Teachings of Christ

Concerning self-control he said this much: “Whoever looks at a woman in order to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart before God.” And: “If your right eye causes you to stumble, cut it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye than to be sent with both into eternal fire.” And: “Whoever marries a woman divorced from another husband commits adultery.” And: “There are some who were made eunuchs by men, some who were born eunuchs, and some who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven; but not everyone can receive this.” In the same way, those who enter second marriages under human law are sinners in the judgment of our Teacher, as are those who look at a woman in order to desire her. For with him it is not only the one who commits adultery in deed who is rejected, but also the one who intends to commit adultery, since before God not only deeds are manifest but thoughts as well. Many men and women, sixty and seventy years old, who were made disciples of Christ from childhood remain chaste; and I can show such people from every race of humanity. And why even mention the countless multitude who have turned from sexual immorality and learned these teachings? Christ did not call the righteous or self-controlled to repentance, but the impious, immoral, and unjust. He said: “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. For the heavenly Father desires the repentance of the sinner rather than his punishment.” Concerning love for everyone, he taught this: “If you love those who love you, what new thing do you do? Even prostitutes do this. But I say to you: Pray for your enemies; love those who hate you; bless those who curse you; and pray for those who mistreat you.” And concerning sharing with those in need and doing nothing for glory, he said: “Give to everyone who asks, and do not turn away from the one who wishes to borrow. For if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what new thing do you do? Even tax collectors do this. Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and decay destroy and thieves break in; but store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys. For what does a person gain if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what will he give in exchange for it? Therefore store up treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys.” And: “Be kind and merciful, just as your Father is kind and merciful, and he makes his sun rise on sinners and the righteous and the wicked. Do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear. Are you not more important than the birds and the wild animals? And God feeds them. So do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear, for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. Seek the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added to you. For where the treasure is, there also is the mind of the person.” And: “Do not do these things in order to be seen by people; otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”