"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Matthew 5:27-30

Is it true that everybody has condemning lustful thoughts? Jesus didn’t—and He, not everybody else, is the standard before all who will be judged and condemned. But praise God that Jesus’ sinless life qualified Him to be our Savior, as He bore the punishment His people deserve so He could give the reward of His righteousness to those He came to save.

That Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, except He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15), reveals that temptation is not sin. Succumbing to temptation is sin. Therefore, we are not condemned for being tempted in the direction of having lustful thoughts. But there is a razor thin line that separates being tempted and dwelling on lustful thoughts (even if only briefly).

Martin Luther is cited as having said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” The sentiment is true, but we need to beware: fleeting thoughts can begin nesting at once if we are not diligent to shoo them away—immediately! Oh, that we would all be proactive about avoiding even what leads us into temptation. May we pray, as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:13, “Lead us not into temptation.”

Because failure is so common—especially in our day of widespread public immorality and instant internet—wisdom would have us do all we can to keep the birds from flying over our heads as well. And because failure is so common, this is why we need a Savior, not only for forgiveness of sin, but also to transform our hearts so that we may be increasingly more adept and “going and sinning no more” (John 8:11).