Seventh Commandment (8 Of 12)

Why? God gave them to Israel before they entered the promised land as they were forming a new nation. He knew that the people needed laws to govern the people by.

Every person could not just do as he pleased, when he pleased, to whomever he pleased.

Today we would like to deal with the seventh commandment, which clearly states, in verse 14, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

God stated this law straight forward, and clearly, because He wanted every one to be able to understand it. He did not want anyone to have to labor over trying to figure out what He meant, as we often have to do with laws men make today.

Illus: We have so complicated things today that it often takes the Supreme Court to properly interpret laws, and even then sometimes we are not sure if the problem was worked out right.

Although there may be some things in scripture that do have to be studied thoroughly to know what to do, no one can say when they stand before the Lord on the Judgment day that they could not understand the ten commandments, especially the seventh one.

Even a very young person can understand this commandment. God wanted His people to have a clear understanding of how to protect their families because a nation can not be any stronger than the families that form it.

The same thing is true of His church. A church can be no stronger than the families that it is composed of.

The person who does not discipline himself to be faithful can not be used of God, nor is he any help to his family, and there are many folks who have not learned to obey God in disciplining themselves.

That is one reason why we have, in our nation and in our churches people who get married but they refuse to obey God’s command, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Illus: The old Quaker preacher, Elton Trueblood, said, “The most obvious sight that a nation is rotting away is in an absurd emphasis on sexual pleasures, both in practice an literature.”

Our nation seems to be obsessed with sex.

We see it on the covers of many magazines on display.

We see it on the billboards as we drive down the highways.

We see it on the television every day.

We see it on soap operas every day.

We see it in the arts.

We see it in the fashions of today.

We see it in the advertising commercials.

If there ever was a time when preachers needed to preach against this “absurd emphasis on sexual pleasures...” it is now!

Illus: While the publishing houses and broadcasters are in high gear promoting impure sex, the men in our pulpits across this land are virtually silent on this issue.

Satan is using every weapon he has to get men and women to violate God's command, “Thou shalt not commit adultery."

Here are some thoughts to consider:

I. THE ATTITUDE.

Today our society has a very relaxed attitude toward adultery. We even hear comedians crack jokes about it. Men and women, all over this nation, in and out of churches, have allowed this to be accepted as long as the ones involved do not get caught, and some do not even worry about being caught. But notice the strong stand God takes.

A. The Lord prohibits.

Not only does He prohibit the act as we read in our text, He prohibits even considering the idea.

Keep in mind, the prescribed punishment for adultery was death for both parties involved. In Matthew 5:27-28, We read, 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.

Throughout the Old Testament God reminded His people of this sin, for He likened it to the sin of their lusting after other gods instead of keeping their whole affections upon Him.

Notice the words, ",,,Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her commited adultery with her already in his heart.”

God said there was no distinction. The one who considered the act was as guilty as the one who carried out the act.

Notice also that He used the word, "Whosoever “. So we know this commandment applies to man and woman alike. God Prohibits even the thought! Why?

B. Lust provides.

God knows that looking in a lustful manner opens the door to opportunity, and if that person does not turn and run in the opposite direction Satan will see to it that door is opened and the victim walks in. At that point, not only has the one who has considered the act sinned, but the one with whom the act is committed has sinned also. We had better train ourselves to know what Satan is doing when we feel ourselves considering something like this!