Adultery

“Adultery” is sexual intercourse with a person who is married to someone other than you.

God's commandments forbid adultery.

• Exodus 20:14 HCSB Do not commit adultery.

It is God's will that we should avoid sexual immorality.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3 HCSB For this is God's will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality,

Lust is a form of adultery.

• Matthew 5:27-30 HCSB "You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to 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 the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!

Note: If you are struggling with lust, you need to perform spiritual surgery. Remove the opportunity to see what is enticing you. Even if it is at your place of work. It would be better for you to get a worse job and struggle financially than to be in danger of losing your soul over lust!

Adultery is a work of the flesh.

• Galatians 5:19-21 HCSB Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance--as I told you before--that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Adultery is a heart problem.

• Matthew 15:19-20 HCSB For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. 20 These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

Unrepentant adulterers will not enter into heaven.

• Galatians 5:19-21 HCSB Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance--as I told you before--that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 HCSB Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, 10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom.
• Revelation 21:8 HCSB But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars--their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

God will judge the unrepentant adulterer.

• Hebrews 13:4 HCSB Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers.

To leave your spouse for another person may be legal, but it is adultery in God's eyes.

• Luke 16:18 HCSB "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

It is also considered adultery if you remarry after divorcing a spouse for a reason other than those deemed acceptable in the Bible. Anyone who marries a person who has wrongly divorced commits adultery. A marriage where one or both people have been wrongly divorced is an adulterous marriage.

• Matthew 5:31-32 HCSB "It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. 32 But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
• Matthew 19:9 HCSB And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."
• Mark 10:11-12 HCSB And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
• Luke 16:18 HCSB "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
• Romans 7:1-3 HCSB Since I am speaking to those who understand law, brothers, are you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives? 2 For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. 3 So then, if she gives herself to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she gives herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.

Adultery can be avoided.

• Proverbs 4:13-27 HCSB Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. 14 Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. 15 Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. 16 For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. 17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. 19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble. 20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. 21 Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 24 Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. 25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. 26 Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. 27 Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.

When he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to commit adultery, Joseph refused to sin against God.

• Genesis 39:6-12 HCSB He left all that he owned under Joseph's authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome. 7 After some time his master's wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, "Sleep with me." 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority. 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?" 10 Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her. 11 Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants was there. 12 She grabbed him by his garment and said, "Sleep with me!" But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.

Shun adultery.

• Proverbs 6:27-35 HCSB Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can a man walk on coals without scorching his feet? 29 So it is with the one who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. 30 People don't despise the thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry. 31 Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much; he must give up all the wealth in his house. 32 The one who commits adultery lacks sense; whoever does so destroys himself. 33 He will get a beating and dishonor, and his disgrace will never be removed. 34 For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. 35 He will not be appeased by anything or be persuaded by lavish gifts.

Stolen water is sweet, but…

• Proverbs 9:17-18 HCSB "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten secretly is tasty!" 18 But he doesn't know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Adultery’s snare leads to misery.

• Proverbs 7:21-27 HCSB She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk. 22 He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap 23 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare--he doesn't know it will cost him his life. 24 Now, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. 25 Don't let your heart turn aside to her ways; don't stray onto her paths. 26 For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless. 27 Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Adultery is nothing more than a deep pit.

• Proverbs 22:14 HCSB The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by the LORD will fall into it.

David got caught in the snare of adultery because he was sitting around idle instead of fulfilling his responsibilities. He also let a chance sighting become a longing gaze which led to action.

• 2 Samuel 11:2-4 HCSB One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing--a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, "This is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite." 4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterwards, she returned home.

David’s sin led him into depression until he confessed it and repented of it.

• Psalms 32:3-6 HCSB When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer's heat. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You took away the guilt of my sin. Selah 6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You at a time that You may be found. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
• Psalms 51:1-17 HCSB For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against You--You alone--I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. 5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6 Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 9 Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. 10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. 14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. 16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

God graciously forgave David of his sin. We can therefore also have the hope of forgiveness.

• Psalms 32:5 HCSB Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You took away the guilt of my sin. Selah

Do not presume on God’s graciousness. Although there was genuine repentance and forgiveness, the consequences of David’s sin remained.

• 2 Samuel 12:13-14 HCSB David responded to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Then Nathan replied to David, "The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die. 14 However, because you treated the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die."

Though He identified adultery as a sin (i.e. “go and sin no more”) Jesus did not throw the woman away for her sin. Adultery is forgivable.

• John 8:10-11 HCSB When Jesus stood up, He said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, Lord," she answered. "Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

Although there was genuine repentance and forgiveness, the consequences of David’s sin remained. There are always consequences to sin.

• 2 Samuel 12:13-14 HCSB David responded to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Then Nathan replied to David, "The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die. 14 However, because you treated the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die."