Posts with the category “lust”

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." If this week's journey through Jesus' teaching on heart purity has left you feeling convicted, you're not alone. The Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, called himself the "chief of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15). King David, described as "a ...  Read More

"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." The ancient Jewish concept of "building a fence around the Torah" offers profound wisdom for modern believers. Rabbis would create additional rules—not because God's commands were insufficient, but because human nature is weak. If the Torah prohibited work on...  Read More

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." Jesus employs shocking hyperbole that would have made His first-centu...  Read More

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." The ancient Greek word for "lured" (exelko) was a fishing term—describing how a fish is drawn out from its safe place by attractive bait. James uses hunting imagery too: "enticed" (deleazo) referred to trapping animals...  Read More

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” In first-century Judaism, the religious leaders had mastered the art of external compliance. They could recite the commandments, follow the rituals, and maintain their reputation in the community. Yet Jesus...  Read More