Adultery is one of the leading causes of divorce in the United States. Even in a "sexually tolerant society", 90% of Americans consider "infidelity" (adultery) morally wrong. Adultery is labeled as a work of the flesh in Galatians 5:19. It is also said with respect to adultery (and all of the other works of the flesh in Galatians 5) that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God". What else does the Bible say about adultery?
The Greek word (moicheia- pronounced moy-khi'-ah) for adultery in Galatians 5:19 originates from another Greek word, moicheuo (pronounced moy-kyhoo-o) which is defined as:
1. to commit adultery
a. to be an adultererCondemning adultery has been part of God's moral law ever since Exodus 20:14 which states as part of the Ten Commandments, "Thou shalt not commit adultery". At that time it was referring to the physical act of adultery. It was given especially for men since men in that day would use women as they saw fit sexually. However some women were known for prostitution and were equally guilty of sexual immorality. In either case this was not what God intended to be. God ordained sexual relations for one man and one woman in marriage only. Hence is why in Genesis 2:24 it is stated, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
b. to commit adultery with, have unlawful intercourse with another's wife
c.of the wife: to suffer adultery, be debauched
d. A Hebrew idiom, the word is used of those who at a woman's solicitation are drawn away to idolatry, i.e. to the eating of things sacrificed to idols
God was so serious about the sacredness of marriage, there was a pretty severe consequence for comitting adultery. In Leviticus 20:10 it is stated, "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." The even more unfortunate consequence aside from physical death was spiritual death. Proverbs 6:32 says, "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." So not only would those that committed adultery be put to death physically, their soul would also die which if a sin offering were not provided then they would spend an eternity in hell.
When Jesus came to the earth, He did not do away with this law against adultery either. In fact Jesus said in Mathew 5:17, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Jesus even referred to adultery if someone would divorce their spouse (except for fornication) and marry another person, both would be committing adultery (Mark 10:11-12). Even greater though, in the same chapter of Matthew 5 as mentioned above, verses 27-28 Jesus took this law which condemned the physical act to the next level. Jesus said, "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."
Wow, this is deeply spiritual. Most people when they think of adultery they only think about the physical act. This is certainly true, however adultery is not just the physical act. When Jesus said "looketh", that is from the Greek word blepo which means to see, discern, of the bodily eye. More specifically and with application to what Jesus is saying here, blepo means "to turn the eyes to anything: to look at, look upon, gaze at" and metaphorically it means "to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine." Futhermore, Jesus said "looketh...to lust after". This is important because simply looking at someone isn't what Jesus was pointing out. He specifically said if one looks to "lust after", that is a problem. The Greek word for "lust after" is epithumeo (pronounced ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o) which means "to turn upon a thing; to have a desire for, long for, to desire; to lust after, covet (of those who seeks things forbidden)."
So what does this look like then in application? Well, if a married person looks at another person (marrierd or not) and recognizes they are handsome, beautiful, or even attractive...is this looking to lust after? No it is not. That would be simply looking at someone and acknowledging a characteristic about them. Now, if a married person looks at another person (married or not) and recognizes they are handsome, beautiful, or even attractive and then continues thinking about them or even looking at them in a prolonged state with a desire of wanting (e.g., turn your eyes purposefully, gaze with a coveting feeling), then that is adultery.
This is why it is very important what we place in front of our eyes, especially if we have a weakness in this area. Whether it is watching movies, looking at magazines, surfing the internet, going to the pool or beach, or even reading books such as romance novels - we must be careful not to place a stumbling block in our path. Men are particularly susceiptible to this, however women are not exempt. Both can be tempted to "look to lust after" in a myriad of ways. Since many times the temptation comes through the physical eye, both men and women should position their hearts to do two things at a minimum:
1. Look away or move away and encourage each other to do this. Especially when someone is dressed immodestly the temptation can be more intense to think on that person instead of recognizing their natural beuty or masculinity. Also, move away or separate yourself from any strong temptations or situations that could cause an issue. This may be difficult, however God's grace is sufficient.
2. Dress modestly. This isn't popular, especially in today's sexually active and motivated society, however it is essential that Christians do this. The problem often times is the question, "What is modest?" Ask a handful or a dozen people and you may get a different response everytime. Ask God, and He has already provided THE answer. Consider Genesis 3:21 where God clothed Adam and Eve with "coats of skins". The Hebrew word for "coats" in this verse is kethoneth kuttoneth (pronounced keth-o'-neth) which means "tunic, under-garment - a long shirt-like garment usually of linen; robe." Does this mean we all need to wear robes? Not necessarily unless God convicts you of this. I would encourage you to focus on the parts of the body that the tunic/robe covers. At a minmum the chest, shoulders, torso, arms, and thighs. Worse case it would extend to the calf. Therefore, dress in such a way that these key body parts are covered appropriately and this would align with God's standard for modesty.
Now I want to address something else with adultery. Above adultery has been discussed with respect to human-to-human relationships directly and human-to-God relationships indirectly. However adultery is also applicable to human-to-God relationships directly. Allow me to explain what I mean by this.
We can actually commit spiritual adultery against God himself. This is true for those who are God's people (repentant, born again Christians). How can this be you may ask? First, God has one church His Son Jesus Christ is coming back for. Second the Bible refers to this church by name - "the church of God" (Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 1:2, 10:32, 11:16, 22; 15:9; II Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; I Thessalonians 2:14; II Thessalonians 1:4; I Timothy 3:5, 15). Third the church of God is also referred to as the "bride" and Jesus is the "bridegroom" (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 21:2, 9; Revelation 22:17). Therefore when a person is convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit and they repent of their sin (change their mind; turn away from) with Godly sorrow through belief in Jesus Christ, their sin is removed and they immediatly become part of God's church which is adorned as a Bride for her husband (Revelation 21:2). Acts 2:47 describes that people were added to the church of God when they were saved when "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
So what does this have to do with adultery? Well if a Christian (repentant and born again) sins after receiving salvation and becoming a child of God, they are committing spiritual adultery. What happens in the human-to-human marriage relationship when adultery is committed? Often it leads to divorce. However any time a person committs adultery by sinning against God, they are divorced from Him. They are no longer part of the church of God, that beautiful bride adorned without spot or blemish. This was made apparent by the following scriptures:
Jeremiah 3:8 - And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Jeremiah 5:7 - How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in harlots' houses.
Jeremiah 23:14 - I have seen also in the prophets of Jesrusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gormorrah.
Revelation 2:22 - Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Each of these scriptures refer to those who were God's people. Whether the nation of Israel (Jeremiah) or even the church at Thyatira (Revelation). It is important to note that sinners don't commit adultery against God. Although sinners may very well commit adultery as described earlier, they do not commit adultery against God since they are already considered the harlot and are lost. Now a sinner that was a Christian could commit adultery since in order to be a Christian they had to be saved and when they were saved they were added to the church which the church is the bride of Christ. If they have sinned after being saved, then they could have committed adultery against God. However if they haven't repented of their sin and continue sinning then they do not keep committing adultery against God since they are already considered the harlot. One must first be married to committ adultery. In order to be married to Christ, we must be saved. If we are in sin, we are divorced from Christ.
The bottom line is this: adultery whether in a human-to-human relationship or a human-to-God relationship, is sin. Any sin in a person's life divorces them from God and without repentance their soul will be lost by going to hell. The only way to restore the relationship with Christ, restore the marriage between people and God and even restore the marriage between people, repentance and forgivenss is necessary. It is possible to restore the relationship but only with God's Holy Spirit leading, guiding, and directing. It is also possible to prevent adultery whether it be your physical marriage or spiritual marriage by doing what God said in His word: "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:5). If God is first priority in your life and your spouse is first priority in your marriage, adultery will be quenched. May God continue to teach you all things on this topic. God bless you!
This discussion series on sin is going to have the theme "Repent or Perish". Without repentance of sin (changing your mind and turning away from sin), each soul will perish (Luke 13:3, 5). I hope this series encourages and convicts through the Holy Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment