Neville Goddard on Matthew 5:27

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard uses the scripture from the Sermon on the Mount regarding adultery to illustrate a universal principle: all acts are fundamentally psychological. He explains that the true act is not the physical deed but the imaginal one, which occurs in the heart at the moment of desire. Restraining the physical impulse, often due to fear of consequences, does not erase the fact that the psychological act has already been committed.

Key Concepts

• The true act is psychological and mental, not physical.
• An act is committed "in the heart" at the very moment of the imaginal act or desire.
• Restraining a physical impulse out of fear of consequences (social, financial, etc.) does not negate the psychological act.
• This interpretation serves as a key example for understanding that all commandments must be interpreted psychologically.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard presents the teaching on adultery from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:27-28) as a pivotal shift from an external, physical law to an internal, psychological one. He contrasts the old saying, "You shall not commit adultery," with the authoritative statement of the awakened Lord: "But I say to you, anyone who looks lustfully upon a woman has already committed the act in his heart."

This reinterpretation places the entire event on a mental level. The sin is not the physical action but the imaginal one. The moment a person entertains the thought, longs after another, or has a lustful desire, the act is considered complete within their own consciousness. The true event is the psychological one.

Neville emphasizes that restraining the physical impulse is not sufficient and does not absolve a person of the act. He points out that such restraint is often motivated by fear of the consequences—damage to one's reputation, social standing, financial position, or family life. He argues that this cowardice does not save one from having committed the act in the truest sense, because the imaginal act is the fact.

Ultimately, Neville uses this specific commandment as a graphic example to demonstrate a broader principle: everything must be interpreted psychologically. He suggests this is a universal human experience, asking, "what man hasn't violated that?" The lesson is to recognize that the real action and its consequences originate within the imagination.

Important Quotes

So, it’s a psychological act, not a physical act.

— Test Him And See

He puts the whole thing on an entirely different level. It’s mental.

— Question And Answer

The act was committed at the moment of the imaginal act.

— Secret Of Imagination

He tells you the whole thing is a psychological thing.

— The Flood Is Still Upon Us

Related Concepts

This interpretation is fundamentally about the power of Imagination. Neville states the true event is the "imaginal act." The longing or lustful look is a form of Desire, which is the starting point of all creation. Committing the act "in his heart" means assuming a State within one's own consciousness, or I AM. This teaching is a direct application of the Law of Assumption, where assuming a feeling or state internally is the creative fact, regardless of external evidence or action.

Common Misunderstandings

A common misunderstanding is to focus only on the physical act of adultery. Neville corrects this by teaching that the psychological act is the true act. Another error is to believe that restraining the physical impulse is virtuous. Neville clarifies that if the restraint is based on fear of consequences, it is merely "cowardice" and does not negate the imaginal act that has already taken place.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this teaching is to shift one's focus from controlling external actions to becoming aware of and responsible for one's internal, imaginal activities. A student should understand that what they entertain in their imagination is the true creative act. The lesson is to recognize that consciousness is the only reality and to be mindful of the states and desires one entertains in the heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to Neville, is the physical act of adultery important?

The source material emphasizes that the psychological act is the true act. Restraining the physical impulse out of fear does not negate the imaginal act, which is what truly matters.

What does Neville mean by committing the act 'in his heart'?

He means the act is committed in imagination at the moment of desire or longing. It is a mental, psychological event that is considered the true fact.

Why does Neville say restraining the physical impulse isn't enough?

Because restraint is often based on fear of consequences, not a change in consciousness. The imaginal act has already occurred, and this psychological event is the true act.