FFC wrote:
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, 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?
Sorry for misinterpreting your meaning. I should have paid attention in greater depth.
I think: "to look at a woman and fantasize" is simply mortal desire which in James 1:15, we are warned of its possible temptation to act sinfully. "actually go and do it" is absolutely a sin. (precisely sinful act that hurts or does harm to the victim, {however, if the "victim" is willing and not complaining, it is rather doubtful whether s/he is a victim any longer; it complicates the issue)
Indeed, there are mental sins. The Ten Commandments stipulate that we shouldn't think sinfully about God which does not entail any act that we have to do for God to condemn. A flash of idea in our minds probably defiles ourselves making detestable to God. In the Book of Job, Job offered sacrifice as sin-offering for his sons and daughter for the fear that they sin against God without their knowledge on their own.
I figure that sexual desire that lingers in our minds can lead us to sin, but it doesn't amount to sin itself; it is simply
desires as in James 1:15.
Paul said on concession people had better get married than being burnt with passion; by God's mercy, sexual desire is something God forgives and has allowance for us. A couple can't possibly go without a bit of sexual desire on bedding; if it is a sin, they have to pray for repentance everytime they finish intercourses. It doesn't make sense. God approves of it and looks at a couple better than single ones hanging alone. [Genesis 2] He commanded people to produce offsprings for generations. The reproduction, surely, has to be facilitated with sexual desire. Plus we have to trust sexual desire is part of intellectual design God set us into having it as so to enjoy it.
It is not unreasonable to think of Jesus teaching in Matthew 5 being hyperbolical. he was condemning the situations about sexuality
out of control, in which some people hurt and some people are vicitms.
Today English Version of bible translates the adultery in Matthew 5 as.."when some one wants to possess her in his heart..." they use the word "possess" that means an illegal act of bedding with a woman who is either unwilling or has already got married in which there would always be victim in the incident,
if he acted his dream out. But whatever the circumstances he never acts this out but a flash of idea basks in his mind. I think Jesus cast a grave warning that such flash of mind is enough for people to do sinful acts, and such flash of mind, as James 1:15 states, can be conceived and grown to give birth to sin. He warns of the
cause, not of the
effect/results. But I still suspect if he was condemning sexual desire itself. They translate with plain and concise English.
Oriental.
.
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 5:28
