Many years ago I went to a house meeting in Annapolis, Maryland. The speaker was a clergyman in the Episcopal Church. However, his present job was as an editor for Playboy magazine. The talk was not edifying. When it came time for questions I asked him how he applied Matthew 5:27-28 to his present position.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28
His reply was clear and simple. He said, “I don’t believe Jesus said that.”
That is the best way to try to get out of obeying God’s commands, say they do not exist. However, saying it, does not make it so.
Many years earlier, when I was eighteen, in the Navy, in a strange city, I was shown some dirty pictures. One of them is still on file in my head. I was guilty then and can be guilty again at any given instant.
“He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.” Mark 7:20-23
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
My desire is to store up in my heart good things.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28
His reply was clear and simple. He said, “I don’t believe Jesus said that.”
That is the best way to try to get out of obeying God’s commands, say they do not exist. However, saying it, does not make it so.
Many years earlier, when I was eighteen, in the Navy, in a strange city, I was shown some dirty pictures. One of them is still on file in my head. I was guilty then and can be guilty again at any given instant.
“He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.” Mark 7:20-23
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
My desire is to store up in my heart good things.
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