S9
We are not to have give ourselves to unlawful sexual desires.
Category: Godliness, Holiness & Righteousness
Type: Negative
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Not unique
Classical commandment: Yes
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Not specified
Literal Application: Not specified
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- Matthew 5:27-29
Key OT Scriptures
-
Exodus 20:14
-
Proverbs 6:23-29
Supportive NT Scriptures
- Romans 8:6-8
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
Merriam-Webster defines sexual "lust" as "an unusually intense or unbridled sexual desire." Since the Bible unambiguously says that "lust" is sin, Merriam-Webster's first alternative ("an unusually intense sexual desire") cannot be the one meant because mere feelings, no matter how strong, are never sin. The second definition ("an unbridled sexual desire") is closer to what is meant, the inclusion of "unbridled" making the difference. Restated, the sexual sin of lust comprises the prurient desire for a person that is not our spouse, coupled with one or more wrongful actions designed to gratify the desire; ergo, the title of this Mitzvah: "Giving Ourselves to Unlawful Sexual Desires." The reason that Yeshua (in Matthew 5:28 ) was able to say that "a man who even looks at a woman with the purpose of lusting after her has already committed adultery in his heart," is that the man he is speaking of is not only feeling sexual desire for the woman, but has already begun to pursue her either in his mind or by his actions. With this understanding, David's adultery with Bat-Sheva did not begin when they had sexual intercourse; it began when David sent his messengers to fetch her ( 2 Samuel 11:1-4 ).
Rabbi Daniel Juster
Lust includes allowing one's imagination to entertain sexually immoral thoughts without immediately renouncing them and refocusing. It includes masturbating while entertaining thoughts of a person who is prohibited to us, as well as any other act designed to gratify our desire. Our sexual thoughts are to be only toward our spouse or (within strict constraints) toward one we are legally pursuing for marriage. Classical Commentators: This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the classical commentators. NCLA : JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm Return to main index Return to main index
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2