Cutting Off Lust // Jesus in His Own Words // David Barrett

Summary of the Passage (Matthew 5:27-32):

In this passage, Jesus addresses the seventh commandment, “you shall not commit adultery,” and ties it into lust. His words cut like a double-edged sword as He tells us that looking at someone with lust is the equivalence of committing adultery and that we should sacrifice sinful parts of ourselves lest our whole selves be subject to damnation. This section ends with Jesus’ counter-cultural message in Biblical times and today’s world: divorce is acceptable before God only in cases of sexual immorality and minimal other exceptions stated later by Paul.

Discussion Questions:

1. Verse 27-28: Lusting and our Trust in God

- Why do you think Jesus says that anyone who has looked at somebody else with “lustful intent,” has already committed adultery? How do our thoughts and behaviors expose what we truly believe in our hearts about God and His creation?

2. Verses 22-30: Counting the Cost of Following Christ

- Jesus’ words are severe when He tells us to sever our body parts so that the whole body may be holy before the Lord: why is Jesus so convicted of this point? Why do you think we are not as passionate about crucifying our flesh and our sin to follow Jesus?

3. Verses 31-32: Divorce and Jesus as the Bridegroom

- What does Jesus’ teaching on divorce tell you about how God values marriage? How does this teaching over divorce play into the Gospel overall? *Refer to other Scripture to see how God views and describes marriage (Genesis 2:18-24, Exodus 20:14, Matthew 19:1-9, Ephesians 5:22-33).

4. Time of Confession

- Confess the sins discussed in this passage or other areas of life that may bring deep shame and embarrassment before your life group full of COMMUNITY who care about you. Pray Romans 8:38-39 over each other.