The Spirit of the Thing Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: The Spirit of the Thing Keywords: “fantasy” “fidelity” “trust” Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Matthew 5:27-28* 27. “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; 28. but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Question So what’s the big deal about indulging in sexual fantasy as long as a person doesn’t actually follow through by committing adultery?   Practical help In the Bible, the Old Testament teaching declared that it was wrong for a person to engage in sexual relations with someone other than their husband or wife (Exodus 20:14). In this passage from Matthew, Jesus takes the idea of marital fidelity to a new level by revealing the spirit of the Old Testament teaching and Law. According to Jesus, giving place to the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is in essence mental adultery. He emphasized that if the act of committing adultery is wrong, then so is the intention. To be faithful to your spouse with your body but not your mind is to break the trust so vital to a strong marriage. Nowhere does the Bible condemn natural interest in the opposite sex or even healthy sexual desire. What it condemns is the deliberate and repeated filling of one’s mind with fantasies that would be evil and hurtful to the relationship if acted out. Don’t be deceived into thinking that practicing sexual fantasy and using porn will be free of negative impact on your marriage. Stand strong against temptation today with the Lord’s help. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2004 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---