But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- BSB But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- NKJV But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- NASB but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- NLT But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus teaches that looking lustfully at a woman is adultery already in the heart. It locates sexual sin in the heart's desires, not only the body's acts.
Overview
Jesus shows that the seventh commandment forbids not only adultery but the lustful intent behind it. This exposes the purity God requires, which reaches into thoughts and desires. The searching standard convicts all of us and reveals our need for the cleansing and new heart that Christ provides.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 1 Jn 2:16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
- Jas 1:14–15But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
- Prov 6:25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
- Exod 20:17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
- 2 Sam 11:2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
- Job 31:1I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
- Gen 34:2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
- 2 Pet 2:14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
- Rom 7:7–8What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
- Job 31:9If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;
- Rom 7:14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
- Ps 119:96I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
- Matt 7:28–29And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
- Matt 5:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- Matt 5:39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- Gen 39:7–23And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 5:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.