Do Not Lust After a Woman Actually Means Do Not Covet

 Do Not Lust After a Woman Actually Means Do Not Covet


When Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” many assume He was condemning any form of sexual attraction. But is that really what He meant?


The Lamsa Bible, translated from the Aramaic Peshitta, offers an important nuance. It translates this passage as: “Whoever looks at a woman to covet her...” This choice of wording shifts the focus from natural attraction to selfish desire with the intent to take what isn’t yours—a concept rooted deeply in the tenth commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.”


Coveting vs. Attraction


Sexual attraction is not a sin in itself. God designed humans to be attracted to one another. The problem arises when that attraction turns into coveting—a desire to possess or take something that belongs to someone else. This is especially clear when we examine how the word "covet" is used throughout Scripture.


Biblical Examples of Coveting


Let’s look at four key examples that illustrate what coveting truly is—and how destructive it can be.


1. Enemies Coveting Israel’s Land — Exodus 34:24


“For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither shall any man covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year.”




During Israel’s sacred festivals, God promised divine protection. Why? Because nations might have coveted their land—desired to take what was not theirs. This wasn't about admiration; it was about intent to seize and possess.


2. David Coveting Bathsheba — 2 Samuel 11


David didn’t merely find Bathsheba attractive—he coveted her. He acted on that desire, violating both her marriage and her dignity. This wasn't a passing temptation; it was a willful plan to take what belonged to another man.


3. Amnon Coveting Tamar — 2 Samuel 13


Amnon claimed to "love" Tamar, but his obsession quickly turned into a violent act. After violating her, he hated her more than he had “loved” her. This wasn’t love—it was coveting, a selfish desire masked as affection.


4. Ahab Coveting Naboth’s Vineyard — 1 Kings 21


King Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard simply because it was convenient and desirable. When Naboth refused to sell it, Ahab’s desire didn’t fade—he plotted to take it by force, ultimately leading to Naboth’s death. This is the essence of coveting: desire that leads to unjust possession.



5. Job and the temptation to covet another woman—Job 31:1 (KJV, LXX)


This verse illustrates the heart of coveting, where desire begins inwardly through what one sets their eyes on. Job’s example teaches that resisting coveting starts with a deliberate inner resolve to guard one’s thoughts and desires.




Jesus and the Heart of the Law


When Jesus spoke about “lust” or “coveting,” He wasn’t condemning the biological experience of attraction. He was digging deeper into the intent of the heart—calling us to examine whether our desires lead us toward love and respect, or toward taking and violating.


Coveting is not merely noticing beauty. It is desiring something (or someone) in a way that disregards God, dishonors others, and leads to sin.


Conclusion: A Call to Purity of Heart


Attraction is natural. But when we begin to plot and fantasize how to get what isn’t ours, we’ve crossed a line. See Ephesians 4:22. Coveting isn't limited to sex. It can be the desiring someone's spouse for best cooking skills, money saving skills, sewing skills, or being more extroverted. Jesus calls us not to repress our humanity, but to reorder our desires—to walk in love, not selfishness.

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