I did not say having a sexual desire for a woman is a sin, I stated what Jesus said, that lust is a sin. Whether you think it or do it. The point being that it is what is in your heart that is the root of the problem. I don't think Jesus is speaking hyperbolically here, I think He is speaking pretty plainly. The sinful Intention with or without the act is still sin because the intention is where it starts. Sooner or later if the sinful intention is not put in check the act will follow. Have you ever heard the term acting out?Oriental wrote:I am afraid I am inclined to disagree. The key word to the understanding of Jesus teaching as in Matt 5:28 is "hyperbolically"FFC wrote:I don't think I've ever put it that diplomatically before. As Jesus said all sin has it's origin in the heart Mat 15:19 and lusting after a woman in your heart is the same as committing adultery with her. Mat 5:28Oriental wrote:It occurs to me that any self-gratification in respect of sex is sinful even though we don't commit adultery with a woman behaviorally.
If what you said is true, it seemingly conflicts with James 1:15 where "sin" must be behavioral to get realized; otherwise, it is always "desire" well before giving birth to "sin" whether the sin comes true or not "desire" still lingering in one's mind.turgonian wrote: He is speaking hyperbolically to get a point across powerfully
Jesus charged us of the "desire" hyperbolically as "sin" it does not mean the desire has already been a "sin" to condemn.
In other words, if what you said is true, indignation is sort of sin because Matt 5:21-25 state that anger against a brother already subject to sin someone who kills no body.
Oriental, which one is a sin...to look at a woman and fantasize about how you would love to have sex with her or to actually go and do it?