What is 'lust'?
Submitted by Jules on May 26 2002 11:17:48
In reply to Re: Lust and adultery submitted by XXX on May 26 2002 08:11:25
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Hi, For example, in order to form a family, a (married) couple must perform a sexual act, and this obviously requires a certain amount of lust That's where we're getting confused by words. There are two different meanings of the word "lust". The sexual act within marriage does indeed require lust, in the sense that we tend to use that word today, i.e. strong sexual desire, eyeing up her breasts, her genital region, etc. There's nothing wrong with that feeling in itself; it's natural and God-given. Jesus wasn't talking about sexual desire alone. But in the passage you quoted, the word "lust" has a slighlty different meaning. When Jesus talked about "lusting after a woman" being like adultery, it's obvious that he's talking about a woman already married to another man -- that's why it would be adultery!! -- so he's talking about giving in to that strong sexual desire for someone that you're not entitled to have sex with. So "lust" in this passage carries the sense, not just of strong sexual desire, but of dwelling on that desire for a person that you're not entitled to have sex with. In fact, the old meaning of the word "lust" wasn't just sexual; it simply meant "wanting what you can't have." Jesus' teaching here really boils down to "If it would be wrong to do it, don't think about it." The point Jesus makes is that dwelling on the thought of adultery is just as "bad" as actually doing it. But the logical deduction I make from this is that if the woman is single, and you could marry her, there's nothing wrong with enjoying the sexual desire, because it would be ok to marry her and have sex with her. If the act would be wrong, it's wrong to dwell on the thought; but if the act would be good, it's good to dwell on the thought! So what about sexual desire for boys? The same principle applies. If you think it would be ok for you, and the boy, and everyone else around, to get together with the boy and have sex, then there's nothing wrong with thinking about it either. That's "lust" in its simple sense of sexual desire. But if your conscience wouldn't allow you to have sex with him, or the boy wouldn't allow it, or those around would object if they knew, then I guess you already know that it's not a good idea to imagine it either. That's "lust" in the sense of wanting what you can't have. Hope that helps! That's really all I was going to say on the question, but for anyone still reading, there's more to what Jesus said, that's important for anyone feeling condemned by it. Because you shouldn't be! Jesus wasn't really addressing his comments to believers at all! This isn't Jesus setting a moral code for his followers. So many people have preached from this passage as if he was, but they're wrong! If you think about the context of this passage it was in debate with the Pharisees and the like. The Pharisees were into the idea that what mattered was what you did. If you committed adultery, you were a sinner; if you avoided committing adultery, you were good. Their approach to religion was a whole list of do's and don'ts. But Jesus saw through all that, and knew that it was bad for people to think that way. The whole point of Jesus' teaching on this subject is to make the Pharisees realise that they're not above anyone else just because they don't break the rules, and they have no right to judge anyone who breaks the rules, because even they have thought the same thoughts as those who have broken the rules. So now, looking again at what Jesus actually said, we can see how he exaggerated to make the point: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' [a strong term of abuse] is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' [a casual insult] will be in danger of the fire of hell. ... You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:21-22,27-28)Each time Jesus says "but I tell you," he isn't really preaching a stricter moral code than the Pharisees; he isn't really saying you'll go to hell if you've been angry, or said "you fool" or lusted after anyone; he's exaggerating to make the point that the Pharisees were misusing the moral code they already had, by making rules the test of who was in and out, instead of looking at their motives. To put Jesus' teaching in other words, "Don't think you're righteous just because you've never killed anyone -- I bet you've felt like doing it once. Don't think you're righteous just because you've never called anyone a m*****-f***** -- I bet you've thought it once, or at least called someone stupid. Don't think you're righteous just because you've never stolen someone else's wife -- I bet you've imagined it at least once!So Jesus says, "Don't preach do's and don'ts to put down the people who commit sin visibly; preach compassion, because we're all the same inside." There's a lesson somewhere there for the church today... How ironic that people get hung up on this verse and feel guilty for sexual desire, as though Jesus is condemning us for it, when that's nothing to with the point he was making at all! With Christian love, Jules |
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