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Matthew 5: 27-30 | King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version
‘Thou shalt not kill.’
The commandment calls for faithfulness, loyalty and integrity in our relationships with our spouses or committed partners. Adultery not only breaks the trust and emotional bond between individuals but has the potential to cause immense pain, suffering and disruption in families and communities. It is a violation of the commitment and vows made to one another, and a betrayal of the sanctity of the marital or committed relationship.
Ten Commandments In The Light Of Jesus Christ | Meditations On The Love Of Jesus Christ
Jesus not only emphasized the physical act of adultery but also addressed the importance of guarding our thoughts and desires. He taught that even looking at someone with lustful intent is already a form of adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28). This highlights the significance of purity in both our actions and our innermost thoughts.
In today’s culture, we are bombarded with sexualized images, explicit content, and messages that objectify and dehumanize others. The prevalence of pornography and the hypersexualization of individuals can distort our perception of relationships and contribute to the erosion of healthy intimacy.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to resist the lure of lustful thoughts and to be mindful of the media and environments we expose ourselves to. We are to cultivate a mindset that values the inherent worth and dignity of every person, treating them with respect and honouring their autonomy.
Instead of objectifying others for our own gratification, Jesus invites us to see people as individuals created in the image of God, deserving of love, care, and understanding. Jesus teaches us to foster genuine connections built on mutual respect, emotional intimacy, and the desire for the well-being of others.
To combat lustful thoughts and the objectification of people, we can actively engage in practices that promote purity and the sanctity of relationships. This may involve seeking accountability and support from trusted friends or mentors, practising self-discipline in our thought life, and filling our minds with positive and uplifting content.
Furthermore, we should be intentional about cultivating healthy and respectful relationships with others, fostering open communication, and promoting a culture of consent and mutual consent.
‘But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.’ (Matthew 5:28, KJV)
Prayer To Jesus | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ | A Choice Of Prayers
- Jesus, help me guard my thoughts and resist lustful desires. Fill my mind with purity and guide me in treating others with respect and honour. Amen.
- Jesus, I pray for strength and self-control when faced with sexual temptations. Renew my mind and help me focus on building healthy and loving relationships. Amen.
- Jesus, I confess my struggles with lustful thoughts. Please forgive me and cleanse my heart. Help me to see others as you see them, with love and dignity. Amen.
- Jesus, I surrender my impure desires to you. Transform my thoughts and help me value the beauty of emotional intimacy and genuine connections. Amen.
- Jesus, protect my mind from the harmful influences of a sexualized culture. Fill me with your wisdom and guide me in making choices that honour you and others. Amen.
- Jesus, I ask for your grace to break free from the grip of lustful thoughts. Empower me to cultivate purity and respect in my relationships. Amen.
- Jesus, grant me discernment to recognize and reject the objectification of others. Help me see people as unique individuals, worthy of love and genuine connection. Amen.
- Jesus, I surrender my desires to you. Purify my heart and fill me with a deep longing for true intimacy that aligns with your design. Amen.
- Jesus, I acknowledge the harm caused by lustful thoughts and the objectification of others. Help me redirect my thoughts toward honouring and respecting all people. Amen.
- Jesus, I seek your guidance in overcoming lustful thoughts and embracing a mindset of purity and respect. Help me to value others as precious souls created in your image. Amen.
The paralyzed man would not have been able to come to Jesus without the help of his friends. It is his friends’ faith, and their initiative and bravery, as well as his own that work together to find a way to come to Jesus. Jesus is touched by their faith and their friendship. We may think now as well about the help we give others and the help which we receive from others, in matters of faith and as we confess our sins and seek spiritual healing. Our sins can be like a form of spiritual paralysis, in which condition we may rely a great deal on our friends to bring us back to Jesus [ … ]
The reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) reflects key themes from Saint Augustine’s theology, especially his understanding of Christ as the ‘way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6). Saint Augustine frequently emphasized the journey of the soul toward God, a journey that requires divine grace to overcome sin and spiritual blindness. His doctrine of illumination—whereby human understanding is enlightened by God—resonates in this reading, as he speaks of Christ as the light that heals spiritual blindness and leads believers to truth [ … ]
Holy Saturday is unlike any other day in the liturgical year. It is a day suspended between death and life, darkness and light, silence and song. This ancient homily for Holy Saturday enters deeply into that liminal space—the moment when Christ, having died on the cross, descends to the realm of the dead. In doing so, it invites us into the mystery of the Harrowing of Hell: Christ’s triumphant entry into the underworld to liberate those held captive by death since the dawn of time [ … ]
