King James Bible
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Jesus asserts his authority to interpret the Law beyond traditional rabbinic teaching, a pattern throughout the Sermon on the Mount. This phrase marks a shift from external observance to internal righteousness, challenging the conventional understanding of the commandments. The Greek verb implies intentional, prolonged gazing with desire, not accidental attraction. Jesus addresses the deliberate cultivation of sexual fantasy, recognizing that sin begins with unchecked thoughts that the will entertains rather than resists. By equating lustful intent with the completed act, Jesus reveals that God's standard judges the heart's condition, not merely outward behavior. This teaching expands the seventh commandment to encompass mental and emotional purity, establishing that righteousness must transform one's inner life.