Matthew 5:28 (WEB)
but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Catechism · 4
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
“…the last two precepts of the Decalogue; for these sins sometimes wound the soul more grievously and are more dangerous than those which are committed openly."” — Catechism footnote: Council of Trent (1551): DS 1680 (ND 1626); cf. Ex 20:17; Mt 5:28.
The Fifth Commandment
“Going further, Christ asks his disciples to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 5:22-39; 5:44.
The Sixth Commandment
“In the Sermon on the Mount, he interprets God's plan strictly: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."” — Catechism footnote: Mt 5:27-28.
“Christ condemns even adultery of mere desire.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 5:27-28.
Fathers and councils · 54
Tertullian
“…own heart is each man condemned;” when, lastly, “he who looketh on a woman so as to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart,”—then both points are cleared fully up, that there is a directing faculty of the soul, with which the purpose of God may agree; in other words, a supreme…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“The emotions of sin, indeed, when not resulting in effects, are usually imputed to the soul: “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after, hath already in his heart committed adultery with her.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment““Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“The Lord Himself said, “Whoever has seen a woman with a view to concupiscence has already violated her in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28. See de Idol., cc. ii. xxiii.; de Pæn., c. iii.; de Cult. Fem., l. ii. c. ii.; de Pa., c. vi.
Read the whole comment“But how far wider an extent the Lord assigns to those crimes we are sure: when He defines adultery to consist even in concupiscence, “if one shall have cast an eye lustfully on,” and stirred his soul with immodest commotion; when He judges murder to consist even in a word of curse or of…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“If concupiscence or malice have ascended into a man’s heart, He saith it is held as a deed.” — editor's note: See Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“…instead of, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” “Whoever shall have seen with a view to concupiscence, hath already committed adultery in his own heart;” and instead of, “Thou shalt not kill,” “Whoever shall have said to his brother, Racha, shall be in danger of hell.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 27, 28.
Read the whole comment“…only the man who had actually invaded another’s wedlock to be an adulterer, but likewise him who had contaminated (a woman) by the concupiscence of his gaze?” — editor's note: Matt. v. 27, 28; comp. de Idol. ii.
Read the whole comment“…into our neighbour? which concupiscence, if God, in “amplifying the law,” do not dissociate in (the way of) penalty from the actual commission of fornication, I know not whether He allows impunity to him who has been the cause of perdition to some other.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28. See de Idol., c. ii.; de Pa., c. vi.; de Pæn., c. iii.
Read the whole comment“The Lord Himself, in short, when rebuking our thoughts, includes in His censures this aspect of the flesh, (man’s heart), the citadel of the soul: “Why think ye evil in your hearts?” and again: “Whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“But I say unto you, That every one who hath looked upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 27, 28.
Read the whole comment“And, “he who has looked upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart;” and, “he that is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment.” [All this is declared,] that we may know that we shall give…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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Jerome
“C. Pray have you not read that“He who looks upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart?”” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment““Whosoever looketh on a woman,” the Lord says, “to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“Our Lord too tells the Apostles: “Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“The Lord says: “whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“Here is order, here is discipline, here is majesty, here is purity: here even to look upon a woman to lust after her is condemnation.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“…was He condemned for concupiscence, for He Himself says plainly, Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already; not for smiting or striking hastily, for He turned the other cheek also to the smiter; not for despising the Law, for He was the fulfiller of the Law; not for…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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Ambrose of Milan
“But the Lord said: “Whoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment““For whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already with her in his heart.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“For “whosoever looketh on a woman to desire her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 28.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X V.11Conference V
“…heart and mind, of which the Lord says in the gospel: “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment “For just as the word of the gospel declares of those who are not defiled in body, that they are adulterers in heart; so it is possible that those who are in no way pressed down with the weight of money may be condemned with the covetous in disposition and intent.” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 28.
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Origen
- Origen, De Principiis III.1Book III
“…shall be in danger of the judgment;” and, “Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart;” and in issuing certain other commands,—conveys no other meaning than this, that it is in our own power to observe what is commanded.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment - Origen, De Principiis III.2Book III
“…shall be in danger of the judgment;” and, “Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart;” and by any other commandment which He gives, declares that it lies with ourselves to keep what is enjoined, and that we shall reasonably be liable to…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment - Origen, De Principiis IV.1Book IV
“…say unto you, Swear not at all;” and when He says, “Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart;” the admonitions also which are found in the writings of the Apostle Paul, “Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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Clement of Alexandria
“And the complements of these are those laws of reason and words of sanctity which are inscribed on men’s hearts: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; to him who strikes thee on the cheek, present also the other;” “thou shalt not lust, for by lust alone thou hast committed adultery.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“Men, therefore, affording to women a noble example of truth, ought to be ashamed at their stripping before them, and guard against these dangerous sights; “for he who has looked curiously,” it is said, “hath sinned already.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“Hoc autem dicit: “Quicunque respicit ad concupiscentiam, jam mœchatus est.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“…will abstain from errors in speech, and thought, and sensation, and action, having heard “that he that looks so as to lust hath committed adultery;” and reflecting that “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God;” and knowing this, “that not what enters into the mouth defileth, but that it is…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment““And he that looketh so as to lust” is judged.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“And those are not reckoned that are not the effect of choice; “for he who has lusted has already committed adultery,” it is said.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“For, expounding the words, “But I say unto you, he that looketh on a woman to lust after, hath committed adultery,” he thought that it was not bare desire that was condemned; but if through the desire the act that results from it proceeding beyond the desire is accomplished in it.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“Now the Scripture, showing that sinning is foreign to him, sells those who have fallen away to strangers, saying, “Look not on a strange woman, to lust,” plainly pronounces sin foreign and contrary to the nature of the temple of God.” — editor's note: These words are not found in Scripture. Solomon often warns against strange women, and there are the Lord’s words in Matt. v. 28.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“And does not our Saviour, when intending to teach this very thing begin with the thoughts of the mind? saying, ‘Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery:’ and, ‘Whosoever shall be angry with his brother, is guilty of murder.’” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28, 22.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…might show us that, precisely as it is declared that the man who looketh on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart, so, in the present instance, inasmuch as in the words which he spoke, Peter merely expressed the apprehension which he had already conceived with such…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“For here is one person, one human being, and he as a whole will be condemned, unless those things which, as lacking the will to do, and yet having the will to please the mind with them, are perceived to be sins of thought alone, are pardoned through the grace of the Mediator.” — editor's note: [Augustin here teaches that the inward lust is guilt as well as the outward action prompted by it. This is in accordance with Matt. v. 28; Acts viii. 21–22;…
Read the whole comment“But he “hath seen a woman to lust after her;” he has let his thoughts dwell on her with more pleasure than was right; he has admitted the attack; excellent combatant though he be, he has been wounded, but…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“For the Lord Himself saith, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“Away, I say, with the thought, that before there was any sin, there should already have been committed regarding that fruit the very sin which our Lord warns us against regarding a woman: “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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John Chrysostom
“Since if “he that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery,”he who is forced even to see her naked, how doth he not become ten thousandfold a captive?” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“Matt. V. 27, 28.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“He that hath looked on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
Read the whole comment“For to persuade us not to despise even these little things, hear what warning He gives us, saying, “He that saith to his brother, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell;”and he that hath looked with unchaste eyes is a complete adulterer.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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Basil the Great
“They have pronounced their prohibition of old “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife”; and through the holy gospels they say that “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery already with her in his heart.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 28.
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Ephrem the Syrian
“Because Mary perceived Him, she left her betrothed: He dwelleth in chaste virgins, if they perceive Him.” — editor's note: Mat. v. 28.
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Gregory of Nyssa
- Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity On Virginity.21On Virginity
“This accords with the teaching given from the Divine lips, that “he who has satisfied the lust of the eyes has received the mischief already in his heart”; for I take it that our Lord was speaking in that particular example of any of the senses; so that we might well carry on His saying, and add, “He who hath…” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 28
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord having explained how much is contained in the first commandment, namely, “Thou shalt not kill,” proceeds in regular order to the second.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Thou shalt not commit adultery,” that is, Thou shalt go no where but to thy lawful wife. For if you exact this of your wife, you ought to do the same, for the husband ought to go before the wife in virtue. It is a…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
He then goes on to correct the error of the Pharisees, declaring, “Whoso looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery already with her in his heart.” For the commandment of the Law, “Thou shalt not…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Between πάθος and προπάθεια, that is between actual passion and the first spontaneous movement of the mind, there is this difference: passion is at once a sin; the spontaneous movement of the mind, though it partakes…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
For there are three things which make up a sin; suggestion either through the memory, or the present sense; if the thought of the pleasure of indulgence follows, that is an unlawful thought, and to be restrained; if…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
But whoso casts his eyes about without caution will often be taken with the pleasure of sin, and ensnared by desires begins to wish for what he would not. Great is the strength of the flesh to draw us downwards, and…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
If you permit yourself to gaze often on fair countenances you will assuredly be taken, even though you may be able to command your mind twice or thrice. For you are not exalted above nature and the strength of…
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Cross-references · 61
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VII.13 and 1 other place.
Cited together in A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 15 and 1 other place.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in Catechism §2336 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 13.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 13.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 13.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 5:27–28 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.14.
Cited together in Catechism §2380.
Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 23.
Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 23.
Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 23.
Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 23.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 13.
Cited together in On the Holy Trinity XII.12.
Cited together in On the Holy Trinity XII.12.
Cited together in A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 40.
Cited together in Catechism §2380.
Cited together in Catechism §2380.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 13.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 13.
Cited together in A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 40.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.17.
Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 2.
Cited together in The City of God XIV.10.
Cited together in On the Holy Trinity XII.12.
Cited together in On the Holy Trinity XII.12.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in Catechism §1456 and 2 other places.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in The Instructor III.5.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VII.13.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VII.13.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 15.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.14.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.11.
Cited together in A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 15.
Cited together in A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 15.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.14.
Cited together in Catechism §2380.
Cited together in Catechism §2380.
Cited together in Catechism §2380.