Lesson 11

The Ten Commandments- Part 7

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit
adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a
woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery
with her in his heart.” (Matt 5:27, 28)

1. How did the Messiah make the Law “honorable”?

He explained that unlike what the Pharisees taught (that

God required only an outward show of piety), God judges
even the thought life.

2. What are some of the sins that accompany lust?

Fornication, adultery, perversion, rape, and even murder

3. What does lust want from you? (See John 10:10 and James
1:14,15)

To steal and to kill, to be tempted to sin and then commit

it, which leads to death.

4. How would you answer someone who said that the Ten
Commandments do not condemn sex outside of marriage?

Quote Scripture to show that all sex outside of marriage is

condemned by God: The law is for the sexually immoral (1
Timothy 1: 8-10). Sexual immorality is a work of the flesh
(Galatians 5:19).

5. Why shouldn’t you be discouraged if you have a problem with

lust?

Because if you are struggling, then at least you are fighting

it.

6. What does the Bible say to those who consider viewing

pornography to be a harmless activity?

That you might not be a Christian. We are to be dead to

sin and slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:11). When you
 give yourself to pornography, you are committing adultery
(Matthew 5:27,28)

7. What can we learn from Proverbs 2: 1-5?

Meditate on and search Scripture rather then on things that

produce lust etc. Ask God for help and “then you will
understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of
God” (Proverbs 2:5).

Lesson 11

The Ten Commandments- Part 7

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit
adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a
woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery
with her in his heart.” (Matt 5:27, 28)

The Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 138: What are the duties required in the seventh commandment?

Answer: The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind,
affections, words, and behavior; and the preservation of it in ourselves and others;
watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses; temperance, keeping of chaste company,
modesty in apparel; marriage by those that have not the gift of contingency, conjugal
love, and cohabitation; diligent labor in our callings; shunning all occasions of
uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.

Q. 139: What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?

Answer: The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the
duties required, are, adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; all
unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections; all corrupt or filthy
communications, or listening thereunto; wanton looks, impudent or light behavior,
immodest apparel; prohibiting of lawful, and dispensing with unlawful marriages;
allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them; entangling vows of single
life, undue delay of marriage; having more wives or husbands than one at the same time;
unjust divorce, or desertion; idleness, gluttony, drunkenness, unchaste company;
lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancing, stage plays; and all other provocations to, or
acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.

“Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable

apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or
pearls or costly attire,” (1 Timothy 2:9)
Any biblical discussion of modesty begins by addressing the
, not the hemline. This emphasis on the is front and
center. Note the phrase ‘with modesty and self-control.’
All respectable apparel is the result of a godly , where
modesty and self-control originate. Your wardrobe is a
public statement of your personal and private motivation.
And if you profess godliness, you should be concerned with
cultivating these twin virtues, modesty and self-control.

Modesty means propriety. It means avoiding clothes and adornment that are extravagant or sexually
enticing. Modesty is humility expressed in dress. It’s a desire to serve others, particularly men, by not
promoting or provoking sensuality.
Immodesty, then, is much more than wearing a short skirt or low-cut top; it’s the act of drawing undue
attention to yourself. It’s pride, on display by what you wear.
Self-control is, in a word, restraint. Restraint for the purpose of purity; restraint for the purpose of
exalting God and not ourselves. Together, these attitudes of modesty and self-control should be the
hallmark of the godly woman’s dress.

But for godly women, modesty and self-control are to be

distinctly present in the . The question is, are they
distinctly present in yours?

“How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center
of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for
the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood? .... Is it to reveal a humble
heart devoted to worshiping God? Or is it to call attention to herself, and flaunt her…beauty? Or worse, to
attempt to allure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshiping God will consider carefully how she is
dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.” -John MacArthur

Any conversation about modesty “starts in the intent of the

.” So consider for a moment, what is the intent of your
heart in purchasing clothes to wear?
1. Does a humble and a servant’s dictate your wardrobe and appearance?
2. Is your shopping informed and governed by modesty and restraint? Or is your dress motivated by a
desire for attention and approval from others?
3. Does your style reflect a lack of self-control?
There’s an inseparable link between your and your
clothes. Your clothes say something about your
attitude. If they don’t express a that is humble,
that desires to please God, that longs to serve
others, that’s modest, that exercises self-control,
then change must begin in the .

Modesty Quiz
WHAT STATEMENT DO MY CLOTHES MAKE ABOUT MY ?
1. In choosing what clothes to wear today, whose attention
do I desire and whose approval do I crave? Am I seeking
to please God or impress others?
2. Is what I wear consistent with biblical values of
modesty, self control and respectable apparel, or does my
dress reveal an inordinate identification and fascination
with sinful cultural values?
3. Who am I trying to identify with through my dress? Is the
Word of God my standard or is it the latest fashion?
4. Have I solicited the evaluation of other godly
individuals regarding my wardrobe?
5. Does my clothing reveal an allegiance to the gospel or is
there any contradiction between my profession of faith
and my practice of godliness?
("Modesty Check List" Carolyn Mahaney)