Matthew 5:27-31, Lust and Divorce

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Comments

The Greek term translated “woman,” almost always means a married woman. Jesus is not trying to prohibit natural sexual attraction but illicit relationships that harm people. Sometimes the avoidance of temptation may require drastic sacrifices, which may include the ending of relationships or activities. It is better to give up something (pluck out an eye) than to lose yourself (ending up in hell).

Jesus’ contemporaries used the passage on divorce from Deuteronomy for the justification of a husband to divorce his wife, not vice versa. Jesus puts the blame on the men for causing others, especially women, to sin. Jesus champions women in these passages, although with our contemporary lenses we may obfuscate his meaning.

Application/Reflection

Historically, the Church has wrongly interpreted these verses, especially in regard to divorce. Today the Episcopal Church allows divorced people to remarry, acknowledging that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. God always forgives us when we repent. Otherwise, the cross would only cover certain sins and not all. Do you believe the cross covers all sin?

Prayer

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(BCP, p. 99)