St. John Chrysostom on Lust

The homily linked below was given by St. John Chrysostom on Matthew 5:21-58, but the section I find most interesting relates to these words of Christ: "But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell (Mt 5:28-30)." Chrysostom has a very strong message about lust and sets a high standard, and yet his interpretation of Christ's metaphoric solution (pluck out eye, cut off hand) is quite simple: if someone/something is causing you to sin, root it out of your life.

Sample:
Accordingly, He saith, "He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her:" that is, he who makes it his business to be curious about bright forms, and to hunt for elegant features, and to feast his soul with the sight, and to fasten his eyes on fair countenances. For He came to set free from all evil deeds not the body only, but the soul too before the body. Thus, because in the heart we receive the grace of the Spirit, He cleanses it out first.

"And how," one may say, "is it possible to be freed from desire?" I answer, first, if we were willing, even this might be deadened, and remain inactive. http://www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/index.htm