You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:27-28
In this profound and memorable passage, Rabbi Yeshua reveals a fundamental yet often overlooked truth: the paramount importance of our creative thoughts and imagination. He challenges the conventional belief that as long as one’s external actions conform to the law, one’s duty is fulfilled. This perspective tends to dismiss the significance of human thoughts and feelings, considering them as private matters of little consequence. However, Yeshua shifts this perspective dramatically by emphasizing that our thoughts are the precursor to our actions, and habitual thoughts imagined inevitably manifest in our behavior.
Rabbi Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew 5:27-28 about adultery extends beyond the physical act, pointing to the deeper issue of lustful thoughts, which are usually very imaginative and creative. He asserts that harboring such deep, influential thoughts is akin to committing the act itself, a concept that underlines the powerful and tangible nature of creative thoughts. Our imagination is indeed substantial and influential in shaping our reality.
This understanding leads to a startling realization: imagining evil or harboring negative thoughts, such as covetousness, hatred, or lust, aligns our soul with the corresponding negative acts. A person who indulges in envious thoughts toward another’s possessions becomes a thief in their heart, and if these thoughts persist, it’s only a matter of time before they manifest into action. Similarly, entertaining feelings of hatred equates to murder in the spiritual sense, and indulging in lustful thoughts is tantamount to adultery.
The implications of this truth are significant. It means that our moral and spiritual accountability extends beyond our actions to include our thoughts and intentions. It calls for a vigilant guarding of the heart, as it is, metaphorically, the wellspring from which life’s experiences flow: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Rabbi Yeshua’s teaching elevates the understanding of sin and righteousness to a deeper level, where the battle against wrongdoing begins in the mind. It emphasizes the necessity of cultivating purity not just in our actions but fundamentally in our thoughts. By doing so, we align ourselves more closely with spiritual truth and integrity, taking responsibility not only for what we do but also for what we think and feel, as those determine our actions.
Simultaneously, in a profound display of compassion, Rabbi Yeshua did not condemn a woman caught in adultery to eternal damnation. Instead, he extended to her the gift of forgiveness, as recounted in John 8:1-11. Judging others for their inability to control their thoughts and emotions won’t teach them how to manage these aspects. It is in such situations that grace becomes essential.
This episode powerfully illustrates Rabbi Yeshua’s embodiment of grace and mercy. His response to the woman’s situation was not one of harsh judgment or retribution but rather an offering of redemption and a second chance. This act underscores the core message of his teachings: the wiser and more spiritual you become, the more forgiving you are, and the greater effort you make for the possibility of transformation for every individual, regardless of their past actions.
This article is part of the book, “The Kingdom of Yeshua: Christ’s Timeless Wisdom to Revive Your Spiritual Life.”
