A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW     

PURE THOUGHTS 

Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” 

When God created the universe, He said of what He created, “It was good.” The word good there means pleasing, agreeable to the eyes, agreeable to the senses, etc. Looking at the beauty of a woman, or for that matter how handsome a man is, is not in and of itself a sin. It can, in fact, be an acknowledgement of and giving glory to God for the beauty of His creating work. 

On the other hand, a man can look at a woman or a woman a man and desire that person in a sexual way. This crosses the boundary God established in giving the Sixth Commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Jesus says that not only having sexual intercourse with someone who is not your spouse is committing the sin of adultery, but also having the desire of having sexual intercourse with someone other than your spouse is adultery.   

God’s intention in giving the Sixth Commandment is sexual purity. He desires this purity in inner thoughts and outward deeds. Jesus, on another occasion, taught, “ . . . For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person . . . “ (Matthew 15:19-20) The point of today’s devotional verses is “Impure thoughts are a radical danger to the life of discipleship.” (Gibbs, Commentary on Matthew) 

The Greek verb in today’s devotional verses is “future indicative” but has the force of an imperative. (Gibbs, Commentary on Matthew) In simplest terms, what this means is Jesus is using very strong language, giving an order to His disciples and to you, to be on guard, watchful, observant that not just your actions but also your thoughts are to be pure.   

Prayer: Holy Spirit, create in me a clean heart and a right spirit for Jesus’ sake. In His holy name. Amen. 

Jesus, Thy boundless love to me  
No thought can reach, no tongue declare;   
Unite my thankful heart to Thee,  
And reign without a rival there!  
Thine wholly, Thine alone I am;  
Be Thou alone my constant flame. 

O grant that nothing in my soul   
May dwell, but Thy pure love alone;  
Oh, may Thy love possess me whole,  
My joy, my treasure, and my crown!  
All coldness from my heart remove;  
My ev’ry act, word, thought be love. 

This love unwearied I pursue   
And dauntlessly to Thee aspire.  
Oh, may Thy love my hope renew,  
Burn in my soul like heav’nly fire!  
And day and night, be all my care  
To guard this sacred treasure there. 

In suff’ring be Thy love my peace,  
In weakness be Thy love my pow’r;  
And when the storms of life shall cease,  
O Jesus, in that final hour,  
Be Thou my rod and staff and guide,  
And draw me safely to Thy side!  (LSB 683)