Purity of Heart: Christ's Call to Righteousness

The words of Jesus in Matthew 5:27-32 call us to a deeper understanding of the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery.” This commandment is not merely about avoiding outward acts of unfaithfulness, but about the purity of our hearts and minds. Jesus teaches that even a lustful look or thought is a violation of God’s standard, exposing the reality that sin begins within. Just as a person may appear healthy outwardly while suffering from a hidden illness, so too can we appear righteous while harboring impurity in our hearts. The call is not to self-righteousness, but to honest self-examination and repentance, recognizing our universal need for God’s grace.

Purity, then, is not simply abstaining from scandalous sins, but a wholehearted detesting of all unchastity, whether in action, word, thought, or desire. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, called to keep both body and soul clean and holy. This purity is not only for those who are married, but for all, reflecting God’s design for human relationships. The culture around us often confuses love with lust, promoting selfishness and objectification. In contrast, Christ calls us to love others as He has loved us—sacrificially, seeking their good rather than our own gratification.

Living in purity means honoring marriage, but also extends to every relationship. It is a call to integrity, faithfulness, and genuine love, rooted in the grace we have received in Christ. Jesus warns against living only for the moment, ignoring the eternal consequences of our choices. True freedom is found not in indulging sinful desires, but in living according to God’s liberating commandments. Sometimes, this requires radical action—removing from our lives whatever leads us into temptation—because nothing is more important than living purely before God.

Marriage, as Jesus teaches, is to be honored with fidelity and forgiveness, reflecting the faithfulness and forgiveness God has shown us in Christ. Even when there is failure, the way forward is not self-justification, but repentance and seeking the grace that purifies. None of us can claim self-righteousness or self-purification; all of us stand in need of Christ’s redeeming work. Having been purified by His blood, we are called to live lives that declare this reality, striving for purity in every area, whether married or single, as a testimony to the world of God’s holiness and love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Purity Begins in the Heart, Not Just in Actions Jesus reveals that the root of sexual sin is not merely in outward acts, but in the desires and intentions of the heart. Even a lustful look or thought is a violation of God’s standard, reminding us that true righteousness requires honest self-examination and repentance. This exposes the futility of self-righteousness and our universal need for grace. [09:36]
• 2. Self-Righteousness is a Barrier to Grace The temptation to measure ourselves by external obedience leads to pride and a false sense of security. Jesus dismantles this by showing that everyone falls short at the heart level, driving us to seek forgiveness and transformation in Him. Only those who recognize their spiritual poverty can truly receive and reflect God’s mercy. [10:13]
• 3. Love, Not Lust, is the Mark of Christlike Relationships The world often confuses love with lust, but Christ calls us to a love that seeks the good of others, not selfish gratification. Purity is cultivated as we learn to serve, honor, and respect others, treating them as fellow image-bearers rather than objects for our desires. This Christlike love transforms our relationships and promotes genuine community. [14:40]
• 4. Radical Action is Sometimes Needed to Pursue Purity Jesus’ strong language about removing causes of sin underscores the seriousness of purity. Sometimes, living faithfully requires us to make difficult choices, removing influences or habits that lead us astray. The pursuit of holiness is worth any sacrifice, for it leads to true freedom and deeper fellowship with God. [25:07]
• 5. Honoring Marriage Reflects God’s Faithfulness and Forgiveness Marriage is to be a living picture of God’s covenant love—marked by fidelity, forgiveness, and grace. Even when there is failure, the call is not to despair or self-justification, but to repentance and renewed commitment, drawing on the faithfulness and forgiveness we have received in Christ. This witness extends beyond marriage, shaping all our relationships with integrity and love.
  
  ** [28:17]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:36] - Reading Matthew 5:27-32
• [01:16] - The Catechism on the Seventh Commandment
• [02:41] - The Heart of Purity: Beyond the External
• [03:18] - Diagnosing Spiritual Health
• [04:32] - The Call to Purity in Christ’s Kingdom
• [05:09] - Jesus’ Deeper Teaching on Adultery
• [07:46] - The Danger of Self-Righteousness
• [09:36] - Sin Begins in the Heart
• [12:06] - The Culture of Lust and Selfishness
• [14:40] - Christlike Love and Purity
• [16:48] - Honoring Marriage in the Home and Church
• [18:47] - The Consequences of Impurity
• [20:04] - Living for the Eternal, Not the Temporal
• [25:07] - Radical Steps Toward Purity
• [27:01] - Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce and Forgiveness
• [30:52] - Purified by Christ, Called to Purity
• [32:10] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:27-32 (ESV) — “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 5:27-28, what is the true scope of the commandment against adultery? How does He expand its meaning beyond just outward actions? ([09:36])
2. What does Jesus say should be done if your eye or hand causes you to sin? What does this language suggest about the seriousness of purity? ([25:07])
3. In the sermon, what examples are given of how our culture confuses love and lust? ([12:06])
4. How does Jesus connect the way we honor marriage to God’s own faithfulness and forgiveness? ([28:17])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus focus on the heart and not just external actions when teaching about adultery? What does this reveal about the nature of sin and righteousness? ([09:36])
2. The sermon mentions that self-righteousness is a barrier to grace. How does recognizing our own spiritual poverty help us receive God’s mercy? ([10:13])
3. What does it mean to love others as Christ has loved us, especially in the context of purity and relationships? How is this different from the world’s view of love? ([14:40])
4. Jesus uses strong language about removing causes of sin. What might “radical action” look like in someone’s life today who wants to pursue purity? ([25:07])

Application Questions

1. Jesus says that even a lustful look or thought is a violation of God’s standard. Are there areas in your life where you have excused “small” sins because they weren’t outward actions? How can you begin to address these heart issues honestly before God? ([09:36])
2. The sermon warns against self-righteousness and encourages honest self-examination. What are some practical ways you can regularly examine your heart for hidden sin, rather than just focusing on outward behavior? ([10:13])
3. Our culture often confuses love with lust and promotes selfishness. Can you think of a relationship or situation where you have been tempted to seek your own gratification rather than the good of the other person? What would it look like to love them sacrificially this week? ([14:40])
4. Jesus calls for radical action to remove things that lead us into temptation. Is there a habit, relationship, or influence in your life that you need to “cut off” or change in order to pursue purity? What step could you take this week? ([25:07])
5. The sermon says that honoring marriage reflects God’s faithfulness and forgiveness. If you are married, what is one way you can show greater faithfulness or forgiveness to your spouse? If you are single, how can you honor marriage and practice purity in your relationships? ([28:17])
6. When you fail in the area of purity, do you tend to justify yourself, despair, or turn to Christ for forgiveness? What would it look like to practice repentance and receive grace in those moments? ([28:17])
7. The sermon reminds us that we are called to be pure as a testimony to God’s holiness and love. What is one area of your life—at home, work, or church—where you want to grow in integrity and purity? How can the group support you in this? ([30:52])