Concerning Lust

The Gospel of Matthew, traditionally attributed to Matthew, a Jewish tax collector and one of Jesus' twelve apostles, was likely composed between 80 and 90 CE. It was primarily intended for a Jewish-Christian audience, aiming to demonstrate that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah who fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, while also providing ethical and theological instruction for the nascent Christian community. The setting for much of Jesus' teaching, including the Sermon on the Mount where Matthew 5:27-30 is found, was Galilee, a predominantly Jewish region in northern ancient Israel, though his ministry extended to Judea and Jerusalem, the heart of Jewish religious and political life. During this period, Judea was under direct Roman provincial rule, administered by Roman governors like Pontius Pilate, while Galilee was governed by a client king, Herod Antipas. This political climate was characterized by simmering tensions between the Roman occupiers and the Jewish populace, who chafed under foreign rule and heavy taxation. Socially, Jewish society was stratified, with a small wealthy elite (often aligned with Roman interests) at the top, and a large population of peasants, artisans, and the poor at the bottom. The political and economic pressures often led to social unrest and a heightened sense of messianic expectation, as people yearned for a deliverer to restore Jewish sovereignty. The cultural and religious landscape was dominated by the Mosaic Law (Torah), which formed the bedrock of Jewish identity and practice. Various Jewish sects, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, offered differing interpretations of the Law and its application. The Pharisees, for instance, emphasized both the written Torah and an extensive oral tradition, promoting strict adherence to ritual purity and legal precepts. It is against this backdrop of legalistic interpretation that Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, including Matthew 5:27-30, should be understood. When Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’" he references a fundamental command from the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14). His subsequent declaration, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart," represents a radical reinterpretation. Instead of focusing solely on the external act of adultery, Jesus delves into the internal motivation, challenging the prevailing legalistic emphasis and demanding a deeper, more internal righteousness from his followers. This shift from external observance to internal purity was a hallmark of Jesus' ethical teaching. The hyperbolic imagery of gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand is a rhetorical device common in ancient Near Eastern and prophetic literature. It is not meant to be taken literally, but serves to dramatically underscore the absolute seriousness of sin and the radical commitment required for discipleship. Jesus emphasizes that it is better to take drastic measures to avoid sin than to face the ultimate consequence of "hell" (Gehenna). Gehenna, or the Valley of Hinnom, was a literal valley outside Jerusalem associated with ancient pagan child sacrifice and later became a refuse dump where fires constantly burned. In Jewish eschatological thought, it evolved into a symbol of divine judgment, destruction, and eternal punishment. Thus, Jesus' words highlight the profound moral responsibility of individuals and the severe eternal consequences of unrepentant sin, urging his followers to cultivate purity of heart and intention, not just outward conformity to the law.