Lustful Hearts

Matthew 5:27-30 (ESV)
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [29] If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Jesus continues to explain that we sin in thought word and deed. Many of us avoid the deed for various reasons, mostly because we want to avoid the earthly ramifications of these deeds. When it comes to adultery it is angry husbands, who might actually be flattered that you looked at her with lustful intent, but not so happy that you seduced her. It’s funny but from all the study I’ve done on this word in the Bible, it seems the woman would have had to be married in order for this to work out. The woman had to be married for it to be adultery, otherwise it would have been fornication. In any case, no man gets out of this alive, and presumably women can turn this around and apply it to themselves where men are concerned. Thought, word and deed.
Origen read this and put it into practice. After that his Bishop claimed he couldn’t become a priest because he was no longer a man, having lost his manhood. I don’t know if that quite works out in truth. But it does bring up a point here, self mutilation is also sinful. It might be better to just avoid topless bars, and playboy magazines. Or even better, get the point Jesus is getting at. You can’t win this game! You can’t be righteous, the Pharisees aren’t righteous. Jesus is. He is your only hope.