Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is a 43 year old woman from Iran who was found guilty of adultery in 2006. Her punishment is to be stoned to death. The latest news is positive for her, however, since Brazil – a key ally of Iran – is to offer her asylum. While some Islamic scholars apparently deny that stoning is recommended as a punishment in the Koran, some Muslim traditions still insist that it is an option and some countries keep the practice within their penal code.

This may seem an odd choice of contemporary context in which to place Jesus’ teaching on adultery from Matthew 5:27-32 and yet it is very relevant, for Jesus also takes a hard line on this sin. Indeed, he takes things a step further and says that it is not only the actual act of adultery that is wrong but also looking lustfully at a woman. And though he may not call for the perpetrator to be stoned, he does suggest that the man should take out his eye or cut off his hand if either causes him to ‘stumble’. Strong stuff from ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’.

How lucky we are that we have all – even the most ardent fundamentalist – become liberal in our interpretation of this particular passage. For if we were to take Jesus’ instructions literally then we would have many one-eyed, one-handed men in church.

But neither our indignation at Iranian justice nor our non-literal interpretation of Jesus’ words should take anything away from the serious points being made by both traditions regarding sexual ethics. Adultery is a sin. Indeed in the Christian faith it is not only our actions that count against us, but whether our heart lines up with Kingdom values. For if our values are in order there is far less chance that our actions will lead us astray.