Do Not Commit Adultery: Deut 5:18

Introduction

The Rule of Love: Broken, Fulfilled, and Applied The Seventh Commandment

“If God wants me to be happy, and my spouse makes me sad, then I should find happiness elsewhere, even if it means breaking my vows to be faithful in marriage.”

The Rule of Love: Broken, Fulfilled, and Applied The Seventh Commandment

Adultery is no longer discussed as sin or wickedness but merely as “inappropriate behavior.” How wrong that is! Inappropriate behavior is wearing blue jeans to a black tie dinner; adultery is sin!

Body

Exposition

The terminology forbids married individuals from having sexual relations with anyone outside of their spouse.

Biblical Context

Its foundations are

The creation and sanctity of Marriage: Gen 2:18-25

The parallel between it and Jesus’s relationship with the Church: Hos 4:13; Isaiah 57:1-13; Ezekiel 23:36-49; Jeremiah 3:6-9; Eph 5:22-33

It is further applied to:

Homosexuality: Lev 18:22

Incest: Lev 18:6-18

Bestiality: Exod 22:19

Fornication: Exod 22:16

Lust: Matt 5:27-28

Divorce: Matt 5:31-32

Its Old Covenant punishment

Dead: Deut 22:22-24

Christ’s Fulfillment

Christ is the faithful husband to His Church: Eph 5:25-32

Applications

Don’t commit adultery because you are wed to Christ: Rom 7:1-4

Don’t commit adultery by abstaining from sexual acts outside of marriage.

Don’t commit adultery by abstaining from all sexual thoughts outside of marriage

Don’t commit adultery by abstaining from divorce

Don’t commit adultery by loving your spouse sacrificially

Conclusion

The Rule of Love: Broken, Fulfilled, and Applied Conclusion

The seventh commandment convicts us that we are guilty of idolatry and abandoning Christ, our faithful husband. It tells us we are guilty of adulterous thoughts, sexual misconduct, and unbiblical divorce. It tells us we fail to love Christ and our spouses as we should. Beloved, when we sense the Law’s condemnation, let us flee to Christ, the faithful one who never looked at a woman with lust, who was never guilty of sexual misconduct, and who has been faithful to His bride, the church, loving her and laying down His life for her. As Paul says, Christ has cleansed, washed, and sanctified us. He has borne the condemnation of the Law on our behalf and freed us from its curse. As Paul tells us, we have been freed from the Law and are married to one another so that we can bear fruit unto God. Let us therefore strive to shine forth the image of Christ, which renews us day by day in our marriage to Christ, our marriage to our spouses, and in our sexual conduct.