the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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King James Version
Matthew 5:28
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But I tell you that if a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind.
But I say vnto you that whosoeuer looketh on a wyfe lustynge after her hathe comitted advoutrie with hir alredy in his hert.
But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.Genesis 34:2; 2 Samuel 11:2; Job 1:31:1; Proverbs 6:25;">[xr]
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman.
but I say to you, that every one that looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
But I say to you, That whoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I tell you that whoever looks at a woman and cherishes lustful thoughts has already in his heart become guilty with regard to her.
But Y seie to you, that euery man that seeth a womman for to coueite hir, hath now do letcherie bi hir in his herte.
but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I tell you that if you look at another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts.
but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
But I say to you that everyone whose eyes are turned on a woman with desire has had connection with her in his heart.
But I tell you that a man who even looks at a woman with the purpose of lusting after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But *I* say unto you, that every one who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say to you, that every one who beholdeth a woman so as that he shall desire her, already committeth adultery in his heart.
But I say to you, That whoever gazeth on a woman with concupiscence, at once committeth adultery with her in his heart.
But I say vnto you, That whosoeuer looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adulterie with her already in his heart.
But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I tell you, anyone who even looks at a woman with a sinful desire of wanting her has already sinned in his heart.
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say vnto you, that whosoeuer looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adulterie with her already in his heart.
But I say to you, that whoever looks at a woman with the desire to covet her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But, I, say unto you, that, Every one who looketh on a woman so as to covet her, already, hath committed adultery with her, in his heart.
But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say vnto you, that whosoeuer loketh on a woman, to luste after her, hath committed adultry with her alredy, in his heart.
But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart.
But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say to you, Everyone looking at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
but I -- I say to you, that every one who is looking on a woman to desire her, did already commit adultery with her in his heart.
But I saye vnto you, that whosoeuer loketh on a wife lustinge after her, hath committed aduoutrie with hir already in his hert.
but I tell you, that whosoever looks on a woman with impure desires is already guilty of approving the fact.
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I'm tellin' you that even if you look at a girl and think about it, you've done the same thing in your heart.
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I say: Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:39, Matthew 7:28, Matthew 7:29
That: Genesis 34:2, Genesis 39:7-23, Exodus 20:17, 2 Samuel 11:2, Job 31:1, Job 31:9, Proverbs 6:25, James 1:14, James 1:15, 2 Peter 2:14, 1 John 2:16
hath: Psalms 119:96, Romans 7:7, Romans 7:8, Romans 7:14
Reciprocal: Genesis 3:6 - to the eyes Genesis 12:14 - beheld Exodus 20:14 - General Leviticus 18:20 - General Deuteronomy 5:18 - General Joshua 7:21 - I saw Nehemiah 8:8 - and gave the sense Psalms 101:3 - set Psalms 119:37 - Turn Proverbs 7:25 - thine Proverbs 23:31 - General Proverbs 24:9 - thought Ecclesiastes 11:9 - in the sight Jeremiah 5:8 - every one Ezekiel 18:6 - neither hath defiled Ezekiel 22:11 - committed Ezekiel 23:16 - as soon as she saw them with her eyes Zechariah 8:17 - let Malachi 2:9 - but Malachi 2:15 - take Matthew 5:32 - I say Matthew 7:24 - whosoever Mark 9:47 - thine 1 John 3:15 - hateth
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman,.... Many and severe are the prohibitions of the Jews, concerning looking upon a woman, which they aggravate as a very great sin: they say k, it is not lawful to look upon a beautiful woman, though unmarried; nor upon another man's wife, though deformed; nor upon a woman's coloured garments: they forbid l looking on a woman's little finger, and say m, that he that tells money to a woman, out of his hand into her's, that he may look upon her, though he is possessed of the law and good works, even as Moses, he shall not escape the damnation of hell: they affirm n, that he that looks upon a woman's heel, his children shall not be virtuous; and that a man may not go after a woman in the way, no, not after his wife: should he meet her on a bridge, he must take her to the side of him; and whoever goes through a river after a woman, shall have no part in the world to o come: nay, they forbid p a man looking on the beauty of his own wife. Now these things were said by them, chiefly to cover themselves, and because they would be thought to be very chaste; when they were, as Christ calls them, an "adulterous generation" in a literal sense: they usually did what our Lord observes, "strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel". We read in the Talmud q, of חסיד שוטה, a "foolish saint" and it is asked, who is he? and it is answered, one that sees a woman drowning in a river, and says it is not lawful for me לאיסתכולי בה, "to look" upon her, and deliver her. It was not any looking upon a woman, that is forbid by Christ as criminal; but so to look, as "to lust after her"; for such an one
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. But these men, who forbad external looking upon a woman, generally speaking, had no notion of heart sins; and which was the prevailing opinion of the Pharisees, in Christ's time.
"A good thought, they r allow, is reckoned as if done; as it is said, Malachi 3:16. Upon which it is asked, what is the meaning of that, and "that thought" upon "his name?" Says R. Ase, if a man thinks to do a good work, and is hindered, and does it not, the Scripture reckons it to him, as if he did it; but an evil thought, the holy blessed God does not account of it as if done, as is said,
Psalms 66:18.''
Upon which words, a noted commentator s of their's has this remark:
"Though I regard iniquity in my heart to do it, even in thought, yea, against God himself, as if I had expressed it with my lips, he does not hear it; that is, חשב לי עון
לא, "he does not reckon it to me for sin"; because the holy blessed God does not account an evil thought for an action, to them that are in the faith of God, or of the true religion.''
For it seems, this is only true of the Israelites; it is just the reverse with the Gentiles, in whom God does not reckon of a good thought, as if it was done, but does of an evil one, as if it was in act t. It must be owned, that this is not the sense of them all; for some of them have gone so far as to say u, that
"the thoughts of sin are greater, or harder, than sin itself:''
by which they mean, that it is more difficult to subdue sinful lusts, than to refrain from the act of sin itself; and particularly, some of them say things which agree with, and come very near to what our Lord here says; as when they affirm w, that
"everyone that looks upon a woman בכוונה, with intention, it is all one as if he lay with her.''
And that נואף בעיניו נקרא נואף, "he that committeth adultery with his eyes, is called an adulterer" x. Yea, they also observe y, that a woman may commit adultery in her heart, as well as a man; but the Pharisees of Christ's time were of another mind.
k T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 1, 2. l T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 24. 1. Sabbat. fol. 64. 2. m T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 61. 1. Eruvin, fol. 18. 2. n T. Bab. Nedarim, fol. 20. 1. T. Hieros. Challa, fol. 58. 3. Derech Eretz. c. 1. fol. 17. 3. o T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 61. 1. Eruvin, fol. 18. 2. p Zohar in Lev. fol. 34. 4. q T. Bab Sota, fol. 21. 2. r T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 40. 1. s R. David Kimchi, in Psal. lxvi. 18. t T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 16. 2. u T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 29. 1. w T. Hieros. Challa, fol. 58. 3. Massechet Calah, fol. 16. 4. Vid. Maimon. Issure Bia, c. 21. sect. 2. & Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora precept. neg. 126. x Vajikra Rabba, sect. 23. fol. 265. 1. y Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 196. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery - See the notes at Matthew 5:21. Our Saviour in these verses explains the seventh commandment. It is probable that the Pharisees had explained this commandment, as they had the sixth, as extending only to the external act; and that they regarded evil thoughts and a wanton imagination as of little consequence, or as not forbidden by the law. Our Saviour assures them that the commandment did not regard the external act merely, but the secrets of the heart, and the movements of the eye. He declares that they who indulge a wanton desire, that they who look on a woman to increase their lust, have already, in the sight of God, violated the commandment, and committed adultery in the heart. Such was the guilt of David, whose deep and awful crime fully shows the danger of indulging in evil desires, and in the rovings of a wanton eye. See 2 Samuel 11:0; Psalms 51:0. See also 2 Peter 2:14. So exceeding strict and broad is the law of God! And so heinous in his sight axe thoughts and feelings which may be forever concealed from the world!
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 5:28. Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her — επιθυμσαι αυτην, earnestly to covet her. The verb, επιθυμεω, is undoubtedly used here by our Lord, in the sense of coveting through the influence of impure desire. The word is used in precisely the same sense, on the same subject, by Herodotus, book the first, near the end. I will give the passage, but I dare not translate it. To the learned reader it will justify my translation, and the unlearned must take my word. Της ΕΠΙΘΥΜΗΣΕΙ γυναικος Μασσαγετης ανηρ, μισγεται αδεως, Raphelius, on this verse, says, επιθυμειν hoc loco, est turpi cupiditate mulieris potiundae flagrare. In all these eases, our blessed Lord points out the spirituality of the law; which was a matter to which the Jews paid very little attention. Indeed it is the property of a Pharisee to abstain only from the outward crime. Men are very often less inquisitive to know how far the will of God extends, that they may please him in performing it, than they are to know how far they may satisfy their lusts without destroying their bodies and souls, utterly, by an open violation of his law.
Hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. — It is the earnest wish or desire of the soul, which, in a variety of cases, constitutes the good or evil of an act. If a man earnestly wish to commit an evil, but cannot, because God puts time, place, and opportunity out of his power, he is fully chargeable with the iniquity of the act, by that God who searches and judges the heart. So, if a man earnestly wish to do some kindness, which it is out of his power to perform, the act is considered as his; because God, in this case, as in that above, takes the will for the deed. If voluntary and deliberate looks and desires make adulterers and adulteresses, how many persons are there whose whole life is one continued crime! whose eyes being full of adultery, they cannot cease from sin, 2 Peter 2:14. Many would abhor to commit one external act before the eyes of men, in a temple of stone; and yet they are not afraid to commit a multitude of such acts in the temple of their hearts, and in the sight of God!
