The Meaning of Matthew 5:28 Explained

Matthew 5:28

KJV: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

YLT: but I -- I say to you, that every one who is looking on a woman to desire her, did already commit adultery with her in his heart.

Darby: But I say unto you, that every one who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

ASV: but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  I  say  unto you,  That  whosoever  looketh  on a woman  to  lust after  her  hath committed adultery  with her  already  in  his  heart. 

What does Matthew 5:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 5:27-37 - Pure Eyes And Clean Speech
The legislation of the old time insisted that no member of the commonwealth should commit adultery, and enforced terrible penalties. See Deuteronomy 22:22-24. But the Divine Man, who reads the human heart with perfect accuracy, goes behind the deed to its premonitory stages, legislates about the look that may inflame passion, and condemns the soul that does not instantly turn the eye from that which allures it, to the All-Holy, asking to be cleansed not with tears only but with blood. The first act in the religious life is to detect right and wrong in the thought or intention. If the tempter is arrested there, He is powerless to hurt. Kill the snake in the egg!
The prohibition against swearing does not deal with taking an oath in the law court. During His trial by the high priest, our Lord did not resent being put on His oath. On rare and solemn occasions we may have to bare our heads before God and ask Him to corroborate our word. But how different is this from the frequent and flippant use of expletives and extravagances of speech. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 5

1  Jesus' sermon on the mount:
3  The Beattitudes;
13  the salt of the earth;
14  the light of the world
17  He came to fulfill the law
21  What it is to kill;
27  to commit adultery;
33  to swear
38  He exhorts to forgive wrong,
43  to love our enemies;
48  and to labor after perfection

Greek Commentary for Matthew 5:28

In his heart [εν τηι καρδιαι αυτου]
Not just the centre of the blood circulation though it means that. Not just the emotional part of man‘s nature, but here the inner man including the intellect, the affections, the will. This word is exceedingly common in the New Testament and repays careful study always. It is from a root that means to quiver or palpitate. Jesus locates adultery in the eye and heart before the outward act. Wunsche (Beitrage) quotes two pertinent rabbinical sayings as translated by Bruce: “The eye and the heart are the two brokers of sin.” “Passions lodge only in him who sees.” Hence the peril of lewd pictures and plays to the pure. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 5:28

2 Peter 2:14 Of adultery [μοιχαλιδος]
Rather, “of an adulteress,” like James 4:4. Vivid picture of a man who cannot see a woman without lascivious thoughts toward her (Mayor). Cf. Matthew 5:28. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 5:28 mean?

I however say to you that everyone - looking upon a woman in order - to lust after her already has committed adultery with in the heart of him
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶς βλέπων γυναῖκα πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι αὐτὴν ἤδη ἐμοίχευσεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
λέγω  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
πᾶς  everyone 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
βλέπων  looking  upon 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.
γυναῖκα  a  woman 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: γυνή  
Sense: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow.
πρὸς  in  order 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρός  
Sense: to the advantage of.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐπιθυμῆσαι  to  lust  after 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἐπιθυμέω  
Sense: to turn upon a thing.
αὐτὴν  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἤδη  already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἤδη  
Sense: now, already.
ἐμοίχευσεν  has  committed  adultery  with 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: μοιχεύω  
Sense: to commit adultery.
καρδίᾳ  heart 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: καρδία  
Sense: the heart.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.