuod gayud pagapatyon ang mananapaw nga lalake ug ang mananapaw nga babaye.” (Cebuano)

5. The New Testament condemns adultery in the strongest terms & repeatedly Know ye not that the unrighteous shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor ADULTERERS, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind . . . “- 1 Cor. 6:9 “ Nasayud ba kamo nga ang mga dili matarung dili makapanunod sa gingharian sa Dios? Ayaw kamo pagpalimbong; walay mga makihilawason, o mga tigsimba ug mga diosdios, o mga mananapaw, o mga bayot, (Cebuano)

6. ” Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; ADULTERY , fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Gal. 5:19 – 21 “ Ug dayag kaayo ang mga buhat sa unod nga mao kini: pakighilawas, kahugaw, kaulag,pagsimbag mga diosdios, panglamat, mga dinumtanay, mga pakigbingkil, pangabubho, kapungot, iyaiyahay, sinupakay, pundokpundok,kasina, huboghubog, hudyaka-bahakhak, ug mga butang nga maingon-ingon niini. Pasidan-an ko kamo, sama sa ako nang pagpasidaan kaninyo kaniadto, nga ang mga nagabuhat sa maong mga butang dili magapanunod sa gingharian sa Dios.”(Gal. 5:19 to 21 – Cebuano) “ Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” – Hebrews 13:4 “ Himoa ninyo nga ang panagtiayon makabaton sa pagtahud sa tanan, ug himoa ninyo nga ang higdaanan sa panagtiayon dili mahugawan; kay ang Dios magasilot ra sa mga makihilawason ug mga mananapaw.” (Cebuano)

10. Although it may seem that only the men are addressed here, Jesus condemnation of lustful thoughts applies also to women. Women even have the capacity to entice men to lust. That is why it is also very important that women should be conscious that they will not be used by the enemy as an instrument to entice men to lust. This is the reason why the Bible instructs women to dress properly. “ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works” – 1 Timothy 2:9,10 “ . . .usab nga ang mga babaye magmaligdong ug magbinuotan sa ilang pagpatahum sa ilang kaugalingon pinaagi sa pagpamisti nga maugdang, dili pinaagi sa buhok nga sinalapid, o sa bulawan o sa mga mutya o sa mahal nga sapot,kondili pinaagi sa mga maayong buhat, ingon nga maoy angay sa mga babayeng nagapadayag sa pagkadiosnon.” (Cebuano)

11. Clarifications on sexual “Desires” 1.) Sexual desire is given by God it is part of God’s creation (Genesis 1:27, 28) 2.) Sexual desire is not just a biological function, it has a moral significance. Since the Christian’s body belongs to God, such body should never be used for any purpose that dishonours God. “ Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.” (1 Cor. 6:13) “ Tinuod nga "Ang kan-on alang sa tiyan ug ang tiyan alang sa kan-on," apan kining duha pagalaglagon sa Dios. Ang lawas dili alang sa pakighilawas, kondili alang sa Ginoo, ug ang Ginoo alang sa lawas.” (Ceubano)

12. 3.) Sexual desires are to be consumed only within the bounds of marriage “ Drink water from your own well - share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.” - Proverbs 5:15-19, NLT “ Imna ang mga tubig gikan sa kaugalingon mong sudlanan, Ug ang mga tubig nga nagaagay gikan sa kaugalingon mong atabay. Patibulaagon mo ba ang imong mga tubod sa halayong dapit, Ug ang mga taburan sa tubig diha sa kadalanan? Himoa sila nga imo lamang, Ug dili alang sa mga dumuloong uban kanimo. Papanalangini ang imong tuburan; Ug pagmalipayon diha sa asawa sa imong pagkabatan-on. Ingon sa usa ka mahigugmaong lagsaw nga dumalaga ug sa usa ka makapahimuot nga gasela, Tugoti nga ang iyang mga dughan magatagbaw kanimo sa tanang mga panahon; Ug magpalugos ka sa kanunay sa iyang gugma.” – (Cebuano)

13. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control – 1 Corinthians 7:3 to 5, NASB “ Ang bana kinahanglan magatugyan ngadto sa iyang asawa sa angay sa magtiayon, maingon man ang asawa ngadto sa iyang bana.Kay ang asawa dili mao ang magbuot sa kaugalingong lawas niya, kondili ang iyang bana; maingon man usab, ang bana dili magabuot sa kaugalingong lawas niya, kondili ang iyang asawa. Ayaw kamo pagdumiliay ang usa sa usa gawas kon pinaagi sa panagsabut alang sa usa ka panahon, kaha aron managsulod kamo diha sa kahigayonan sa pag-ampo; apan tapus niini, managduolay na usab kamo, aron dili kamo matintal ni Satanas tungod sa kakulang ninyog pagpugong sa kaugalingon.” (Cebuano)

14. III– THE DELIEVERANCE FROM ADULTERY “ And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” (vs. 29, 30) “ Busa, kon ang imong too nga mata mao ang makaingon kanimo sa imong pagpakasala, lugita ug isalibay kini; kay maayo pa alang kanimo nga mawad-an kag usa ka bahin sa imong lawas kay sa ibanlud ang tibuok mong lawas ngadto sa infierno.Ug kon ang imong too nga kamot mao ang makaingon kanimo sa imong pagpakasala, putla ug isalibay kini; kay maayo pa alang kanimo nga mawad-an kag usa ka bahin sa imong lawas kay sa iadto ang tibuok mong lawas ngadto sa infierno.” (Cebuano)

16. CONCLUSION: Jesus again shows the impossible standards of His kingdom righteousness. All people are murderers and adulterers and because it seems impossible to fulfil the standard of righteousness required to enter into his kingdom. He gives is these impossible standards for two reasons, to make men and women despair of their own righteousness and to seek His righteousness. The remedy for a wicked heart is a new heart. We can only fulfil God’s righteous standards not through our own but through faith in Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:16 – “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus , that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.“ “ Nasayud nga ang tawo dili pagamatarungon tungod sa mga buhat sa pagbantay sa kasugoan, kondili pinaagi sa pagtoo kang Jesu-Cristo . Ug kami mitoo kang Cristo Jesus aron kami pagamatarungon pinaagi sa pagtoo kang Cristo, ug dili pinaagi sa mga buhat sa pagbantay sa kasugoan, kay pinaagi sa buhat sa pagbantay sa kasugoan walay bisan kinsa nga pagamatarungon.” (Cebuano)

17. Most of the Notes in this slide are lifted from John MacArthur’s Bible Commentary on the book of Mathew. For Bible study Guide notes, sermon notes and the audio message of this series by John MacArthur visit www.gty.org . Other inputs and notes by Zigfred Diaz To download other slides that can be used for sermons visit the Master’s Community Fellowship website at www.tmcf.zdiaz.com