Scripture to Read: Exodus 20:14
God gives Israel, and us, the seventh command in Exodus 20:14, “You shall not commit adultery.” Remember, God is teaching us how to love our neighbor as ourselves. The definition of adultery in Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “the voluntary sexual relations between a married person and someone other than that person's current spouse.” God wants marriage protected because marriage is the beautiful picture of Christ (the Head of His church) and His bride (the church, every born-again believer) being united as one, as clearly defined in Ephesians 5:21–33. That is why God tells us in Proverbs 6:32, “The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.” God knows the result of sin is death, and when someone commits adultery, they bring death and destruction to themselves and their spouse. God says this about marriage and the marriage bed in Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Sometimes there is confusion between adultery and fornication. Easton's Bible Dictionary states, “Adultery is marital cheating, infidelity, or unfaithfulness. An adulterer is a man who has sex with a married or engaged woman, and the woman is an adulteress. Sex between a married man and an unmarried woman is fornication.” We must, as God’s Word says, hold “in honor…the marriage bed.” God gives a husband and wife the marriage bed as a beautiful gift. So, to dishonor this gift from God is to dishonor Him.
Challenge & Application
· According to what God taught you today, why did God include “do not commit adultery” as one of the Ten Commandants?
· If someone has committed a sexual sin, how can we help them understands God’s forgiveness & reconciliation?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!