Matthew 5:27-32 - Adultery
How has your experience and perspective on marriage over time? How did you think about it as a child, a teen, a single adult? Was it a wonderful thing to pursue, or a horrible thing to avoid? How do you think about it now?
Read Matthew 5:27-32. In Jesus’ day, adultery was understood legally to be the violation of another Israelite man’s marriage. Divorce could be initiated by the man at any time, and with no obligation to care for the woman besides giving her a certificate of divorce. How does Jesus’ teaching differ from that tradition? How does his teaching differ from our own culture’s norms?
When Jesus says, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” who does he have in mind? Why is he going out of his way to condemn as many as possible? How is that loving? (if you need help, see Galatians 3:22)
Read Romans 1:22-25. In the sermon today, Robb said that adulterous behavior is a symptom of spiritual adultery (idolatry) in the heart. Why do you think the Bible uses adultery as a common imagery to describe idolatry? What is the connection between idolatry and adultery?
Read Matthew 5:29-30 again. Jesus is speaking hyperbolically here about radical repentance. What does radical repentance look like concretely?
Read James 5:16. What two commands does James give us for healing? Why are these often so challenging?
Spend some time praying for one another. Depending on the makeup of the group, you may want to break into sex-separated subgroups to practice confession and repentance within the group.