I am a Jesus pusher!!! Any person who is possessed by his self-centered nature is dragged to a forced focus of self-possessed sexuality, and “has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The Greek word “ede,” translated “already,” means “even now.” What happened in the physical “looking” is already present in the heart of the person. “Looking” at a woman lustfully does not cause a man to commit adultery in his thoughts. The condition of the heart dictates the thoughts, which dictates to the “looking.” When lust reaches the “looking,” it already exists in the heart, which is the dwelling place of man’s nature.
The message was the same in Jesus’ first illustration of anger and murder. “You shall not murder” was the priority of “those of old.” The physical was the best their self-centered, self-sourced nature could conceive on its own. The emotions of anger, temper, and jealousy under self-sourcing must be curbed enough not to commit murder. Curbing emotions is the best self-centered man can do. But Jesus proposed a radical change in man’s behavior. When the self-centeredness of man is changed, anger will not have to be controlled because it will cease to exist. This progression is the same with adultery. Self-centeredness of the heart dominates the sexuality and focuses it on adultery. The thoughts of adultery control the “looking.” The thoughts of adultery are controlled by sexuality under the dominance of self-centeredness. Jesus did not propose a removal of sexuality but a restoration of man’s nature. This would change man’s heart, changing his thoughts and his “looking”!
This restoration is the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. You and I are helpless (Matthew 5:3). We give the appearance of being strong and capable as we attempt to be sourced by our helplessness, yet our failures and brokenness testify to our weakness. Jesus calls us to embrace our helplessness (Matthew 5:4). We are not helpless because we have sinned; we are helpless because of the way God created us. The “Comforter” can invade us only when we embrace our helplessness (Matthew 5:4). This heart alteration changes our perspective; the change in our perspective changes our thoughts; the change in our thoughts changes our “looking.” Jesus is our only chance! I am a Jesus pusher!!!