Single lesson
Faithfulness in Relationships
Matthew 5:27–32
Jesus teaches that faithfulness is not only about outward actions. In these verses, he speaks about desire, drastic action against sin, and the seriousness of divorce and adultery.
Before you teach
This passage comes from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5. He begins with what people have heard said, then says, “but I tell you”, applying God’s standards to the heart as well as to visible actions. Here he addresses adultery, stumbling, divorce and remarriage.
Students will identify from Matthew 5:27–32 that Jesus teaches faithfulness includes both inward desires and outward actions, and that he speaks seriously about removing causes of sin.
Welcome: What kind of faithfulness is Jesus talking about?
5 minIntroduce the lesson by explaining that Jesus speaks about faithfulness in serious and searching ways. Ask students to listen for two areas in the passage: what happens in the heart, and what people do in relationships. Set clear expectations for respectful discussion without asking for personal stories.
Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:28, Matthew 5:31, Matthew 5:32
Read and explain: From the command to the heart
10 minRead verses 27–28 slowly. Jesus first quotes the command against adultery, then says lustful looking is already adultery in the heart. Explain that Jesus is not limiting sin to public actions. He says the inner life matters too, so faithfulness includes thoughts and desires, not only visible behaviour.
Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:28
Discuss: Serious action against stumbling
8 minRead verses 29–30. Jesus speaks about an eye or hand causing someone to stumble and says to remove it rather than be cast into Gehenna. Guide students to notice how forceful his language is. The point in the text is the seriousness of dealing with sin decisively, not acting casually about it.
Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30
Make and respond: Reminder card for faithful living
10 minStudents choose one phrase from the passage such as “in his heart”, “causes you to stumble”, or “but I tell you”. On a small card, they write the phrase, the verse reference, and one sentence about what Jesus is teaching in that verse. Invite volunteers to share how their phrase points to faithfulness.
Matthew 5:28, Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30, Matthew 5:32
Closing: Marriage, divorce and the weight of Jesus’ words
7 minRead verses 31–32. Jesus refers to the saying about giving a certificate of divorce, then warns that divorce and remarriage can involve adultery. Conclude by summarising that Jesus treats marriage faithfulness as weighty and calls his hearers to take both desire and action seriously before God.
Matthew 5:31, Matthew 5:32
Questions to explore
What change does Jesus make between verse 27 and verse 28?
Compare the outward command in Matthew 5:27 with Jesus’ focus on the heart in Matthew 5:28, and notice that he speaks about lustful looking as well as physical adultery.
Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:28
Why do verses 29 and 30 use such strong pictures about the eye and hand?
Look at the repeated words about causing someone to stumble and the warning about Gehenna, and discuss what that shows about how seriously Jesus treats sin.
Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30
According to verses 31 and 32, how does Jesus treat divorce and remarriage?
Notice that Jesus quotes a common saying about divorce in Matthew 5:31, then gives a much more serious warning in Matthew 5:32 about adultery.
Matthew 5:31, Matthew 5:32
Make, think or respond
Key Phrase Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- small cards or cut paper
- pens or pencils
- Bibles
Try it together
- Read Matthew 5:27–32 again and choose one key phrase from a single verse.
- Write the phrase on one side of the card and the exact verse reference underneath it.
- On the other side, write one sentence explaining what Jesus teaches in that verse about faithfulness.
- Share cards in pairs or as a class, checking that each explanation matches the wording of the passage.
This activity keeps students close to the wording of Matthew 5:27–32 and helps them express Jesus’ teaching about faithfulness carefully and clearly.
Adapt for your group
- For ages 12–14, keep discussion tightly on the wording of the verses and offer two or three phrase options for the reminder card.
- For ages 15–17, add a comparison task within the passage by asking students to trace each time Jesus says “You have heard” or “but I tell you” in these verses.
An optional closing prayer
“Lord Jesus, help us to take your words seriously. Teach us faithfulness in heart and action, and help us respond to your teaching with honesty and wisdom.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 5
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’
28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’
32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.