The Sermon On The Mount v2 7 Adultery
Jesus said in Matthew 5:20 that unless our righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, we cannot enter His kingdom. This was a shocking statement and revealed that their righteousness was flawed and not pleasing to God. Jesus gives six examples of contrasts between their flawed righteousness compared to His kingdom righteousness which was in harmony with both the Law of Moses and the gospel under which we live today. Jesus in Mat 5:27-30 speaks of adultery emphasizing that the underlying lust is condemned as well as the outward act. Whatever radical effort we need to make to cut our thinking, desire, intentions and actions off from these evil desires, we must do so in order to enter His kingdom. Although challenging with God’s help through the gospel, we can pursue faith, love, godliness and righteousness and flee form adulterous lusts and all that might follow it.