Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:27
Adultery is when a married man or married woman breaks the covenant they’ve made with their spouse and chooses to be intimate with someone besides their spouse. The bond between a husband and wife is a bond that God unites. God has given us very specific commands in Ephesians 5:21–33 and 1 Peter 3:1–7 of how husbands and wives are to love and respect each other. We must not miss how the bond between a husband and a wife in Ephesians 5:21–33 is compared to the bond between Christ and His church (His bride). That means that the husband is to be the picture of Christ in his home, and the wife is to be the picture of the church. Just as Christ laid down His life for the church, the husband must willingly lay down his life daily for his wife and love her deeply. Just as the church is subject to Christ and serves Him, loves Him, and respects Him, the wife must see to it that she follows the church’s example. Committing adultery is nothing but a selfish act of fulfilling one’s fleshly desires. Imagine our Lord Jesus Christ turning His back on us and breaking His covenant with us. Imagine our Lord saying, “You’re not Mine anymore, and I’m choosing to separate Myself from you because I no longer love you.” That is exactly what it’s like when a spouse commits adultery. God hates sin, has always hated sin, and will always hate sin. That is why Christ’s death and blood sacrifice are the only cure for sin.
Challenge & Application
· What did you learn about the marriage relationship from Ephesians and 1 Peter?
· How has God’s Word either changed you’re thinking about adultery or firmed up the foundation you were on?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!