Many women believe that when a man lusts it is the same thing as committing adultery according to the comments left on Is Viewing Pornography Adultery? If this it true, then every woman has a right to divorce her husband, according to these women, since every man has probably lusted at one time or another in his lifetime, especially in this oversexed, immodest society. Men can't even go to the beach without seeing almost naked women.
They use the verse in Matthew 5:31 where Jesus says, "That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after he has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Right after that He says, "If your right eye offends you, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." He also says to cut off your right hand if it sins. He also says that if you are angry with someone, you are in danger of judgment. If you call anyone a fool, you are in danger of hell fire.
We must put these verses in context. If we are to take these verses literally, we would all be walking around without eyes and arms because we have all sinned with our eyes and arms at one time or another. We would also be in danger of judgment and hell fire because we have all been angry with someone before, many times with our husbands.
Jesus is talking to people who are still living under the law. There is no grace in His words. He is showing them the narrowness of the law and how impossible it is for them to keep. He is helping them see their need for a Savior for it is impossible to keep the law.
A rich young ruler asks Him how to receive eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commands. He told Jesus he has kept the commands. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give to the poor, then he would have eternal life. Where is the grace in this? Once Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and rose again, victorious over condemnation and sin, all we are told to do is to believe in Him. That is it! He did ALL the work for us. We are cleansed from our sin and forgiven.
So no, men are not committing adultery in the flesh when they lust. They may be committing adultery in the heart, yes, but not in the flesh which is the only reason God allows for divorce.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised.
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised.
Luke 4:18
