The COMMANDMENTS (9)
“Thou shalt not commit adultery." — Exodus 20:14
The term “adultery,” in scripture is sometimes limited to sexual transgression involving a married person, and sometimes used to cover the whole range of sexual sin, including “fornication,” which is sexual union outside of marriage. It is the latter, in my judgment, which is the ground of this commandment. Scripture allows that marriage alone justifies sexual union, and that between male and female. All other sexual behavior falls under the general heading of adultery and is in violation of this commandment. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply… [Gen. 1:27-28a].” It is marriage which is “honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge [Heb. 13:4].” Extra marital union comes up against the “thick bosses” of this commandment.
Throughout history men have hated this restriction, and nations and cultures have defied it in practice, and by legalizing what God has denounced, America no exception. The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, sharpened the focus:
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery [Matt. 5:27-32].”
Indicted here are pornography (v.28), lust, divorce and remarriage (v.32, cf.Mark 10:11-12, Rom. 7:1-3.) With respect to sexual relations, God’s order is ‘one man and one woman for life.’ Divorce, as an act of man, does not satisfy the divine requirement. Death, which is an act of God, dissolves the relationship and removes the indictment of adultery from remarriage (Rom. 7:3.) Even the church (i.e. the visible organization called ‘the church’) has relaxed its view on these matters in this day of growing apostacy and many allow without restraint what God has clearly condemned.
Let the church recall the scripture: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…shall inherit the kingdom of God [I Cor. 6:9-10].” God has not changed His mind, nor His standards!
At this point it may be well to note two things. First, this is not the worst of sins. It is only one among the many that place this rebellious race in jeopardy before a Holy God. Second, it is not an unpardonable sin. Christ died for all our sins, and because “His blood can make the foulest clean,” repentance and faith will bring forgiveness, cleansing and hope for eternity. But, it is only through the Savior that this wrong can be remedied. And, if we would teach these things to our children they might be better equipped to stand against the temptations thrown at them in this “adulterous and sinful generation.”
There is, however, another dimension to this commandment revealed in the course of scripture, which merits our consideration. “Adultery” is used not only in the literal sense we have considered above, but also in a figurative sense to describe infidelity in our relationship with God, corporately and individually. The Old Testament prophets are graphic in their use of the term to describe departure from the true God on the part of His people; e.g., “The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge [Israel] yea, declare unto them their abominations; That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house [Ezek. 23:36-39].” And in the New Testament the apostle James accuses, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God [Jas. 4:4].”
These are representative passages that should remind the church that God demands integrity in our relationship with our spouses and in our relationship with God. If the church does not wake up, there is no hope that the unregenerate world ever will. May God move us to “awake to righteousness and sin not.” (See I Cor. 15:34)
"Pastor" Frasier
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