Personal Purity

MEMORY VERSE: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” —Philippians 4:8

EXODUS 20:14; MATTHEW 5:27,28; JOHN 8:3-11

THE Seventh Commandment prohibits adultery, and Jesus magnified this commandment by explaining that “whosever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” In explaining that God does not place temptation before his people, James added, “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”—James 1:13-15

James’ reference is to sin in general, which is the transgression of divine law, and he carries the thought through to the final result of continuous and persistent sin, which leads to death. In this we are reminded of the importance of our thoughts in relation to the will of God. It is one of the many lessons in the Bible which emphasizes that failure to guard our thoughts might easily lead to impurity of mind and heart, and thus to the alienation of God’s favor.

In our memory verse Paul presents a positive method of keeping our minds pure and in harmony with the will of God. This method is to keep our minds filled with that which is good, and when we do this there will be no room for the evil thoughts. And Paul presents a broad spectrum of holy thoughts which, if we keep our minds filled with them, will be a wonderful safeguard against the entering of evil thoughts.

First, there are the things which are “true.” Untruths are never edifying. We are to think upon the things which are honest, not the dishonest. In all these things our “thinking” implies the desire to practice. We are to think on the things that are just, not the unjust. How this should help to regulate the lives of all who would serve the Lord acceptably! Micah wrote that the Lord’s people are to “do justly”; that is, practice the Golden Rule.

“Whatsoever things are pure,” Paul adds. We are never to dwell upon the impure things with which we are surrounded, in the sense of contemplating their practice in our own lives. This includes purity of thought, purity of word, and purity of life. We may not be able to hinder impure thoughts temporarily entering our minds, but we should not harbor them, or permit ourselves to be influenced by them.

“Whatsoever things are lovely.” Being true, honest, just, and pure contributes to loveliness. And how much there is that is “lovely” with which we can fill our minds! There are the lovely things of the Word of God; and the Lord’s people with whom we enjoy sweet fellowship possess lovely traits of character about which we can think, and which we can try to emulate. Our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are superb in their loveliness. There is almost no limit to the things which are “lovely.”

And there are the things which are “of good report.” It is worse than a waste of time to think about the things that are not of good report. This excludes our thinking about slanderous gossip but when we hear good reports about the brethren, or about the work of God and the manner in which he is blessing his people, we are encouraged as we think about them.

“If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,” in the things which bid for our attention, then we can think upon them, with the assurance that we will be blessed thereby. Truly, a mind that is filled with such holy thoughts as Paul thus brings to our attention will be fortified against all the encroachments of the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

The account of the woman brought to Jesus with the accusation that she was caught in adultery may be of doubtful authenticity, since it is not found in a number of the older Greek manuscripts. The statement, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her,” certainly emphasizes that all are sinners to greater or less degrees and in need of mercy. The important feature of this portion of the lesson is the revealment of Jesus’ attitude of mercy.

And mercy is displayed toward us by our Heavenly Father every day of our Christian lives, for which we should be thankful. True, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin, and this is an operation of justice; but God’s Love and mercy provided the Redeemer, and this attitude is displayed in all his dealings with us; and Jesus was like him.

QUESTIONS

How did Jesus magnify the Seventh Commandment?

Give some of the details of Paul’s formula for holy thinking.

What part does mercy play in the divine plan?

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