Fidelity

Jesus returned to His teaching that upholding the Law extends from outward actions down to the mind and heart. "You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus then used hyperbole--exaggeration for effect--to emphasize that sin is not only an outer act that can be remedied externally, but rather that sin also extends inward to the mind and the heart. "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell."

"It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

Jesus then gave another illustration of being faithful to oneself and to others. "Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one."

(See Matthew 5:27-37)

(Editor's Notes:

Referenced Scripture passages: Leviticus 18:1-30; Numbers 30:1-16; Deuteronomy 24:1–5)

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