Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 5:28

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

The Scope of our Saviour in these Verses, is the very same as in the Verses immediately preceding, viz. to Correct the jejune Interpretation which the Pharisees had put upon the Divine Law, and to shew that he instead of coming to destroy the Law, came to fulfil it, as other ways so by giving a more strict, and true Interpretation of it; and whereas they interpreted it, only as to Overt Acts, which disturb humane Society, and break Civil Order, he sheweth that it reacheth to the inward Thoughts, and unlawful Desires of the Heart, and any means that have a Tendenc[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 letter]o such prohibited Acts. It was said by God to those Fathe[illegible: 2 letters] of the Iews, Thou shalt not commit Adultery, Exod. 20.14. This Law (saith our Saviour) your Doctors expound, You shall not carnally lye with a Woman that is not your Wife, but there is a great deal more in it than so, for he that but secretly in his Heart desireth such a thing, or taketh Pleasure in such Thoughts, and casts his Eyes upon a Woman, in order to such a thing, is in the sight of God an Adulterer. Hence we read of Eyes full of Adultery, to avoid which, Iob made a Covenant with his Eyes, Iob 31.1. and would not, v. 7. Suffer his Heart to walk after his Eyes: We must so interpret the Commandements of God, as not to extend them only to forbid, or command those Acts which are plainly mentioned in them, but the inward pleasing of our Hearts with such things as are forbidden, the Desires of our Hearts after them, or whatsoever is a probable means to give us that sinful Pleasure of our Thoughts, or further inflame such unlawful Desires in our Souls.