Women and Sexual Sins
This is a study of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28 (from his so-called "Sermon on the Mount"). This article will attempt to answer the following questions:

What does "lust" mean?
Is "lust" a temptation or a sin?
Is temptation a sin?
Did Jesus teach something new, or did he teach what was from the beginning?
Did Jesus "add to" or "take away" from God's Law?
What is adultery?
Is it a sin to lust after an unmarried woman?
Is it a sin to have sex with an unmarried woman?
Do all sins require a blood sacrifice?
Are spiritual truths represented by physical truths?
What are all the sexual sins listed in scripture?
                                                What does "Lust" means?
Matthew 5:27-28

Matthew 5:27-28, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Most people use this one and only verse to teach that it is a “sin” to lust after all women, but is this what Jesus really said? This article will explain, from scripture, what Jesus meant by this expression.

Let's begin by asking the following questions:

Do you believe God tells us what is a sin in His Word? (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

Do you believe, if something is a sin against God, that God would not tell us about this sin in His Word?

Do you believe God would punish us for committing an act/thought, if that act/thought is never defined as a sin in His Word?

If one has answered correctly, we can lay down the following scriptural truth, and build from there. Which is:

If something is a sin against God, He will tell us it is a sin against Him in His Word, and won't leave any sin out.

[Note. In God's Word, the Truth remains unchanged and constant. When you come across one of these
highlighted phrases in this article, these are truths which have no exceptions. This article will build upon these truths. And if there is something which seems to contradict these Truths, we must either change these truths, or change our personal beliefs.]
                                                      Is Temptation a Sin?

Now, let's start with this question, "Is it a sin to lust?"

Lust is defined as "to desire eagerly, to long for, to wish, to crave, to covet, to yearn, to be eager to, to have an appetite for." Lust could be used rightly or wrongly. By itself it is neutral. Whether lust is good or bad should be determined only by your Maker, and not by mere man! The Law does not say, "Do not covet,” it says do not covet anything that belongs to somebody else (Exodus 20:17). Do you lust for your wife, or do you lust for somebody else’s wife? This is the point. There is nothing wrong with lusting. Lust, at most, is only a temptation. Temptations are not sins. It can only be a sin when lust has conceived into a physical act:

James 1:14-15, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin…"

The word "conceived" is translated from Greek word #4815, sullambano; it is a verb, and always refers to a physical act in every other passage of scripture.
Temptations are not sins. When a lust has conceived into an act, only then can it be considered a sin.

Those who believe that temptations are sin, well, they cannot avoid the false conclusion that Jesus was a sinner! Why? Because Jesus was tempted (Matthew 4:1). Because Jesus "suffered being tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Some may claim that Jesus had a different kind of temptation, that he was not tempted like we are tempted. But Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus
"...was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Notice this passage says Jesus went through temptation, yet he did not sin! This proves that temptation is not a sin!!!

You may ask, "Are there any positive examples of lust in scripture?" Yes, there are. Here is a list of some of the positive examples of "lust, covet, and desire" in the scripture:

The following verses contain the Hebrew word for "lust" (#8378 ta'avah, #0185 avvah & #0183 'avah):

Deuteronomy 12:15 (lusteth) , where God commanded the Israelites to kill and eat flesh whatsoever their soul lusts after;

Deuteronomy 14:26 (lusteth) where God commanded the Israelites to turn the tithes into money and spend it on whatever their soul lusts for;

Psalm 21:2 (desire) where God satisfies your lusts if they are good and right for you;

Psalm 132:13 (desired) where the Lord himself lusted Zion for his habitation;

Proverbs 10:24 (desire) where the lust of the righteous shall be granted;

Proverbs 11:23 (desire) where the lust of the righteous is good, and this is in contrast to the lust of the wicked;

Proverbs 13:12 (desire) where lust will earn you the "tree of life", and not eternal torment in the lake of fire, as many Christians teach today; and Isaiah 26:8 (desire) where the lust of our soul is to God's name.

The following verses contain the Hebrew word "covet" (word # 02530 chamad)

Genesis 2:9 (pleasant) where, in the Garden of Eden, the LORD God made to grow every tree that is covetous to the sight,

Psalm 19:7-10 (desired) where the Law of the Lord is to be coveted after,

Psalm 68:16 (desireth) where God Himself covets us to dwell in the hill of God,

Proverbs 21:20 (desired) where the wise will covet treasure,

Matthew 13:17 (desired) where the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven have been coveted after by many prophets and righteous men,

Luke 16:20-21 (desiring) where a beggar coveted to be fed,

Luke 17:22 (desire) where Christ told his disciples they would covet to see one of the days of the Son of man,

Luke 22:15 (desired) where Christ Jesus coveted to eat the passover with His disciples,

1 Timothy 3:1 (desireth) where if a man covets after the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.

1 Corinthians 12:31 (covet) where believers are commanded to covet earnestly the best spiritual gifts,

1 Corinthians 12:31 (covet) where brethren are commanded to covet to prophesy,

Hebrews 6:11 (desire) where we covet after others to show diligence, and 1 Peter 1:12 (desire) where angels covet after the things of God.

It is not a sin to lust, because God commands us to lust! We are to lust after God (Isaiah 26:8 – “desire”). Therefore, lust itself is not a sin, what determines whether or not it is wrong is the intent of your lust. For example, if one lusts sexually after a married woman, then one has committed adultery in one's heart (Exodus 20:17, Matthew 5:28).

It is not a sin to covet, because God commands us to covet! We are to covet after the law of God (Psalm 19:7-10). Therefore, coveting itself is not a sin, what determines whether or not it is wrong is the object of your covetness. For example, if you covet after something that belongs to someone else, this is wrong (Exodus 20:17).

Some may claim that when the original word for “covet” is translated into “desire” in the English, then it is a good lust, but when it is translated as “covet” or “lust,” it is a bad lust. But let's examine God's Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:17, and it's parallel verse in Deuteronomy 5:21). In Exodus 20:17, the original Hebrew word is translated “covet,” but this same exact word is translated “desire” in Deuteronomy 5:21! This word has the same meaning no matter how it is translated into English.

Exodus 20:17, "...thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife..."

Deuteronomy 5:21, "Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife,"
                                                                                                                                                
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