Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hudson@athena.cs.uga.edu (Paul Hudson Jr) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Masturbation, Wet Dreams, and keeping your eyes to yourself Message-ID: Date: 11 May 91 03:20:11 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Georgia, Athens Lines: 27 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article mazz@jupiter.newcastle.edu.au (Richard Mazzaferri) writes: > Secondly, I have heard other interpretations of the passage quoted, saying >that looking at a women in lust is equivalent to adultery with that women. >I have no knowledge of Greek or Aramaic nor do I possess extensive knowledge >of Jewish culture, but this passage has been explained to me in the following >manner - what Jesus meant by looking at a women in lust was in effect plotting >how to commit adultery with her, ie the intent to commit adultery is equivalent >to the act itself, which is a slightly different interpretation than Robert's. >Anyone else know more on this? Again, this leads me to a different viewpoint >than Robert, who will not look at other women. I don't see that as inherently >sinful either, but just as for masturbation, the possibility for abuse is >there. It is also interesting to note that the very same word for lust is also translated covet. The command not to covet or desire a neighbor's wife can be found in the ten commandments. Jesus explained that if a man looks on a woman with lust or desire, he is commiting adultery in with her in his heart. In the text of Matthew, Jesus' teaching on calling others names like "raca" (empty one) or "fool." I suppose we could assume that if a person hates his brother, he is commiting murder in his heart. And especially, if coveting another man's wife is like adultery, then we could assume that coveting an object is like commiting a theft. Link Hudson a student at the University of Georgia.