“Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  but I say unto you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother ‘Raca,’ shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say ‘Thou fool’ shall be in danger of the hell of fire.  If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift.  Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him; lest haply thine adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the last farthing.” (Matt. 5:21-26.)

These verses emphasize the teachings that sin consists not only of deeds and actions performed, but equally of thoughts and desires entertained and encouraged in the mind.  The desire and thought, made welcome in the mind of a person, is the seed and germ of the sin or crime, even though they may never be manifested in action.  To wish to kill is a sin, just as is the deed of killing.  This is an old occult teaching, imparted to all candidates for Initiation.

“Ye have heard that it was said Thou shalt not commit adultery, but I say unto you that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not thy whole body be cast into hell.  And if thy right hand causeth thee to offend, cut it off and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not thy whole body go into hell.  It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement, but I say unto you that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress, and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.” (Matt. 5:27-32.)

In this passage, Jesus expressed the abhorrence of all advanced occultists for the abuse of the functions of sex.  Not only the act, but the thought behind the act was condemned by him.  The advanced occult teaching is that the function of the sex organization is entirely that of procreation—­aught else is a perversion of nature.  Jesus speaks in strong words to men and women, in this passage, regarding this great question.  The concluding portion of the passage is a condemnation of the abuse of the marriage relation, and the privilege of divorce, which was being strongly agitated in His time.  He aimed a blow at the careless contracting of marriages, and the consequent careless dissolution of the tie.  Jesus believed in the sacredness of the home life, and the welfare of the family.  His utterance on this subject is unmistakably clear and forcible.