Exodus 20 v. 14 "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
7th commandment concerns our neighbour's purity
Reflect on:-
(a) God's provision of marriage - Genesis 2 v. 18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
(b) God's purpose in marriage - i.e.
of partnership v. 18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
of pleasure,
of procreation - Genesis 3 v. 20 "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living."
(c) God's protection through marriage - Matthew 5 v. 27 - 30 "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."
1 Corinthians 7 v. 3 - 5 "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." See:-
1. GOD'S PROBLEM WITH ADULTERY - i.e. Adultery is a sin against your:-
(a) Spouse - 1 Corinthians 6 v. 16 "What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh." - destroys self esteem, trust, respect of children
(b) Self - Proverbs 6 v. 26 - 29 "For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent."
Proverbs 6 v. 32 & 33 "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away."
(c) Society - "As goes the family, so goes the society" - Campbell Morgan - "The adulterer is the enemy of the state, the greatness of a people depends upon the purity and strength of the people, and in every nation where the marriage relation is violated with impurity the virus of death is surely and certainly at work"
(d) Saviour - Genesis 39 v. 9 "There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" - Joseph's response "how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" - Joseph's respect, Joseph's resolve
2. GOD'S PROBIBITION OF ADULTERY - "Thou shalt not commit adultery." See
(a) The distinction here - "thou" i.e. unsaved may, saved may not
(b) The deliberation here - Adultery is sin against:-
the person, the family, the society, the nation, God
(c) The declaration here - "thou shalt not" i.e.
wrong because of:-
(1) Its rebelliousness - against God's word
(2) Its wrecklessness - i.e. caused resentment, bitterness, hardship, and loss
(3) Its ruin i.e. of affection, of trust
3. GOD'S PRONOUNCEMENT ON ADULTERY -
Matthew 5 v. 28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Note:-
(a) The Subtlelty of it - "looketh on a woman" - The lies:-
(1) Adultery is harmless to me - Proverbs 5 v. 22 "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins."
(2) Adultery is therapeutic to me - Proverbs 5 v. 15 "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well."
(3) Adultery is impossible to me - Galatians 6 v. 1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
(4) Adultery is the end of me
(b) The Seriousness of it - "hath committed adultery already" - Adultery:-
(!) Begins with a sinful heart - 1 Thessalonians 4 v. 5 "Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:"
(2) Ends with a broken heart - 1 Thessalonians 4 v. 4 "That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;"
(c) The Security against it - Matthew 5 v. 29 "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."
Deal with sin:-
(1) Rigorously - "pluck it out"
(2) Resolutely - "cast it from thee"
(3) Righteously - i.e. profitable for thee - have respect for the recompense of reward
(4) Relentlessly - "cast into hell" i.e. take no prisoners
4. GOD'S PUNISHMENT OF ADULTERY - Proverbs 7 v. 27 "Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death."
Proverbs 9 v. 13 - 17 "A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." 1 Corinthians 6 v. 9 - 11 "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, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
See :-
(a) The Exclusion - "the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God"
(b) The Inclusion - neither fornicators etc
(c) The Conclusion v 11 " And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
