Scripture
Primary passage
Matthew 5:27–30
Primary passage · World English Bible
The command
Hear what Jesus commands.
Refuse to look at another person as an object for selfish desire; pursue inward purity as well as outward faithfulness.
In context
Hear the whole passage.
Jesus moves from the prohibition of adultery to the heart’s intention and uses severe imagery to call for decisive action against sin.
What this reveals
What this reveals about God.
Jesus forms people who honor others’ dignity and take responsibility for desires, habits, and access points that feed sin.
Practice this command
Take one concrete step.
Remove one concrete access point that feeds lust, establish an honest accountability conversation, and replace the habit with a practice that honors others’ dignity.
Discuss
Talk about it.
How does Jesus move the issue from outward behavior to the intention of the heart, and what responsibility does He place on the viewer?
Pray
Pray this.
Jesus, purify our attention and desires. Give us courage to act decisively, honesty to seek help, and love that sees people as persons made in God’s image.
Teach
Teach it simply.
Teach Jesus’ severe imagery as a call to decisive repentance, not self-harm; emphasize responsibility, dignity, and practical boundaries.
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