Does This Thought Mean I am Lusting and Committing Adultery?

I respond to a question by someone who struggles with OCD and has a hard time applying the words of Jesus regarding lusting after a woman, as shown in Matthew 5:27-28. How do you process this Scripture when you see an attractive person? When have you crossed the line into lusting and committing adultery?
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[@l.k.kladitis3516]

“OCDers are afraid of attractive people.” 😂😂😂😂 This explains so many things. 😂😂😂

[@jessicalove143]

Amen! So many are struggling with this understanding. So good!Got some younger brothers in Christ to watch this video. Praying it will be fruitful for them and me.

[@seanc2136]

I think something just broke off my life from theis teaching! Thanks Mark, praise God.

[@marktdejesus]

Awesome Sean!

[@GamingsMostAmazingSoundtracks]

@@marktdejesus I have a question. You can only commit adultery if you’re married but the Bible also tells us that if you look at a girl to lust for her then you you pretty much have committed adultery. How’s that possible for a person who isn’t married. If you don’t have a spouse he can’t commit adultery cell in that context if an unmarried man lusted over a girl would that be sinful? I’m not trying to justify anything this has just been on my mind lately.

[@SeekTruth-ts2hm]

@@GamingsMostAmazingSoundtracks Matt 5:28 is the most misused verse in the whole bible. The word lust is a made up concept that came after the Bible was written. It is a product of ascetics who hated the body and all its pleasures and wants. In Matt 5:28, Jesus used the word epithumeo which means to covet or to crave for something you want to possess, it does not mean lust. The word for woman in greek is the same as the word for wife. So Matt 5:28 correctly translated would be "Anyone who looks upon a wife in order to covet her has already committed adultery with her in his heart".

[@GamingsMostAmazingSoundtracks]

@@SeekTruth-ts2hm huh, this might be true! I always thought to myself you can’t commit adultery if your not married. This makes a lot more sense. I just looked at a Greek interlinear and saw the same thing you did. If u have more info please share.

[@SeekTruth-ts2hm]

@@GamingsMostAmazingSoundtracks If you know about the septuagint, the ancient greek translation of the OT, the place where it says "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife" is the same as what Jesus said "who looks upon a wife to covet her" in Matt 5:28. And to confirm this, Romans 7:7 quotes the septuagint. Look up Romans 7:7 in the greek (I would not know desire except that the law said do not covet).

[@perfectionista492]

Hello. I am a woman here and I have struggled with this for my entire life in the way I relate to men. I would often feel guilty for even talking about how attractive I thought a man was because I didn't trust that it wouldn't turn me to lust. I am also a woman who is a life long virgin and has never had a boyfriend, so I would sometimes feel the longings that would lead to thoughts and/or fantasies that would make me feel ashamed in God's presence. And I really appreciated your question, Mark, because no, I didn't grow up with honest talk about how to deal with urges as a Christian young person, which made me many times not control my thoughts and fantasies. It actually made me sometimes resent being a Christian because it made me think that to be "pure", I had to turn myself into this super Christian who should resist certain feelings and talking about them until marriage. Also, I would feel guilt if I even dared to feel attraction towards a man who wasn't a Christian. Because in my OCD mind, any attraction to any man meant I wanted to date or marry them and I wouldn't want to be unequally yoked 🤦🏿‍♀️ yeah, I know this sounds silly but this was me. In some ways, it still is me as a grown woman. So, I appreciate this.

[@marcelinav_]

AMEN, SISTA! Lol, I also love the username.

[@perfectionista492]

@@marcelinav_ *LOL* yeah, been trying to find out how to change it. Perfectionism ain't worth it!

[@marcelinav_]

@@perfectionista492 you’ve been trying to change it, I’ve just been made aware of it. LOL. Really, I think it’ll take patience (what I’m currently learning and practicing), and time to implement the truth into your life. Here’s to the process 🥂. So thankful for you and for the DeJesus’ life-changing ministry!

[@H.E.M.]

The struggle is real with this. Makes me feel unsaved and that God is mad at me. Is so annoying. I only been a Christian for 2 months and it’s been a struggle. Pray for me 🙏 13:52 😂😂😂 I do that sometimes

[@nikhilrao7174]

Thanks for this video Mark, I struggled with this topic a few years ago when I had a boss that was attractive, and I wish I had heard some of your guidance on this topic back then

[@thedeekabides]

Wow. Truly a godsend message. I have been worried about this very subject for a while now.

[@peaceseeker7441]

This is very helpful, thank you so much Mark!

[@andrewk8857]

I just wanted to thank you for your channel, and your wisdom. You should be a lot more famous.

[@sphelelemthiyane5432]

God speaks through you so much, Mark ❤

[@Hollyfilly]

I can relate to struggling around the opposite sex and vice versa. The last date I went on was a catholic speed date ministry. I got rejected before I could even open my mouth and make things awkward.

[@logankelley4210]

Wish I could say my list problems were only thoughts but they often lead to actions

[@SeekTruth-ts2hm]

Imagination is fantasy, there is no difference. That chart is wrong. Fantasy is before temptation, there is no sin in fantasy. It is when fantasy turns to intention via temptation that sin is born in the heart.

[@DesertBlossomCrafts]

I am experiencing this where I never learned to relate to the opposite gender, but I am in a committed relationship. Struggling with rOCD has caused me to battle with attraction - fear of attractive people like you said. It has led me to being hyperaware whenever I meet new guys because “what if I’m attracted to them?” But I want to spend my life with my boyfriend. Do you have any perspectives for working through this while in a relationship? Because I find myself avoiding all guys, which on the one hand is a healthy boundary, but on the other hand is a compulsion out of fear.

[@MrRogal00]

You know, the way you talked about being brothers and sisters in Christ really resonated with me, as I believe the same thing. I'm married, and I developed a friendship with a single woman from church who taught me piano. We became really good friends, she was really like a sister to me, and I thought that maybe this is what Christ imagined the church to be, and how members of the opposite sex, who are "off the market" should behave. Then she got a boyfriend who was jealous, and she immediately ditched the friendship and quickly married the guy. And that's the end of that.

[@rckc.1719]

years ago i would stay away from the beach during the summer , i was terrified I would miss the rapture. and if i was around beautiful women i would think about machines.

[@elizabetadjokic8468]

This verse has triggered my ocd! 😅

[@quakers200]

I wonder if it works the other way too. If i think about helping someone, care for the sick, feed the hungry, if its in my heart to do these things that is just the same as doing them??

[@narrowroadtraveler4167]

😊 Amen Blessed are you pure in heart for ye shall see God

[@kevindavis4709]

Like if I look at cake say I wanna eat the cake I done ate it.

[@qtkatiet]

Thank you! This was helpful!

[@monicavillafranca]

Could you talk about adultery and remarriage?

[@kingjosh_]

This is definitely something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. It’s hard for me personally to not look at pretty women, I mean I’m a young heterosexual man for goodness sake. I try not to look at them sexually, but mostly just see how attractive they are, and I don’t want to be sinfully looking. Sometimes it’s hard though. I just wish I had a normal brain man 😔.

[@kingjosh_]

@@DavvyKat it’s hard not to be when I want to change for the better, but I know if God has grace for me, then I should have grace for myself.

[@jetpack9dane]

I am in the same boat. I do things I regret in my thoughts.

[@BlackOmEga_2099]

Same… it sucks

[@kevindavis4709]

That’s like saying if you see a women you suppose to turn your head eww. I think this is not taught properly. I mean if you wasn’t suppose to look at a woman think she’s cute I’ll love too marry her. Too just grab a woman without looking marry her he’ll be disappointed

[@pagen5219]

Jesus filled the law. We are of Grace and all he did, he washed us, we think him, not sin,

[@rolandsalas]

I started hurting myself....i feel a lot of shame.

[@kevindavis4709]

Have a question what do you say to two single people that lust after each other how are they committing adultery? I can see it if a single man looks at a married woman lusting after her or a husband lusting after another man’s wife. But for two single people never been married I don’t see how they’ll be in adultery? I’ll say if its a sin too admire beauty than that means you can’t enjoy other beauties of life God has created

[@JM-hw2lw]

Hey! What about masturbation? I am a single guy for few years on my 30s, and sometimes I fall and do it. Than the whole cycle of considering that I have sinned or not starting with anxiety. How to deal with that situations?

[@CakesDontLie]

I used to have an addiction to masterbation and would look up if it was sinful. I came to the conclusion that it was. But don’t freak out!! The Lord is faithful and just to forgive and He helped me come out of that!! I know it’s really difficult as a single man. But when you have the desire to do it, pray. Ask the Lord Jesus to help you fight and quote the scriptures. One scripture that helped me was this: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ I think that masterbation glorifies the self and I think that God designed us to have intercourse with our spouse, not with ourselves. Also having a godly man in your life to keep you accountable is important! Reach out to that person! This is a battle we must wage war against. But the Spirit will help you win it!

[@quakers200]

So when Jesus said thoughts about lust , even when you don't act upon them is still adultery, he did not mean it. And I guess that goes for turning the other cheek, walking the extra mile, selling your possessions and giving the money to the poor, and all the other uncomfortable sayings of Jesus .

[@Blessednesting]

Ever since I worked with a Christian counselor about some childhood abuse I have struggled with HOCD. It’s been difficult to discern what is ocd and what is true but I guess thats how ocd works. I might think then feel an emotion or desire and then I’ll ruminate on it. I need to practice saying maybe, maybe not and let it go. 😬😔🙏🏻

[@usernameanonymous158]

Wow I have almost the same experience... this is so special

[@Dub_97]

Well, do you look the same sex and look at them like a delicious cake ? If not then you’re good.. Hocd can play so many tricks. Going through this right now . Don’t have to live with that phrase “maybe, maybe not” that’s complete bogus. See hocd makes you look a sense of reality.. you can clearly tell if your sexual attracted to someone, just like I can look at a hamburger and instantly know that hamburger looks good and probably taste good too.. but hocd and the brain can and will twist everything up it has the power too but definitely treat this because it can torment and really send you down a deep dark hole, I’ve been still and I’m still in this dark hole. Getting back into therapy soon to get this resolved. Good luck hopefully things are better for you.

[@greekgod41]

This is a great video but I still feel it misses the mark. Lust is not merely sexual desire and arousal at seeing an attractive woman, lust has to have the component called INTENT with it, otherwise it's not a sin......Let me explain, lust is when you experience that strong sexual feeling, and you make plans to act upon it. For e.g you then approach that woman and ask her for her ph number because you INTEND to have sex with her.....Lust is NOT sexual fantasy or imagining what it would be like to have sex with someone. Those are normal, healthy responses to being sexually aroused. It ONLY becomes an issue when you have decided to act on it I hope this helps!

[@youaintmymommaonperiodt8007]

Can you talk about binge eating disorder?

[@rolandsalas]

😢