But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
All Commentaries on Matthew 5:28 Go To Matthew 5
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Cont. Faust. 19, 23: He then goes on to correct the error of the Pharisees, declaring, “Whoso looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery already with her in his heart.” For the commandment of the Law, “Thoushalt not lust after thy neighbour’s wife,” the Jews understood of taking her away, not of committing adultery with her.
Serm. in Mont., i, 12: For there are three things which make up a sin; suggestion either through the memory, or the present sense; if the thought of the pleasure of indulgence follows, that is an unlawful thought, and to be restrained; if you consent then, the sin is complete. For prior to the first consent, the pleasure is either none or very slight, the consenting to which makes the sin. But if consent proceeds on into overt act, then desire seems tobe satiated and quenched. And when suggestion is again repeated, the contemplated pleasure is greater, which previous to habit formed was but small, but now more difficult to overcome.
