Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
A practical application to Matthew 5:27-30. Some people have the mistaken notion that unless you commit the act of adultery, you have not really sinned. They think it’s okay to fantasize about or look at someone, so long as you don’t become involved in a sinful relationship with that person. But Jesus cuts to the chase in this passage. He lets us know that even lustful thoughts are as sinful as committing the act of adultery.
In the original Greek, one of the meanings for the word translated in our Bibles as “look” is intentional and repeated gazing. Jesus’ remedy for someone who has a problem in this area seems rather harsh, but you really must look at the context and the culture of the day to understand this radical but important statement.
In Judean culture, the right eye and the right hand were thought of as the best one had. The right eye represented one’s best vision and the right hand represented one’s best skills. In essence, Jesus is saying that one must be willing to give up whatever is necessary to keep one from falling into sin. That may mean terminating a relationship, cancelling a cable channel or magazine subscription. It may mean spending less time on your cell phone or changing how you spend your spare time. In other words, remove yourself from those things that can have a spiritually destructive effect on your life.
Then take practical steps to fill your mind with the things of God. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.