“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:27–37)

Jesus pointed out that even if we avoid actually breaking any of the ten commandments outwardly, there is still the little matter of what is going on in our skulls. We must be careful, however, not equate mere temptation with actual guilt. It is one thing to be tempted, it is another thing to have sinned. Jesus himself was tempted, but without sin.

There is therefore, more to what Jesus said than simply warning against being tempted by another person. The problem Jesus confronted was not just sexual desire. Rather, the issue was misplaced sexual desire combined with making plans. Adultery is the desire to steal someone who is not and never can be ours. Adultery, by definition, is an act counter to love. Rather than being concerned about others, the adulterer is concerned only with his or her own satisfaction, regardless of the cost to his own spouse, the spouse of the other person, and the friends, family, children and loved ones of everyone involved. Adultery is a remarkably selfish act.

It is one thing for us to be tempted. It is another thing altogether for us to begin planning to do it.

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