Is looking at someone with lust the same exact thing as committing adultery?

Question

What does Jesus have to say on the subject?

Answer 1

I don't know what Jesus had to say but I do know that the subconscious mind cannot distinguish between an actual act and an imaginary act and as such will create a habit pattern based on the imagined act

Answer 2

No not at all! Lust is an emotion where adultery is acting on that emotion! Lust can take form in many ways. We may feel lust towards another person or we may lust after a large sum of money or even a job or position of power! The human mind feels lust quite naturally but normal people are able to control the emotion Most people don't commit adultery either!

Answer 3

I would say no, but then again I am not a Christian.

The fact is that as human beings we have a lustful, biological attraction to the opposite sex that is required for reproduction. We can't completely control that desire at all times no matter how hard we try. So to call it a sin is just needlessly beating yourself up.

The real question is: do you act on it? Do you have an affair and cheat on your husband or wife? If so, shame on you. THAT is were the real problem is, and is something we can actually make a choice about.

The answer to the second question is that I believe the Bible says if you have fantasized about another woman/etc. then you have basically "committed adultery in your heart." And lets not forget "Thou shall not covet thy neighbors wife/husband."

The Bible tends to be overly simplistic on such topics. But then again, I am an Agnostic. I tend to think my opening argument is more logical.

Answer 4

Jesus said that those that lust are committing adultery in their heart. So there's a lesson for you. If you look at a girl and want to have sex with her, at that point you've already sinned. So you might as well go ahead and do it. You can always ask for forgiveness in the morning.

Answer 5

Yes - and to answer your question on what Jesus said:

Matt 5:27-28.

27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

This is a life verse for Christian men to have memorized. It is almost impossible for a man to go into the world today without lusting, but having this verse on your mind and heart helps keep his focus on either his spouse or if he is single, on the Lord.

Answer 6

Hey I am a 50 yr old white, married female and when I see a hottie I look and say "oh I wish I was 20 again" This is not adultery, we are human. You know the old saying "look but don't touch" We would not be normal if we did not look or fantasize a little bit. I don't know what the bible says about looking or even that it does. So in my opinion, look and enjoy the scenery, this does not mean you are an adulteress.

Answer 7

That's what Jimmy Carter said when he was President. I hope it's not true, because I look at women in lust all the time and I have no intention of cheating on my wife. Seems like a really high standard to live up to, but there's nothing wrong with that if you do it.

Answer 8

Uhh... looking at those passages that describe this scenario, it says nothing about the two being the same.
Sure, lusting is like "committing adultry in your heart" but committing heart adultry is not a sin by any accounts.

That's like making a law saying that thinking about stealing is a crime. It's a ridiculous tax on the human existence, especially because the second you tell someone not to think about something, that's the first thinf they think about.

Answer 9

If we lust with our hearts first, it will lead us to adultery. It is a sin of the heart first before becoming a sin acted upon. Yes.

Answer 10

Yes it is. Unfortunately I'm not the best on remembering Bible verses but there is a verse where this exact thing is mentioned by Jesus. Hopefully someone knows what verse i'm talking about!