There might be no other area in our lives where we tend to lean towards behavior modification, rather than deep heart transformation, than when it comes to the area of our bodies and our sexuality.

Jesus brings up the idea of lust and adultery in his sermon on the mount.  While I think many of us understand what he means when he says adultery, we might have to unpack what he’s expressing when using the language of “lust”.  New Testament scholar Craig Keener defines lust as, “the deliberate harboring of desire for an illicit relationship.”

Rich Villodas defines lust as, “having power over another person, for the purpose of using them.”  

Jesus invites his listeners to take responsibility for their lust, as well as learning what it means to have our hearts transformed away from lust.

This is the command of Jesus for all of us in these verses, to see the humanity in people and, even more so, to see the image of God in people, as someone who has value and worth.  When our hearts begin to see people how God intended them to be, we are forming our heart to be ready to fight against lust.