What does Matthew 5:27-32 mean?
Matthew 5:27-32 teaches that adultery begins with lust in the heart and that divorce and remarriage are tightly limited. Jesus says a lustful look is already adultery in the heart, and he warns that divorce followed by remarriage can also be adultery. Early Christian writers like Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Tatian, Origen, and Tertullian read the passage this way and used it to call Christians to chastity and faithfulness in marriage. The passage is also linked to the call to deal firmly with sin, even in hidden thoughts.
109 early-church witnesses · 211 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What does Matthew 5:27-32 mean?
Matthew 5:27-32 means Jesus is not only forbidding the outward act of adultery, but also the lust that begins in the heart. He also teaches that divorce and remarriage are serious matters, with only a narrow exception tied to sexual immorality. Early Christian writers such as Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Tatian, Origen, and Tertullian quoted this passage to teach chastity, reject lust, and limit divorce.
Their writings show that the early church read this as a strict call to purity in both thought and marriage. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Passage context
Matthew 5:27-32 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He first repeats the command against adultery, then goes deeper and warns about lustful looking, radical action against sin, and the danger of unlawful divorce. The section fits a pattern in Matthew 5 where Jesus explains the deeper meaning of God's law.
Why early Christian sources matter
Early Christian writers help show how the first generations after the apostles understood this passage. They did not treat it as only about external behavior; they applied it to thoughts, eyes, and marriage faithfulness. Their repeated use of the same verses also shows that this was a common reading across different churches and teachers.
Common interpretation points
- Matthew 5:32 is often read alongside Matthew 19:9, which gives the same divorce exception in fuller form.
- The strongest early Christian emphasis is on lust and on the seriousness of divorce and remarriage.
- Some writers discuss edge cases, but they still treat Jesus' standard as strict.
Evidence-Based Summary
Matthew 5:27-32 teaches that adultery starts in the heart, not just in the bedroom, and that Jesus sharply limits divorce and remarriage. Early Christian writers like Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Tatian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, and others used this passage to say that lustful looking is sinful and that putting away a wife and marrying another is adultery unless the case involves sexual immorality.
The witness is broad and early, with many second- and third-century writers repeating both the heart-level warning and the divorce teaching. A few comments are more indirect or tied to larger debates about divorce, but the overall patristic reading is clear and consistent.
Key Takeaways
- Matthew 5:27-32 teaches that lustful looking is adultery in the heart.
- Jesus also limits divorce and treats remarriage after wrongful divorce as adultery.
- Early Christian teachers across the 2nd and 3rd centuries repeated both points.
- The early church read the passage as a call to chastity and marital faithfulness.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians think lustful looking is adultery in the heart?
Yes. Early Christian writers said Jesus taught that lustful looking is already adultery in the heart, not just a harmless thought. Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Tatian, and Origen all repeat this reading and use it to teach chastity and self-control.
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Matthew 5:28 Direct teaching
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching
Concerning chastity, He expressed these views: “Whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart before God.” And, “If your right eye causes you to sin, remove it; for it is better for you to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into everlasting fire.” And, “Whoever marries a woman who is divorced from another husband commits adultery.” And, “There are some who have been made eunuchs by others, some who were born eunuchs, and some who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake; but not everyone can accept this saying.” Therefore, all who, by human law, marry twice are deemed sinners in the eyes of our Master, as well as those who look at a woman to lust after her. For He rejects not only those who commit adultery in action but also those who desire to commit adultery: since both our deeds and our thoughts are open before God. Many, both men and women, who have followed Christ from childhood, remain pure even at the age of sixty or seventy; and I boast that I could find such individuals from every race. What shall I say of the countless number of those who have reformed from intem
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Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Direct teaching
Matthew 5:28 Those, then, who are forbidden to look at anything more than that for which God formed the eyes, which were intended to be a light to us, and to whom a wanton look is adultery, the eyes being made for other purposes, and who are to be called to account for their very thoughts, how can any one doubt that such persons practice self-control?
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching
...Whoever looks at a woman who is not his own wife, in order to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28 And, the Gospel says, "He who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. And whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery." Matthew 5:32 Because Solomon says, "Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can someone walk on hot coals and his feet not be burned? So he who goes in to a married woman will not be innocent." Proverbs 6:27-29
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. Matthew 5:28 But I now say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:29 If your right eye injures you, put it out and throw it away from you. For it is preferable for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body go into the fire of hell. Matthew 5:30 And if your right hand injures you, cut it off and throw it away from you. And it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body fall into Gehenna. Matthew 5:31 It was said that whoever puts away his wife should give her a certificate of divorce. Matthew 5:32 But I say to you that everyone who puts away his wife, except for the cause of adultery, has made it lawful for her to commit adultery. And whoever takes a woman who is put away commits adultery.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
But I say unto you, That every one who hath looked upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” And again: “It has been said, Thou shalt not kill.
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Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness
For, says He, he that looks on a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already in his heart.
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Tertullian, De Anima (On the Soul) Supporting witness
Whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
and, Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart;
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Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness
Luke 6:29 you shall not lust, for by lust alone you have committed adultery.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
For he who looks upon a woman, even though he escape the temptation, does not come away pure of all lust.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
57, 58 Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery: Matthew 5:28 but I now say unto you, that every one that looks at a woman lusting after her has immediately already 59 [Arabic, p.
More related quotations from this section 3 shown
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
34] committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:29 If your right eye injure you, put it out and cast it from you;
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness
Proverbs 4:25 And the voice of the Gospel teaches still more urgently concerning chastity, saying: Whosoever looks on a woman who is not his own wife, to lust after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
Concerning chastity, He uttered such sentiments as these: “Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart before God.” And, “If thy right eye offend thee, cut it out;
Did early Christians say divorce and remarriage can be adultery?
Yes. Early Christian writers commonly read Matthew 5:31-32 as a strict warning that wrongful divorce leads to adultery, and that marrying a divorced woman also commits adultery. Tatian, Theophilus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, and Hermas all speak in this direction, with Matthew 19:9 and Mark 10:11-12 often used alongside it.
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Matthew 5:32 Direct teaching
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
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Matthew 5:31 Direct teaching
“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
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Matthew 19:9 Supporting witness
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
... to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, has exposed her to adultery." When he entered the house, his disciples asked him again about that. And he said to them, "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another has exposed her to adultery. And any woman who leaves her husband and becomes another man's has committed adultery. And whoever marries her who is divorced has committed adultery." His disciples said to him, "If that is the case between a man and his wife, it is not good for a man to marry." He said to them, "Not every man can accept this saying, except the one to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
Matthew 19:9a I say unto you, Whosoever puts away his wife without fornication, and marries another, has exposed 37 her to adultery.
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness
and whosoever puts away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery.
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness
Matthew 5:28 And he that marries, says [the Gospel], her that is divorced from her husband, commits adultery;
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
For in the Gospel of Matthew he says, Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery.
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Tertullian, On Monogamy Supporting witness
...ng and moved the will of God to forbid divorce: whoever dismisses his wife, except on the ground of adultery, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman dismissed by her husband, of course commits adultery. A divorced woman cannot even marry lawfully. And if she does any such thing without the name of marriage, does it not fall under the category of adultery, since adultery is a crime in the way of marriage? Such is God's verdict, within straiter limits than men's, that universally, whether through marriage or promiscuously, the admission of a second man to intercourse is pronounced by Him to be adultery. For let us see what marriage is in the eye of God; and thus we shall learn what adultery equally is. Marriage is this: when God joins two into one flesh; or else, finding them already joined in the same flesh, He has given His seal to the union. Adultery is this: when, after the two have been disjoined in whatever way, other—no, rather, alien—flesh is mingled with either one; flesh concerning which it cannot be said, "This is flesh out of my flesh, and this bone out of my bones." For this, once for all done and pronounced from the beginning, cannot now apply to othe
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
...unwillingness to obey. When they asked Him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of divorce and send a wife away?” He replied, “Because of the hardness of your hearts, he permitted these things to you; but from the beginning it was not so.” By saying this, He was clearing Moses as a faithful servant while acknowledging one God, who from the beginning made male and female, and criticizing them for being hard-hearted and disobedient. This is why they received from Moses this law of divorce, tailored to their hard nature. But why do I mention these things concerning the Old Testament? For in the New Testament, the apostles were also found doing the same thing for the reasons mentioned. Paul clearly stated, “But these things I say, not the Lord.” And again: “But this I speak by permission, not by commandment.” And further: “Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give my opinion, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.” Additionally, in another passage he says: “That Satan may not tempt you for your lack of self-control.” If, therefore, even in the New Testament, the apostles are found granting certain teachings in cons
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...ge and does not allow a person to end that union. This is plainly stated in the law: "You shall not put away your wife, except for the cause of fornication." It also counts as fornication the marriage of people who have been separated while the other spouse is still alive. If a wife does not dress and adorn herself beyond what is proper, she is free from evil suspicion. She should devote herself diligently to prayers and supplications. She should avoid leaving the house often, and keep herself, as much as possible, out of the sight of all who are not related to her. She should consider managing the household more important than useless trifling. It is said that the man who takes a woman who has been put away commits adultery. And if a man puts away his wife, he makes her an adulteress; that is, he forces her into adultery. Not only is the man who puts her away guilty of this, but also the man who takes her, because he gives the woman an opportunity to sin. For if he did not take her, she would return to her husband. What, then, is the law? Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22. To restrain the violent force of the passions, it commands that the adulteress, when convicted of this, b
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
and it regards as fornication, the marriage of those separated while the other is alive.
More related quotations from this section 9 shown
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
... tempt from outside, that is, from those who follow heresies and persuade you to commit fornication away from the one husband, namely Almighty God. “Lest, as the serpent deceived Eve,” 2 Corinthians 11:3, she who is called Life, so we too, led on by the crafty attractions of heresies, may transgress the commandments. But the second part establishes monogamy. For we must not think, as some have thought, that it means the binding of a woman to a husband, as if it meant the joining of flesh with corruption. For he is rebuking the opinion of ungodly men who openly assign the invention of marriage to the devil. By this the lawgiver is put in danger of being attacked with curses. I think Tatian the Syrian dares to hand down teachings like this. For he certainly writes these words in his book On Perfection According to the Savior: “Agreement indeed joins itself to prayer; but fellowship with corruption destroys intercession.” He very carefully shuts marriage out by making a concession. For when Paul again allowed husband and wife to come together because of Satan and lack of self-control, 1 Corinthians 7:5, Tatian declared that the one who will obey this will serve two masters, Matthew
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
...one of those who dare to oppose the teaching of our Savior, will say that when Jesus said, "Whoever puts away his own wife, except for the cause of fornication, makes her an adulteress," in Matthew 5:32, He also gave permission to put away a wife, just as Moses did. He may argue that Moses, whom Jesus said gave laws because of the hardness of the people's hearts, allowed this. And he will think that the words, "because he found in her an unseemly thing," in Deuteronomy 24:1, mean the same as fornication, and that for this reason a wife could rightly be cast away by her husband. But it must be said to him that, if a woman who committed adultery was to be stoned according to the law, then clearly the "unseemly thing" must not be understood in that sense. For in the case of adultery, or any such great indecency, there is no need to write a bill of divorce and put it into the wife's hands. But perhaps Moses called every sin an unseemly thing. When the husband discovered it in his wife, and she no longer found favor in his eyes, the bill of divorce was written and the wife was sent away from her husband's house. But from the beginning it was not so, as Matthew 19:8 says. After this,
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
I wonder therefore why He did not say, Let no one put away his own wife saving for the cause of fornication, but says, Whosoever shall put away his own wife, saving for the cause of fornication, makes her an adulteress.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
And further, if she were found despoiling and pillaging the house of her husband, though she was not guilty of fornication, one might ask if he would with reason cast away such an one, seeing that the Saviour forbids any one to put away his own wife saving for the cause of fornication.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
In case, therefore, that the divorced wife may repent, the husband ought not to marry another, when his wife has been put away.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
But if he put his wife away and marry another, he also commits adultery.
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Athenagoras, Connection to Matthew 19:9 Supporting witness
"For whosoever puts away his wife," says He, "and marries another, commits adultery; "
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
But Christ prohibits divorce, saying, "Whoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries a woman put away from her husband also commits adultery." Luke 16:18 To forbid divorce, He makes it unlawful to marry a woman who has been put away. Moses, however, permitted repudiation in Deuteronomy: "When a man has taken a wife, and has lived with her, and it comes to pass that she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found unchastity in her, then let him write her a bill of divorcement and give it in her hand, and send her away out of his house." Deuteronomy 24:1 You see, therefore, that there is a difference between the law and the gospel, between Moses and Christ. To be sure there is. But then you have rejected that other gospel which bears witness to the same truth and the same Christ. There, while prohibiting divorce, He has given us a solution to this special question about it: "Moses," He says, "because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to give a bill of divorcement; but from the beginning it was not so." Matthew 19:8 For this reason, because He who made them male and female had also said, "The two shall become one flesh." "Therefore
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Hermas, Connection to Romans 7:3 Background
"There is no sin in marrying again," said he; "but if they remain unmarried, they gain greater honour and glory with the Lord; but if they marry, they do not sin.
Common Questions
Did early Christians think lust was sinful?
Yes. Writers like Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Tatian, and Origen quoted Matthew 5:28 to say that looking with lust is already adultery in the heart.
Did early Christians allow divorce and remarriage freely?
No. Tertullian, Theophilus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen all treat Jesus' teaching as limiting divorce sharply, and several say remarriage after a forbidden divorce is adultery.
What sin is Jesus warning about in Matthew 5:27-28?
He warns that lustful looking is already adultery in the heart.
What does Matthew 5:32 say about divorce?
It says divorce apart from sexual immorality makes the wife commit adultery, and remarriage after that divorce is also adultery.
How did Origen use Matthew 5:32?
Origen used it to argue that Jesus' teaching does not give a free right to divorce, and he raised careful questions about the exception for fornication.
Source Index for Matthew 5:27-32
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 211 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 109
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Unknown, Unknown Work
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Didache, Connection to Exodus 20:13-14
Bible Passages 80 shown of 102
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:14
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Book 79 1:8
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