Thursday, January 8- Matthew 5:27-32

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'
-Jesus moves on to another topic that should also be obvious as far as the law is concerned.

28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
-Again, Jesus raises the level of righteousness that one must attain. Amazing that a look can take someone so far.
-The line of sin should be avoided greatly, not just wandered about so carelessly. To live for purity means to stay away completely. To leave as little room to chance as possible.

29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
-Very extreme examples of what it takes to live in purity. I don't think Jesus is advocating actual maiming of ones body, otherwise he would've practiced it with his followers. But he is stating the importance of remaining pure. Only Jesus can give us a new and holy body that is truly purified.

31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'
-Again, the same pattern. A common law that the jews would be well familiar with.

32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
-Jesus throws a lot onto the pot and ensures that everyone realizes how sticky a situation divorce really is.
-Living as salt/light there is a lot to think about. It invades every aspect of life. There is no detail to small. We have to realize the importance of purity and let that be important in life, not just a small detail.