Matthew 5:27

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Matthew 5:27 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He explains the moral principles of the Law and reveals God’s deeper expectations for His people. Jesus quotes the seventh commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” originally given in Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18. His opening words, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time,” point to the traditional teaching handed down by the religious leaders, especially the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who stressed outward compliance with the literal act of adultery.

The immediate setting matters. In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus has already addressed the commandment against murder, moving from the outward act to the inward anger that fuels it and calling for reconciliation. That pattern now repeats with the seventh commandment. Jesus quotes the Law to establish the standard, then prepares His hearers for a more radical application that reaches the heart.

Meaning

Jesus deliberately contrasts what the people had heard from the ancient authorities with the full meaning of the commandment. The traditional interpretation restricted the command to the physical act of adultery, but Jesus will expand it in the following verses to include lustful looks and intentions. His purpose is to correct a limited, external understanding and to show that true righteousness begins within.

In Matthew 5:28-30, Jesus explains that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in his heart. He then uses strong language about plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand. These are hyperbolic expressions, not literal instructions. They convey the seriousness of sin and the need for radical measures to avoid it. The commandments of God address not only external actions but also the internal thoughts and desires that precede them.

Biblical connections

The seventh commandment is rooted in the creation order and the sanctity of marriage. Jesus does not abolish the Law but fulfills it, calling His followers to a higher standard of purity that begins in the heart. His authoritative teaching, introduced by “But I say unto you,” shows that He speaks with an authority that surpasses the traditions of the elders.

Application

Obedience to God’s commandments must extend beyond mere external conformity. Jesus calls for integrity in every aspect of life, urging His followers to guard their thoughts and desires, because these directly influence actions and ultimately shape character. Lustful thoughts and intentions are just as sinful as the physical act of adultery, and believers are to take sin seriously enough to take decisive action against it.

Reflection

Matthew 5:27 reminds us that true obedience begins in the heart. As followers of Christ, our focus should not be only on adhering to the letter of the law but on cultivating a heart that is pleasing to God. Jesus calls us to a righteousness that is not merely about avoiding certain actions but about the condition of the heart itself.