Do whatever it takes to keep your heart pure

"You have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27).

Jesus was not only concern with people keeping the letter of the Law like the religious Jews did in his day, He stressed that it was more important that we keep the spirit of the law. In other words, God is more concerned with inward purity of the heart than outward conformity to the law. And in the context of inward purity of the heart Jesus went on to say, "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" (Matthew 5:28-29). In other words Jesus is saying that we must do whatever it takes no matter how drastic it is to guard our hearts and keep it pure. We must eradicate anything in our control that is feeding the evil desires of our hearts. When Jesus said that its better to pluck out your eye than to be cast into hell he does not mean that a save person can lose their salvation. But I believe that what he is saying is that any person with an unwillingness to protect their hearts from those things which fuel their sinful passions gives evidence that they are on a highway to Hell.

The reason Jesus refers to our right eye and our right hand is that they represent parts of our bodies that are of utmost value. Now Jesus does not mean that we are to literally pluck our eyes out. But what he does mean is that even those things that we deem to be essential to our lives we must be ready to cast off if they are sources of temptations that feed our sinful lust. Paul wrote, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14).

Are you struggling with internet pornography? Get rid of your computer. Is there a certain relationship that you have with someone that makes you vulnerable and more susceptible to lust? End the relationship. “Be killing sin or it will be killing you (Owens).