Adulatory in the Bible

1. Adultery andthe Bible – 26th
November 2015
“Youshall notcommit adultery” (Exodus20:14).
As a Christianhave youeverconsideredspecificallywhatJesushadtosay aboutsex? We can readthisin
Matthew5: “Youhave heard thatit wassaid,‘Do not commit adultery.’But I tell you that anyonewho
looksat a woman lustfullyhasalreadycommittedadultery withher inhis heart”( Matthew 5:27-28).
Jesus’statementdefinitelysoundednew tohisaudience,agroupof Jewishrabbinicteachersknownas
Pharisees.Theyhadalwaysbelievedthatadulterywasonlypunishablewhenactionfollowedlustful
desire.Jesusturnedthisthinkingonitsheadbycondemninglustoutright.
Virtuallyeveryeducatedpersonknew thatadulteryisasexual relationshipthatsomehoworanother
breachesa marriage relationship.Moseswrote of the seriousnature of adultery.He said thatthe man
who“commitsadultery withanother’swife”thatbothshouldbe subjecttodeath:“Ifa mancommits
adultery withanother man’swife—withthe wifeof his neighbor—boththeadulterer andthe
adulteressare to be put to death. (Leviticus20:10). Note thatadulterywasnot merelywalkingout on
one’sspouse;itinvolvedanact withanother’swife!.
There are three typesof adulteryspokenof inthe Bible:First we can learnof SEXUAL ADULTERY—
Conjugal infidelityorMarital adultery.Itreferstoa man whohad sexual intercourse withawomanhe
was notmarriedto, eitheramarriedwoman or one whowas engagedtobe married.A womanwho did
the same thingwas an adulterous. The Bible regardsadulteryasa greatsinand a great social wrong.We
can learnof the gravityinJohn 8:3 – The teachers of the law andthe Pharisees broughtin a woman
caughtin adultery. They made her stand before the group 4
and saidto Jesus, “Teacher,this woman
was caughtin the act of adultery. 5
Inthe Law Moses commandedusto stone such women. Nowwhat
do yousay?” As Christianswe knowwhatJesus’saidinthe same passage: 7
Whentheykept on
questioninghim,he straightenedup andsaidto them, “Let anyone of you whois withoutsin be the
first to throw a stone at her.” Jesusknow of oursinfulnessandthatmost cover our actionsinmany
differentways…butHe knowsthe truth!
Secondis ADULTERY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE—The Bible speaksof “wanton eyes”: The LORD
says, “The women ofZion are haughty,walkingalongwithoutstretched necks, flirtingwiththeir eyes,
struttingalongwith swayinghips,withornaments jinglingontheirankles (Isaiah3:16). We can read
in2 Peterof “eyesfull of adultery” in2 Peter2:14 – “Witheyes full ofadultery,they never stop
sinning;they seduce the unstable;they are experts in greed—anaccursed brood!. We can alsolearnin
1 John2 of the lustof the eyes” Foreverythinginthe world—the lustof the flesh,the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life—comesnotfromthe Father but from the world (1 John 2:16). Because he saw all
this Jesus warned usas we readabove in (Matthew 5:27-28). As Christianswe mustknow that withthe
breakingof anyof the Ten Commandments,those whoare not washed inthe bloodof JesusChristwill
have to pay the penalty of notbeingallowedto enterthe Kingdomof God.The Punishmentfor
transgressionof God’s Commandmentsisakintoadeathpenalty…orevenworse because itis
damnationforeternity!
Withinthe last 20 to 30 years we can learn that the “adulterywithout sexual intercourse” has
advanced in leapsand bounds which can be referredas the developmentof pornography through the
internet.It has become a billiondollarindustry that dependssolelyonprofit gainedfrom evil
behaviorthrough promotion of lust. It is the ever increasingevil that promotes Lust through a myriad

2. of differentwaysof pornography and reratedactivities.As we read in Matthew5 Jesusrecognizedthe
degree to which lustdenigratesthe dignityof human persons.
At mosttimeswe miserablyfailGod.Pornographytramplesthe inherentdignityof humanityby
convertingindividualsintoobjects.Menandwomenact evenworse thananimals.Menwhobecome
addictedtopornographyoftenfail intheirmarital obligationsandeventuallytransgresstocommitting
adultery,rape,murder…alwaysresultinginhumansuffering.Thoughsome mayargue of pornography
as beingharmless,onthe contraryitgenerate a myriadof indirectresultsthatare far worse. Fora
simple example the socalled“actors”will one daygrow oldto be 50 and may have childrenandeven
grand children! Whatwouldbe the value of sucha person’sdignityandself-respect?Further,
pornographydoesn’tjustaffectadults,italsoaffectschildreninmanydifferentwaystothe extent of
creatingsexual deviantssuchasrapists and eventually evenserial killers.
The Third is SPIRITUALADULTERY. Thisis aboutIdolatry,covetousness andapostasy thatare spokenof
as spiritual adultery.Idolatryis the religious worship of idols.Itisexcessive orblindadoration,
reverence, devotion.Covetousness inthe bible isdescribedasastrong desire tohave thatwhich
belongstoanother.Itis consideredtobe a verygrievousoffenseinScripture.The tenthcommandment
forbidscovetinganythingthatbelongstoa neighbor,includinghishouse,hiswife,his servants,hiscar
or anythingthatbelongstohim(Exod20:17). Apostasy isdefectionfromthe faith,anact of
unpardonable rebellionagainstGodandhistruth. The sinof apostasyresultsinthe abandonmentof
Christiandoctrine andconduct.Whenindividuals orgroupsof people turnawayfromthe principlesof
the gospel,theyare ina state of apostasy. Therefore inreference tospiritualadulteryall of these
actionsapply.
Whenwe observe all whatisgoingon in today’sworldone mayquestion:“Are humansreallyworthyof
beingtreatedwithdignity byGod?Because that that presumptionreflectsanaura of blatant
specialism…anunwarrantedpreference forourownspecies.Yet whoamonguswouldchoose a lifestyle
devoidof dignity?We all have anintrinsicsense of dignityasa directresultof usbeingcreatedin the
image of God. God createdus inHis likenessandtherefore reflectmanyof the qualities.Yeswe were
made like Himbutdo we act inkeepingwithHisways? Thatisthe milliondollarquestion….!
‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart”( Matthew 5:27-28).
We haveread thatthe world’soldestprofession asprostitution.Buttragically,theworld'soldest
profession hasoneof theworld's youngestworkforcestoday.Itis found thatmillionsof teenageand
even preteen girls are trapped in prostitution and pornography typically earning money fortheirfamilies
or even for themselvesdepending on thecircumstance. Inadditionall overthe worldyoungstersare
usedforhuman traffickingwhichisthe onlyformof slaverythathasdevelopedasa directresultof the
pornographicindustry…AsChristianscanwe close oureyesandcontinue regardless.