The Ten Commandments - Seventh Commandment

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Seventh Commandment There used to be a time when having a relationship outside of marriage was inappropriate on all levels. We’ve moved from inappropriate to acceptable, to even cheating on our spouses without remorse. God looks at the relationship between husband and wife as sacred, and provided consequences for dishonoring the marriage bed. Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. It is true prostitution has been around since the beginning and is often called the oldest profession. However, it is against God’s law, and even man’s law in some countries. Prostitution hurts the family. It causes divorce, and the disintegration of family life. Children are lost when their parents suddenly divorce and usually don’t know the reason why, and blame themselves. It isn’t only prostitution that causes trouble in marriage, but people who date and start living together expect their significant other to be faithful. When one or the other starts breaking the bond of their relationship, they go their own way, and single parents are often the result, and again children are involved and don’t understand what happened. Jesus also had something to say on the subject of infidelity. Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 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. (KJV) I’ve often heard men say they can look as long as they don’t touch. That’s not what Jesus said. He said looking causes adultery as much as the act does. I can tell you as a former wife, that whenever my husband had a roving eye, it hurt me. Though, he was never unfaithful in our marriage. What is it that causes men or women to turn from their spouse or significant other and look for someone else? Solomon had an answer to the attention men gave to women. Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26 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. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. (KJV) Flattery appeals to everyone, and if we allow it, will cause more trouble than it’s worth. Paul also spoke on the subject of adultery and divorce. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 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. (KJV) 1 Corinthians 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? (KJV) God made man in his image, and then made a wife for the man. In doing so God ordained marriage and made it sacred. Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (KJV) Jesus also answered the question of the Pharisees: Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (KJV) Therefore, divorce also causes adultery. God’s punishment for adultery was simple. Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (KJV) Jesus was tested in this area with a woman found in adultery. John 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (KJV) Jesus showed mercy, but he also obeyed the law. The law stated the man and the woman were to be stoned, not just the woman. Today there is no regard for the law, God’s or man’s. Courts rarely hear adultery cases if ever. However, God hasn’t rescinded his law. It’s still in effect today. Image courtesy of Pixabay