Matthew 5:27-28 - Looking at a woman so as to desire her?

Does Matthew 5:27-28 have conditions?

Matthew 5:27: "“You-heard that it-was-said, ‘You-shall not commit-adultery’."

Matthew 5:28: "But I say (to) you that everyone looking (at a) woman so-as to-desire her already committed-adultery (with) her in his heart."

Matthew 5:28: "looking at a woman SO-AS to desire her"?:

Jesus referred to "looking (at a) woman SO-AS to-desire her" (Matthew 5:28). This phrase construction ("SO-AS") [pros 4314 in Greek] coupled with an articular infinitive (such as "to-desire") in Koine Greek can express intention or purpose. Jesus would have described someone looking at a woman FOR THE PURPOSE OF desiring her. 

Jesus did not describe someone MERELY looking at a woman, but someone "looking (at a) woman SO-AS to-desire her" (Matthew 5:28).

Early Christian author:

Around the 5th century, a Christian author named Augustine of Hippo wrote: "It is worthy of consideration that He did not say, ‘Whosoever desires after a woman,’ but ‘Whosoever looks on a woman to desire after her’, i.e. turns toward her with this aim and this intent, that he may desire after her’" (On the Sermon on the Mount I.12).

Matthew 5:28: "TO-DESIRE her"?:

Jesus referred to "looking (at a) woman so-as TO-DESIRE [epithumeо́ 1937 in Greek] her" (Matthew 5:28).

The Greek word for "TO-DESIRE [epithumeо́ 1937 in Greek]" (Matthew 5:28) can be used to simply describe a desire for natural things such a food for example, as Jesus said: "I DESIRED [epithumeо́ 1937 in Greek] TO-EAT this PASSOVER (meal) with you" (Luke 22:15).

What makes a desire inappropriate is if the object of that desire is directed toward an EVIL end, as it is for example written "that we (might) not be desirers (of) EVIL (things), as those-also DESIRED [epithumeо́ 1937 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 10:6). 

To desire someone such that one ends up having "COMMITTED-ADULTERY (with) her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28) as a result would be a desire directed toward an EVIL end, and such is therefore inappropriate. 

Matthew 5:28: "TO-DESIRE her already COMMITTED ADULTERY"?:

Jesus said that "everyone looking (at a) woman so-as TO-DESIRE [epithumeо́ 1937 in Greek] her already COMMITTED-ADULTERY (with) her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

Jesus said that someone would be looking at a woman so as "TO-DESIRE [epithumeо́ 1937 in Greek]" (Matthew 5:28) her in the ACTIVE VOICE in Koine Greek. 

This is important because there is a difference between a DESIRE happening PASSIVELY TO someone, and a DESIRE being ACTIVE in someone. 

1) When a DESIRE is happening PASSIVELY TO someone, such a person is merely being TEMPTED, as James wrote: "each (one) IS-TEMPTED [PASSIVE voice in Greek] by (his) own DESIRE [epithumia 1939 in Greek] (while) being-drawn-away [PASSIVE voice in Greek] and enticed [PASSIVE voice in Greek]" (James 1:14). This is happening PASSIVELY TO the person. 

--> Being merely TEMPTED is NOT A SIN, as for example it is written that Jesus was "(One) HAVING-BEEN-TEMPTED in all (things) in-accordance-with (our) likeness, WITHOUT SIN" (Hebrews 2:14).

2) After that a DESIRE is happening PASSIVELY TO someone, it is possible that this DESIRE becomes ACTIVE, which in turn gives birth to SIN, as James wrote: "THEN the DESIRE [epithumia 1939 in Greek], having-conceived [ACTIVE VOICE IN GREEK], gives-birth to SIN" (James 1:15). It may be implied that the desire would go from happening PASSIVELY TO someone to becoming ACTIVE if the person would give ASSENT (an inner "yes") to that desire. 

--> This is giving birth to "SIN" (James 1:15).  

Jesus would not have described in Matthew 5:28 someone being MERELY TEMPTED by a desire happening PASSIVELY TO them, but someone "looking (at a) woman SO-AS TO-DESIRE [ACTIVE VOICE IN GREEK] her" (Matthew 5:28), giving ASSENT to their DESIRE, enabling their DESIRE to conceive within them, which in turn gives birth to SIN, having "COMMITTED-ADULTERY (with) her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

Early Christian author:

Around the 5th century, a Christian author named Augustine of Hippo wrote: "‘Whosoever looks on a woman to desire after her’ [...] is not merely to be tickled by fleshly delight, but fully to consent to desire; so that the forbidden appetite is not restrained, but satisfied if opportunity should be given." (On the Sermon on the Mount I.12).

Matthew 5:28: "COMMITTED ADULTERY with HER"?:

Jesus said that "everyone looking (at a) WOMAN so-as to-desire her already COMMITTED-ADULTERY (with) HER in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

In Matthew 5:28, Jesus mentioned one who "COMMITTED-ADULTERY [moicheuо́ 3431 in Greek]" (Matthew 5:28) with a "WOMAN". For this to be called "ADULTERY", a MARRIED person needs to be involved. 

For example it is written: "Whatever MAN will COMMIT-ADULTERY [moicheuо́ 3431 in Greek] with THE WIFE OF A MAN [...] he will surely be put to death, the adulterer and the adulteress" (Leviticus 20:10).

Matthew 5:28: "COMMITTED ADULTERY with her IN HIS HEART"?:

Jesus said that "everyone looking (at a) woman so-as to-desire her already COMMITTED-ADULTERY (with) her IN HIS HEART" (Matthew 5:28).

COMMITTING ADULTERY would be committing a SIN.

For more information:

Examples of sins in the new covenant:
Click here

Jesus described that one can commit adultery "IN HIS HEART" (Matthew 5:28).

All SINS are NOT the same as some can happen OUTWARDLY but some can also happen INWARDLY. 

For more information:

Are all sins the same in every way?:
Click here

↺ Click here to return to the Table of Contents.