Matthew 5:28 is mistranslated in nearly all Bible translations, and the mistranslation has been the cause of many false man-made teachings for centuries.
Firstly, the word translated "lust" is the word used elsewhere in the Bible for "covet" (and covetousness implies actual intent to possess something, not mere admiration). Secondly, the word translated "woman" is a term used throughout the Bible for married women, not single ones. Thirdly, the context of the verse is adultery (not fornication). Fourthly, the Sermon on the Mount was a sermon about the Ten Commandments, one of which was the commandment not to covet anything that belongs to others.
A translation of the verse that preserves its true meaning would be:
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a married woman to covet her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Also, at the time this verse was written, unmarried girls did not mix with men, but were generally guarded like crazy. There was no "right" to have sex outside of marriage, but this was severely forbidden in most cultures, certainly in the Middle East. So the verse focuses on women who were sexually active, i.e., married women. Lust is one of the passions, which means something that has taken over one's soul, as pornography does today. Virgins, which comprised the majority of unmarried girls , were not objects to pursue for one's pleasure, as they are today, and it was not common for girls to pursue a life of fornication, as they do today. Things were better for girls then. To be used by men is not a good thing for the soul of a girl.
It can refer to a married woman or it could be a non married woman. But i doubt anyone would agree that if you were married and slept with a unmarried woman you would be guilty of adultery. The sin here has to do with the heart...it is the coveting that is the sin not the marital status of the woman.
Yep if you go looking for "analysis" that refutes clearly stated words in the Bible to justify the things the world promotes as "good" you will always find it. There are tons of people that have sought out the supposed loopholes in God's law and published them to put your little sinning heart at ease.
Because as we know God is a beep boop "letter of the law" automaton and not a "spirit of the law" sort of guy.
Don't worry though every single translation of the Bible is wrong on this point.
Yep if you go looking for "analysis" that refutes clearly stated words in the Bible to justify the things the world promotes as "good" you will always find it.
What seems plainly worded in an English translation is not always worded in a way that means the same thing in the original Hebrew or Greek. It's always important to study the original meanings of the original words when trying to determine the true meaning of a Bible verse.
Don't worry though every single translation of the Bible is wrong on this point.
Isn’t it convenient that out of all the translations that get it “wrong” you found one that agrees with how you want to behave which also just happens to agree with how the world wants us to behave.
Christianity is easy when you pick and choose what works for you!
It's not about picking and choosing what works for one. There are many things that I've discovered in analyzing the Bible that are not what I would prefer. Some of them make life harder than it is for most people. But it's important to look critically for the original meaning of the words rather than taking English translations uncritically, whether the results wind up being more lenient or more strict than what most people believe (and there are quite a few of both instances).
Matthew 5:28 is mistranslated in nearly all Bible translations, and the mistranslation has been the cause of many false man-made teachings for centuries.
Firstly, the word translated "lust" is the word used elsewhere in the Bible for "covet" (and covetousness implies actual intent to possess something, not mere admiration). Secondly, the word translated "woman" is a term used throughout the Bible for married women, not single ones. Thirdly, the context of the verse is adultery (not fornication). Fourthly, the Sermon on the Mount was a sermon about the Ten Commandments, one of which was the commandment not to covet anything that belongs to others.
A translation of the verse that preserves its true meaning would be:
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a married woman to covet her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
You can find more detailed evidence here:
http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/women_sin.html
https://www.jasonstaples.com/bible/most-misinterpreted-bible-passages-1-matthew-527-28/
Also, at the time this verse was written, unmarried girls did not mix with men, but were generally guarded like crazy. There was no "right" to have sex outside of marriage, but this was severely forbidden in most cultures, certainly in the Middle East. So the verse focuses on women who were sexually active, i.e., married women. Lust is one of the passions, which means something that has taken over one's soul, as pornography does today. Virgins, which comprised the majority of unmarried girls , were not objects to pursue for one's pleasure, as they are today, and it was not common for girls to pursue a life of fornication, as they do today. Things were better for girls then. To be used by men is not a good thing for the soul of a girl.
It can refer to a married woman or it could be a non married woman. But i doubt anyone would agree that if you were married and slept with a unmarried woman you would be guilty of adultery. The sin here has to do with the heart...it is the coveting that is the sin not the marital status of the woman.
Yep if you go looking for "analysis" that refutes clearly stated words in the Bible to justify the things the world promotes as "good" you will always find it. There are tons of people that have sought out the supposed loopholes in God's law and published them to put your little sinning heart at ease.
Because as we know God is a beep boop "letter of the law" automaton and not a "spirit of the law" sort of guy.
Don't worry though every single translation of the Bible is wrong on this point.
https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%205:28
What seems plainly worded in an English translation is not always worded in a way that means the same thing in the original Hebrew or Greek. It's always important to study the original meanings of the original words when trying to determine the true meaning of a Bible verse.
The Wycliffe translation gets it correct.
Isn’t it convenient that out of all the translations that get it “wrong” you found one that agrees with how you want to behave which also just happens to agree with how the world wants us to behave.
Christianity is easy when you pick and choose what works for you!
It's not about picking and choosing what works for one. There are many things that I've discovered in analyzing the Bible that are not what I would prefer. Some of them make life harder than it is for most people. But it's important to look critically for the original meaning of the words rather than taking English translations uncritically, whether the results wind up being more lenient or more strict than what most people believe (and there are quite a few of both instances).
Rationalize harder, but it won't deliver you.
The hopium people seek in here is just as bad.
This is the vice I've been trying to kick for a long while now. It's key to spiritual health IMO