"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery."

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."