Yesterday, we looked at Jesus' teaching on sexual fidelity.  While we read Matthew 5:27-30, we focused only on verse 26.  Today, let's look at the Scripture again and see Jesus' radical suggestion for how to maintain sexual purity:  ²⁷ “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  Matthew 5:27-30 NLT

Gouge out your eye and cut off your hand -- IF it causes you to lust or sin.  If we took that advice literally, we'd all be blind and maimed.  What was Jesus saying?  He was saying that sexual purity is crucial, yet extremely hard to attain.  In fact, the radical suggestion Jesus offers, makes it clear that as with all aspects of purity in our lives, sexual purity only comes when God is reigning in our hearts.  Jesus doesn't say that we must have the Holy Spirit in our lives in order to become sexually pure, but His words make it evident that we must.  After all, who has ever gone through life without ever lusting after another person, or without ever using their hands to sin?  We are born separated from God, because of the sin nature in all of us.  Only as we are born again do we gain the power to live in victory in the area of sexuality and every other area of our lives. 

Jesus offers the "radical surgery" of Matthew 5:28-30 to show us that in our efforts we will fail at following Him.  That leads us to the truth found throughout the New Testament that victory as followers of Jesus comes from transformed hearts, not from our best efforts.

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins, and for sending Your Spirit to empower us to live faithfully.  Fill us anew with that Spirit that we may live victoriously in every area of our lives.  This we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.