The Sermon on the Mount – You have heard that it was said to the people of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery’

The lecture revolves around the commandment “Do not commit adultery” and its deep spiritual interpretation, where His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that sin is not limited to the external act only, but extends to thought and heart, and that God desires an inner purity that encompasses the whole person.

🕊 The Spiritual and Educational Dimension:

• The Inner Law:
  He explains that God’s commandments did not begin only with written laws, but were implanted in الإنسان’s conscience from the beginning as a natural law within the heart.
• Sin in the Heart Before Action:
  He clarifies that looking with lust is considered adultery in the heart, emphasizing that Christ cares about the purity of thought and heart before the body.
• Types of Adultery:
  Adultery is not limited to the act, but includes adultery of thought, senses, heart, tongue, and even imagination, which expands the concept of sin spiritually.
• The Danger of Thought and Imagination:
  He points out that sins of thought may be more dangerous and broader than sins of action, because they are unlimited and can control a person internally.
• The Body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit:
  Sin is considered an offense against God because the body is sacred, and any deviation in it is a violation of this temple.
• Escaping Stumbling Blocks:
  The best way to resist sin is to flee from its causes, whether they are people, readings, scenes, or environments.
• The Importance of Self-Control:
  He stresses the necessity of controlling senses, will, and thoughts, and not leaving oneself without spiritual discipline.
• Filling with Spiritual Matters:
  He advises filling the mind with spiritual readings, prayers, and meditations so that sinful thoughts find no place within.

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