In the Bible, “not commit adultery” refers to the prohibition against engaging in sexual relations with someone who is married to another person, as outlined in the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14). This command emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the importance of faithfulness within that covenant relationship.
Scripture
14 “You shall not commit adultery.”
15 “You shall not steal.”
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Understanding “Not Commit Adultery” in the Bible
The commandment “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) encapsulates more than a mere prohibition against extramarital sexual relations; it signifies the value of trust, commitment, and purity within the marital relationship. In biblical thought, marriage is not merely a social contract but a covenant before God, intended to reflect His unbreakable commitment to His people. The act of adultery undermines the foundational trust necessary for such a covenant and can lead to devastating emotional and spiritual repercussions not only for the individuals involved but also for families and communities. Jesus further expands on this idea in Matthew 5:27-28, where He teaches that lustful intent is akin to committing adultery in one’s heart, thereby illustrating that the command encompasses thoughts and desires, emphasizing the need for integrity both internally and externally.
Moreover, the broader implications of this command connect to themes of faithfulness and covenant loyalty that permeate both the Old and New Testaments. The prophetic literature often uses the image of adultery as a metaphor for unfaithfulness to God, as seen in Hosea, where Israel’s idolatry is equated with marital infidelity. In the New Testament, the relationship between Christ and the Church is portrayed as that of a bride and groom (Ephesians 5:25-27), further reinforcing the idea of fidelity not just in human relationships but in the divine covenant. Thus, the command against adultery invites believers to reflect on the seriousness of commitment, the cultivation of a pure heart, and the faithful living out of their covenants, both with God and within human relationships. This perspective affirms that faithfulness is at the core of God’s character and His desires for humanity.
The meaning of “not commit adultery” extends into the realm of personal integrity and communal responsibility, emphasizing the holistic nature of relationships as depicted throughout Scripture. In the book of Proverbs, wisdom literature encourages adherence to the principles of fidelity, urging individuals to cherish and protect their marital vows. The teachings within these texts highlight that adultery not only distorts the sanctity of marriage, it also invites destructive consequences that ripple outward, impacting family dynamics and community well-being. Thus, the avoidance of adultery is fundamentally tied to broader ethical living, where adherence to truth and loyalty cultivates a healthy society.
Additionally, the New Testament reaffirms the ethos of fidelity through the teachings of Paul and the lived example of Jesus. Paul addresses the importance of sexual ethics in his letters, urging the early church members to uphold their commitments and to consider their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. The call to live in purity and honor reflects a transcendent standard for personal conduct that contributes to community integrity. Jesus’ parables often offer insights into the nature of relationships, illustrating that the heart’s intentions shape one’s actions. This comprehensive understanding of adultery urges believers to not only adhere to the letter of the law but to embody the spirit of love, commitment, and respect, echoing the divine standards set forth in their relationship with God and one another.
The Sanctity of Marriage
The commandment against adultery underscores the sacredness of the marital relationship. In biblical teachings, marriage is viewed as a covenant not only between two individuals but also involving God. This covenant is meant to reflect faithfulness, loyalty, and mutual respect. By prohibiting adultery, the Bible emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of this union, highlighting that breaking this bond can lead to emotional, spiritual, and social consequences.
The Call to Faithfulness
Beyond the literal interpretation, “not commit adultery” serves as a broader call to faithfulness in all relationships. This principle extends to various forms of commitment, urging individuals to uphold their promises and responsibilities. It encourages a lifestyle of integrity, where one is called to be faithful not only in marriage but also in friendships, work, and community engagements. This faithfulness fosters trust and stability, which are essential for healthy relationships.
The Pursuit of Holiness
The prohibition against adultery also reflects a deeper spiritual principle of pursuing holiness and righteousness. In the biblical context, sexual immorality is often associated with a departure from God’s intended design for human relationships. By adhering to the commandment, individuals are encouraged to cultivate purity in their thoughts and actions, aligning their lives with divine standards. This pursuit of holiness is seen as a way to honor God and live in accordance with His will, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
How to Cultivate Faithfulness in Relationships and Marriage
Cultivating faithfulness in relationships and marriage is a beautiful journey that requires intentionality and grace. As you navigate this path, remember that faithfulness is not just about physical loyalty; it encompasses emotional support, trust, and a deep commitment to one another’s well-being. Start by prioritizing open and honest communication—sharing your thoughts, feelings, and even your struggles can strengthen your bond and create a safe space for vulnerability. Regularly invest time in each other, whether through date nights, shared hobbies, or simply quiet moments together, as these experiences deepen your connection. Additionally, grounding your relationship in prayer and seeking God’s guidance can help you both stay aligned with His purpose for your union. Remember, faithfulness is a daily choice, and by nurturing love, respect, and understanding, you can build a resilient partnership that reflects the love Christ has for His church.
Bible References to “Not Commit Adultery”:
Deuteronomy 5:18-21: 18 And you shall not commit adultery.
19 And you shall not steal.
20 ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
21 And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.
Matthew 5:27-30: 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’”
28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Matthew 19:3-9: 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”
4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?”
8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Mark 10:2-12: 2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”
4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”
5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,’
8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Luke 16:18: 18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”
John 8:1-11: 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst.
4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Romans 7:1-3: 1 Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?
2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.
3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20: 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”
17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 7:1-5: 1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:10-16: 10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband.
11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Galatians 5:19-21: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3-5: 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Hebrews 13:4-5: 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
James 4:1-4: 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.