Faithfulness: God’s Beautiful Design

This past Sunday, as a church we wrapped up our three week study of Matthew 5:27–30 (you can watch the sermons here).

As we worked through it, we focused on God’s design for marriage as a beautiful reflection of the faithfulness between Himself and His people. In a perfect world unmarred by sin, that reflection would remain pure and unmarred. But that’s not the world we live in—not out in the world, not within the church, and often not even in the hidden places of our own hearts.

Jesus addresses this very issue in the Sermon on the Mount, calling His followers to a deeper, inward purity that goes beyond external behavior. In Matthew 5:27–30, He lays out:

1. God’s Beautiful Design of Faithfulness (v27)

2. Man’s Selfish Desires Away from Faithfulness (v28)

3. Christ’s Gracious Demand to Preserve Faithfulness (vv29–30)

Below is a bit of practical application that I shared, which I wanted to make more easily accessible to anyone it would serve.

Taking Faithfulness Seriously

A bit of exposition: Matthew 5:29–30

In these verses, Jesus doesn't sugarcoat the issue. In one powerful statement, He reveals just how seriously He takes faithfulness—and how seriously we must take it too.

He says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away... And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” These are sobering words. But let’s be clear: Jesus is not calling for literal self-mutilation. He’s using strong, figurative language to drive home a point:

• Sin does not start in the body but in the heart—it’s not your hand or eye that leads you into sin, but the desires of your heart (James 1:14–15).

• Jesus is calling for radical action—a ruthless willingness to remove from your life anything that tempts you toward sin and unfaithfulness.

His intent is not physical harm but spiritual seriousness. And, like many other teachings found in the Bible, we are left to consider and apply this truth in very specific, personal ways.

What Does Radical Faithfulness Look Like?

With the intent of practical application, the question we’re left with is: What does it mean for us today to “tear out an eye” or “cut off a hand” in the fight for purity and faithfulness?

We looked at this in 3 categories: For the married, for the single, and for all believers.

For the Married:

• Pursue your spouse intentionally. Cultivate friendship. Go on dates. “rejoice in the wife of your your youth…be intoxicated with her love!” (see Proverbs 5:18, 19).

• Keep clear and wise boundaries in opposite-sex relationships. Don’t entertain closeness where it doesn’t belong.

• Make wise travel and scheduling decisions. Avoid situations that isolate you or increase temptation.

• Be honest with your spouse. Transparency, prayer, and mutual support are part of a one-flesh union.

• Build community. Confess and grow through discipleship with other men and women (Titus 2).

• Remove opportunities for temptation. Consider bedtime routines, screens in the bedroom, or phone access late at night…go to bed at the same time!

For the Single:

• Reserve dating for serious, marriage-minded relationships.

• Keep your future spouse in mind, even before you’ve met them.

• Establish clear boundaries in dating or engagement…and stick to them.

For Everyone:

• Fear the Lord—this is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).

• Keep eternity in view (Colossians 3:1–4).

• Remember the Cross—Jesus’ sacrifice is the ultimate reminder of how seriously God takes our sin.

• Dress modestly. Don’t draw attention to yourself in a way that leads others into temptation (1 Timothy 2:9–10).

• Pursue godly character. Let your life point others toward faithfulness.

• Be like Joseph—when temptation comes, run (Genesis 39:6–12)!

Barriers to Faithfulness

Even with the best intentions, there are common attitudes that hinder growth in this area:

1. Overconfidence
   Believing you’re strong enough to stay close to temptation without falling is a dangerous lie. Wisdom doesn’t flirt with sin—it flees from it.

2. Inconvenience
   Many say, “I want to change,” but then aren’t willing to take inconvenient steps. Real repentance often requires drastic, practical change.

3. Neglecting God’s Means of Grace
   Don’t fight sin alone. Use the basic yet sufficient tools God has given:

   • Prayer

   • Scripture

   • Fellowship with the church (see Proverbs 18:1)

A Call to Our Church Family

My prayer for Grace Bible Church NYC is that we would not take this lightly. May we fight to preserve the beauty of God’s design for faithfulness—both in our marriages and in our personal purity as His people.

Let’s take Jesus seriously. Let’s not settle for simply recognizing the danger of lust—we must actively cut it off. Let's encourage one another to walk in purity, in love, and in faithfulness, for the glory of our faithful God.

To Him be the glory.