Temptation

Temptation

You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:27-30

Do you realize deeply that Satan's foundation is within your own flesh? Can you say, "Satan's blood is alive in my own body"? How can you cut that satanic element out of your life? The purpose of religion is to control Satan's influence upon your life. Until you can do that, you cannot move to a higher level toward God. For that reason, true religion requires each individual to battle his own fallen self.

Jesus taught people to go a sacrificial course, and now you can understand why: it was to enable each person to separate himself from Satan's foundation. Even sinless Jesus did a 40 day fast, and then Satan tempted him. Why? God allowed Satan to test Jesus, to determine whether Jesus had any fleshly ambition within himself. Satan was looking for some hook, some way to anchor himself within Jesus' body.

What kind of love do you experience? Is your love centered on God or on Satan? What about the person who says, "I like to be kissed every night by a different person"? Is he or she showing satanic or God-centered love? That kind of kiss is thoroughly within Satan's realm.

From the speech of Sun Myung Moon: The Age of Heavenly Parentism September 3, 1989

Your eyes are literally your enemies, and you need to learn to protect yourself from them. You may notice a handsome man passing by and compare him to your husband. If he beckons and you follow him, Satan can snatch you away at that very moment. You may feel horrified that your own eyes can be your enemy, but it is true.

Since your mission is the liberation of God and mankind, your rightful eyes and ears will affirm that mission. When someone speaks to you in an unprincipled way, saying, "Forget about God! Listen to me and you can have everything you want: nice clothes, nice food. Your life is too short to waste," the words may sound sweet and the ideas tempting. Then cover your ears, because you know Satan can invade you through them.

Sometimes your mouth can be your enemy urging you to eat your favorite foods or to speak words of complaint. Your nose, your hands, the various parts of your body -- all may be your enemies. You must be able to maintain tight control over them. This task is never easy. Many great men have fallen when tempted by the appearance of a beautiful woman.

Now that you know your enemy, how do you guard against it? The enemy can infiltrate through your live senses. When you realize why you should safeguard yourself, you will know to control your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and hands. The sixth area is the mind, and the sexual organs are the seventh area of vulnerability. A small point of vulnerability in any of these seven areas may eventually bring your downfall. Satan is very confident that you cannot overcome these seven vulnerable areas of sense and thought during your lifetime.

Now we have clearly defined our enemy. Is it outside you or inside you? The enemy is very much inside. You must be able to protect yourself from the enemy within you. If you don't know how to protect yourself, you will become a victim and lose your value. Without the confidence that you can control yourself, it is nonsense to think about the liberation of God and mankind. You never know when Satan may show up. When everything is going wrong and your determination is shaky, Satan will most likely start talking to you.

From the speech of Sun Myung Moon: Mission and Prayer June 12, 1983

People may think that Jesus was a rock who never moved, but Jesus was a human being. As a man, was he totally indifferent to the attraction between men and women? There is always the force of electricity pulling plus and minus toward each other. Don't you think Jesus felt some sensation when he looked at a woman? Jesus' feet were firmly anchored, but I'm sure his body was turning toward that attraction! However, he was never affected so much that he moved his feet from their right foundation. When an ordinary person feels temptation he usually just jumps into it, but the saints are different. Although a saint may he pulled around somewhat, his feet never budge.

However holy a person may be, he is always hound by his human character and vulnerability. All the saints and even Jesus himself began with certain principles. During their own period of instability they learned to deal with temptation and reasoned out their standards, until finally they had rock-like foundations within themselves. A saint knows he is a human being, but he shapes his human character inside the palace of the universe.

From the speech of Sun Myung Moon: Parents, Children and the World Centered on Oneself June 5, 1983