the king’s manifesto for life “the law of the heart” study 4

The King’s Manifesto for Life

““The law of The law of the heart”the heart”

Study 4


The Thought and the ActThe Thought and the Act Ex. 20:14Ex. 20:14 – 7th Commandment –

Covenant issues always involved.

V.29V.29 – “right eye” = the mind. Eye is a symbol for intelligence.

V.30V.30 – “right hand” = actions. Hand is a symbol for authority and power in action.

Hence – “looketh” > “lust” = “adultery”.

At what point does “looking” become a sin?


Intent equivalent to deedIntent equivalent to deed The Law forbad covetousness – e.g. Ex. Ex.

20:1720:17 – “thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife” – which only God can discern and judge.

Rabbinical teaching primarily dealt with externals – deeds, not motives.

The Pharisee Josephus said – “The purposing to do a thing, but not actually doing it, is not worthy of punishment.”

By contrast, Christ ‘fulfilled’ the Law.


What characteristic of the 8?What characteristic of the 8?

Matt. 5:8Matt. 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

The 6th characteristic


Adultery – A lack of heartAdultery – A lack of heart Prov. 6:32-33Prov. 6:32-33 - But whoso

committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding (Mgn. heart): he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

Job 31:1Job 31:1 - I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?


Adultery in the heart and in factAdultery in the heart and in fact John 8:1-11John 8:1-11 – The sin of adultery

diminished by the scribes and Pharisees. Luke 16:14-18Luke 16:14-18 – Adultery the motivation

of covetous Pharisees. 2 Sam. 11:1-32 Sam. 11:1-3 – Indolence often the

source of adulterous contemplations. 2 Sam. 13:1-22 Sam. 13:1-2 – Ungratified lust makes

the heart and body sick. 2 Pet. 2:142 Pet. 2:14 – Entrenched adulterous

thought is near to being incurable.


What is “thought adultery”?What is “thought adultery”? Reporter questions newly elected US

President Jimmy Carter in 1976 – “Have you ever committed adultery?”

Jimmy Carter responds – “Yes!” – He was a Christian and believed Matt. 5:28Matt. 5:28 to be true. He had been faithful to his wife.

“lust” – epithumeo (16 occs.) – to fix the desire upon, to have the affections directed towards – Gal. 5:17; Luke 15:16; Gal. 5:17; Luke 15:16; 16:2116:21.

IntellectIntellect

PropensitiesPropensities• eateat• drinkdrink• procreateprocreate

Moral CapacityMoral Capacity(unique to mankind)(unique to mankind)

It is written

Prov. 24:9Prov. 24:9 – “The thought of

foolishness is sin”

“thought” -zimmah - plan, device, purpose. RSV – “The devising of folly is sin”


Christ and TemptationChrist and Temptation“For, whatever view may be taken of some questions surrounding the temptation, one thing is fundamental: he ‘was tempted’. He knew temptation as a fact, and conquered it in the power of the Word; and this was part of the experience by which he was ‘made perfect’ in order that others may be ‘made perfect’ through him. As he ‘tasted of death for every man’ so also he tasted of temptation; and as through death he obtained an eternal redemption - for himself, that it might be for others - so through temptation he gained a victory for himself that others might share its fruits.”

Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master pg.20


Drastic Action!Drastic Action! Eye plucked out! Hand cut off! Cannot be literal. But demonstrates

seriousness – radical surgery needed! Eye = Mind/thinking. Hand = Works. Radical action is required to overcome

besetting sin. Sublimation is better than repression –

Rom. 12:21Rom. 12:21. Examples – Eph. 4:25-32Eph. 4:25-32.


Abstention alone is deficientAbstention alone is deficient“It is right to abstain - to cut off the hand or pluck out the eye rather than indulge in those things which may be a snare to others. But there are always some who seem to think that righteousness consists in finding fresh things which must not be done.”

Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master, pg.182


Christ versus RabbisChrist versus Rabbis Note difference between V.27V.27 and V.31V.31.

V.27V.27 – “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time” – The Law of Moses.

V.31V.31 – “It hath been said” – By whom?

The Rabbis taught – “Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.”

Deut. 24:1-4Deut. 24:1-4 does not say this!


The teachings of Rabbi HillelThe teachings of Rabbi Hillel A man could, with Moses’ authority, “put away

his wife for every cause” - any minor infraction provided a basis for summary dismissal.

Burning a meal or dressing improperly were grounds for divorce.

This was the increasingly dominant view of the two schools of thought at the time.

Ultimately, Rabbi Aquiba taught that a man “may divorce his wife even if he has found a prettier woman”. This of course had always been the real motivation behind unwarranted divorce.


Teachings of Rabbi ShammaiTeachings of Rabbi Shammai The rival school of Shammai bitterly

opposed the liberal views of Hillel and taught that “a man may not divorce his wife, except he found in her an unseemly thing (i.e. unchastity)”.

Thus in this school of thought the only grounds for divorce and remarriage were restricted to sexual impropriety.


Adultery in Practice!Adultery in Practice! Every deliberate act has a motive,

therefore every motive is a potential act.

Many Pharisees were adulterers at heart – Luke 16:13-18Luke 16:13-18.

Many lustfully looked at other women having already decided to find a way to dismiss their wife.

Hence, such fixed desire (epithumeo) was in itself an act of adultery.


Is there an Exceptive Clause?Is there an Exceptive Clause? Where is the permission to remarry? Matt. 5:32Matt. 5:32 – “But I say unto you,

That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”

In those times banishing a wife virtually condemned her to remarriage for mere survival.


Christ’s teaching on divorceChrist’s teaching on divorce The only escape from culpability for

creating ‘multiple’ adultery is if the wife has already committed it.

Nowhere does Christ give permission for remarriage!

Mark 10:2-12Mark 10:2-12 and Luke 16:18Luke 16:18 are unequivocal – No exceptions.

Hence, the disciples view – Matt. 19:10Matt. 19:10 - “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.”


Next Next StudyStudy

(God (God willing)willing)Study 5 – “The law of

love”


Content of this studyContent of this study The natural man and the law of the heart.

Adultery in the heart (Jimmy Carter).

What is sin? Initial thought or considered intentions.

Radical action required.

Divorce – Exceptive clause.

the king’s manifesto for life “the law of the heart” study 4

Documents

sin of adultery

committeth adultery

right eye

right hand

thought zimmah

thought of foolishness

entrenched adulterous

radical action