Sexual impurity begins in the desires of the heart. Jesus did not say that lustful desires are identical to lustful deeds, so that a person might just as well go ahead and commit adultery. The desire and the deed are not identical, but spiritually speaking, they are
equivalent. The “look” Jesus mentioned was not a casual glance, but a constant stare with the purpose of lusting. It is possible for a man to glance at a beautiful woman and know that she is beautiful, but not lust after her. The man Jesus described, saying
he should pluck out his eye, looks at a woman for the purpose of feeding his inner sensual appetites “as a substitute for the act. It is not accidental; it is planned.

How can we defeat lust? By purifying the desires of our hearts— appetite leads to action—and disciplining the actions of our bodies. Obviously our Lord is not talking about literal surgery; this would not solve the problem in the heart. The eye and the hand
are usually the two “culprits” when it comes to sexual sins, so they must be disciplined. Jesus said, “Deal immediately and decisively with sin! Don’t taper off—cut off.” Spiritual surgery is more important than physical surgery, for the sins of the body can lead to eternal judgment.

The Bible commands: “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13, NIV).

Read also: Colossians 3:5; Romans 13:13-14; Matthew 5:27-30.

Action assignment: If you need “spiritual surgery” in the area of lust, take care of it today. Ask God to help you see this sin as He sees it, and to help you avoid it in any circumstance.