Matthew 5 28

Matthew 5:28 kjv

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew 5:28 nkjv

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:28 niv

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:28 esv

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:28 nlt

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5 verses

Matthew 5 28 Meaning

Matthew 5:28 deepens the commandment against adultery, shifting its focus from external physical action to internal motive and thought life. Jesus teaches that true righteousness demands purity not just in deed, but also in the heart. Anyone who intentionally looks at another person with a craving for sexual sin has already committed that sin spiritually within their inner being, even if no physical act takes place. This revelation emphasizes God's comprehensive moral standard that probes beyond outward appearances into the core of one's desires and intentions.

Matthew 5 28 Context

Matthew 5:28 is part of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount," specifically within the "Antitheses" (Matt 5:21-48), where Jesus reinterprets and deepens various Old Testament laws. Following the Beatitudes (Matt 5:3-12) and His declaration that He came not to abolish but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matt 5:17-20), Jesus proceeds to challenge the surface-level interpretations common among some religious teachers of His day. This verse directly addresses the sixth commandment, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exo 20:14; Deut 5:18). Prior to this, Jesus spoke of anger leading to murder, and here, He addresses lust leading to adultery. Historically and culturally, the Jewish understanding of adultery focused on the physical act, particularly for women. Divorce laws were also largely skewed to protect men. Jesus' teaching radically challenges this by emphasizing the internal aspect of sin, holding men accountable for their heart's desires, thereby elevating the standard of righteousness to reflect God's own holy nature which scrutinizes the heart.

Matthew 5 28 Word analysis

• But I say to you:
  • Significance: This phrase (Greek: ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, egō de legō hymin) marks Jesus' divine authority and his role as the ultimate interpreter and fulfiller of God's Law. It contrasts directly with "You have heard that it was said" (Mtt 5:21, 27, etc.), signifying a deeper, spiritual reinterpretation that moves beyond traditional, external applications. Jesus is not merely another teacher but speaks with absolute legislative power.
• that everyone who looks:
  • "everyone who": Greek: πᾶς ὁ, pas ho - implies universal applicability to any person, not just a select group. It highlights that no one is exempt from this internal scrutiny.
  • "looks": Greek: βλέπων, blepōn - participle, meaning "the one looking" or "he who looks." While it can mean a general gaze, in this context, combined with "lustful intent," it implies an attentive, lingering look, a deliberate focusing of one's gaze rather than an accidental or fleeting glance. It is not just physical sight, but perception coupled with inward consideration.
• at a woman:
  • Significance: Greek: γυναῖκα, gunaika. The specific object of the lustful gaze. While the primary context refers to a male looking at a woman, the underlying principle extends to any individual looking at another with lustful intent. The specific phrasing reflects the societal norms and specific legal code for adultery that Jesus was addressing.
• with lustful intent:
  • Significance: Greek: πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι αὐτήν, pros to epithumēsai autēn. This is crucial. pros indicates purpose or direction ("with a view to," "towards"), to epithumēsai is the aorist infinitive of epithumeō, meaning "to desire strongly," "to crave," "to lust after." It's not just an appreciation of beauty or a fleeting temptation, but a deliberate act of the will to dwell on and actively desire someone in a sexually illicit way. It signifies the internal entertaining and cherishing of forbidden desire, turning the initial attraction into an active will to sin. Epithumeō in the Septuagint and NT often carries negative connotations of illicit longing, such as covetousness.
• has already committed adultery:
  • "has already": Greek: ἤδη, ēdē. An adverb emphasizing that the sin is not future or potential, but a completed reality at the moment the lustful intent takes root. It stresses the immediacy and certainty of the spiritual transgression.
  • "committed adultery": Greek: ἐμοίχευσεν, emoicheusen. Aorist indicative of moicheuō meaning "to commit adultery." By linking the internal thought to the outward act, Jesus asserts that God regards the inner moral failing as seriously as the physical deed, as it is the genesis of all outward sin. The boundary for sin is pushed inward to the will and desires of the heart.
• with her in his heart:
  • "in his heart": Greek: ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, en tē kardia autou. The "heart" (Hebrew lev / Greek kardia) in biblical understanding is not just the seat of emotions but the core of a person's being—the center of intellect, will, thoughts, desires, and moral decision. It is where one's true character resides. This phrase powerfully underscores that God judges our inner lives as truly as our external actions, exposing the depth and seriousness of internal sin. It moves the battlefield from outward observance to inward transformation.

Matthew 5 28 Bonus section

This verse not only addresses personal sin but also has significant implications for understanding the nature of the Kingdom of God. Entrance into and participation in God's Kingdom requires an exceeding righteousness (Matt 5:20) that is impossible through mere external conformity to the law. Jesus' words here are a crucial component of His call to a deeper, radical discipleship where God’s perfect will is embraced wholeheartedly, not just grudgingly followed in outward actions. This sets the stage for the Gospel's ultimate solution: the new birth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers to genuinely desire and pursue inner purity, providing the transformation of the heart that Jesus’ commands implicitly demand. This standard also implicitly protects the dignity of individuals, as to lust after another is to reduce them to an object of one's desire rather than recognizing them as a person made in God's image.

Matthew 5 28 Commentary

Matthew 5:28 is a profound and radical reinterpretation of the law against adultery, unveiling the depth of God's holy standard. Jesus reveals that God is not merely concerned with outward behavior but demands purity of heart, spirit, and motive. The physical act of adultery, while severely condemned, is presented as the consummation of an internal process. The moment one consciously chooses to look at another with a sustained, illicit sexual desire, and nourishes that desire, the sin of adultery has already occurred in the heart, in God's eyes. This teaching bypasses human legal systems which focus on actionable deeds and moves into the realm of spiritual reality, where thoughts and intentions are also judged. It underscores that sin is not just about doing wrong but about being wrong at the core of one's being. This challenges superficial religiosity and calls believers to an uncompromising commitment to internal holiness, acknowledging that true transformation begins with the heart. It emphasizes the need for a divinely regenerated heart that is renewed in its desires and motives, aligned with God's will. Practically, this calls for rigorous self-control over our thought lives, visual input, and desires, constantly turning to God for cleansing and strength against the persistent allure of sinful temptation.