Matthew 5:27
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Matthew 5:27
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus isn't just reminding them of the commandment; he's exposing how it had been narrowly defined by religious leaders to only mean the physical act. He’s highlighting that the law, from its very beginning, was meant to address the hidden desires and intentions of the heart, not just outward actions.
{ "author": "Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood as the author, though some scholars suggest later tradition.", "location": "Likely written from Galilee or a similar Jewish setting within Roman Palestine.", "dateTime": "Between 50-70 AD, during the first generation of the church.", "literaryStyle": "Gospel narrative with extensive use of Jesus's teachings. Key feature is the Sermon on the Mount, presented as a collection of Jesus's core ethical and theological instructions." }
When you hear "You shall not commit adultery," what comes to mind? Most of us think of the physical act, right? But Jesus is about to shatter that narrow view.
Jesus begins this section of the Sermon on the Mount by quoting the Ten Commandments, but He's not just repeating them. He's confronting a common misunderstanding. The religious leaders of the day often taught that these commands, including the one against adultery, only applied to the outward, physical act.
A Minimalist Approach
Think of it like someone saying, "Don't break the speed limit." Most people hear that and think, "Okay, don't get a ticket." They focus on avoiding the consequences of the action.
Jesus' Radical Reframe
Jesus, however, looks deeper. He reveals that God's law isn't just about our actions; it's about our affections. The commandment against adultery, in God's eyes, is already broken long before any physical act occurs. It speaks to the purity of the heart and the intention behind our desires.
Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients..." Who are these 'ancients,' and why is Jesus correcting their interpretation?
When Jesus refers to what was "said to the ancients," He's pointing to the prevailing interpretations of the Law during His time. The religious authorities and teachers (like the Pharisees and scribes) had developed traditions and explanations that often limited the scope of God's commands.
Tradition vs. Truth
For adultery, their interpretation focused narrowly on the physical act between married individuals. They missed or downplayed the command's intention to protect purity in all aspects of life and desire.
Jesus as the True Interpreter
Jesus isn't introducing a new law; He's revealing the of the existing Law given by God. He confronts the 'old' interpretations that had become flawed through tradition and a lack of spiritual depth. He makes it clear that clinging to an outdated, superficial understanding of God's commands is not acceptable.
Understand the original words
moicheuō · Greek Verb
The violation of the marriage covenant through sexual unfaithfulness. In Scripture, it is also frequently used as a metaphor for Israel or the Church's spiritual unfaithfulness to God.
Jesus is directly referencing the well-known commandment from the Law given at Sinai, but he's confronting the common, narrow interpretation that focused only on the outward act, challenging His listeners to consider the heart's true condition.
~1446 BC
Ten Commandments Given at Sinai
God delivers the Law, including the commandment 'You shall not commit adultery,' to the Israelites through Moses, establishing a foundational moral code.
c. 8th-7th century BC
Prophetic Condemnation of Adultery
Prophets like Hosea and Jeremiah denounce adultery and unfaithfulness among the people of Israel, highlighting both the literal and spiritual dimensions of the sin.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches on the Sermon on the Mount
Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, directly addressing the interpretation of the Law, including the commandment against adultery.
c. 45-50 AD
Paul's Epistles Address Purity
The Apostle Paul writes letters to early churches, instructing believers on matters of sexual purity and the heart's desires, referencing the Law against adultery.
This is the original Old Testament commandment that Jesus is quoting, establishing the foundation of the law that He is now expounding upon.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20Paul echoes Jesus' teaching by emphasizing that sexual immorality is not just an outward act but a sin against one's own body and against God, highlighting the internal aspect of purity.
Romans 7:7Paul discusses how he would not have known what 'coveting' was if the Law had not said 'You shall not covet,' which parallels Jesus' approach of revealing the deeper, internal meaning of the Law.
2 Samuel 11:1-5The story of David and Bathsheba illustrates the destructive consequences of unchecked lust and adulterous thoughts, showing how a look and a desire can lead to grievous sin, just as Jesus warns.
Proverbs 6:25-32This passage warns against the deceptive allure of lust and adultery, explaining that the pursuit of illicit relationships leads to destruction and disgrace, mirroring the seriousness with which Jesus treats even impure thoughts.
bensonMatthew 5:27: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:"
Matthew 5:27-28 . Ye have heard, &c. — Jesus now proceeds in his sermon to the seventh commandment, the true interpretation of which he gives us. Thou shalt not commit adultery — This, as well as the sixth commandment, the scribes and Pharisees interpreted barely of the outward act. But I say unto you, &c. — The command extends not only to unchaste actions and words, but even to looks, and the ve…
calvinMatthew 5:27-30: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:"
- You have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit adultery. 28. But I say to you, That whoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29. And if thy right eye shall be a stumbling block [405] to thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is better for thee that one of thy members perish, and that thy who…
Jesus isn't just reminding them of the commandment; he's exposing how it had been narrowly defined by religious leaders to only mean the physical act. He’s highlighting that the law, from its very beginning, was meant to address the hidden desires and intentions of the heart, not just outward actions.
{ "author": "Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood as the author, though some scholars suggest later tradition.", "location": "Likely written from Galilee or a similar Jewish setting within Roman Palestine.", "dateTime": "Between 50-70 AD, during the first generation of the church.", "literaryStyle": "Gospel narrative with extensive use of Jesus's teachings. Key feature is the Sermon on the Mount, presented as a collection of Jesus's core ethical and theological instructions." }
{ "author": "Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood as the author, though some scholars suggest later tradition.", "location": "Likely written from Galilee or a similar Jewish setting within Roman Palestine.", "dateTime": "Between 50-70 AD, during the first generation of the church.", "literaryStyle": "Gospel narrative with extensive use of Jesus's teachings. Key feature is the Sermon on the Mount, presented as a collection of Jesus's core ethical and theological instructions." }
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c. 60-65 AD
Peter's Epistles Address Purity
The Apostle Peter also writes to believers, urging them to abstain from fleshly lusts and live holy lives, in line with God's commands.
"“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’" — Jesus isn't just reminding them of the commandment; he's exposing how it had been narrowly defined by religious leaders to only mean the physical act. He’s highlighting that the law, from its very be…