Adultery

DEVOTION

EXODUS

ADULTERY

Ex 20:14

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

NIV

Once again this is very straight forward regarding our relationships out of the bond of marriage. We simply are not to have any sexual relationship with anyone other than our spouse. It would seem this does not apply to people who are not married although God lays down some other laws concerning that issue at a later time. This particular command deals with only the physical affections of other than a spouse. However, Jesus added something to this command.

Matt 5:27-29

27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'   28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

NIV

This takes life to a whole new level. We men cannot even look at a woman and have the least among of lust in our heart otherwise we might as well have the deed. Now in this culture of ours it would seem many woman lust after men. It would be wise for the Christian woman not to allow that lust to enter her heart. We all are continuely bombarded with the opportunity to lust after the beautiful people. Their pictures, their lives are always thrust before us in a multitude of media. It is not just their looks, although that is the main attraction, but it is also their fame and fortune, the lifestyle of the rich and famous, that attracts some to have a lustful heart. We simply cannot afford to allow this adulterous mindset any room in our heart and mind. But there is also another level to this concept of adultery. Although there is not a specific one scripture that says we are the bride of Christ, there are many scriptures which give us that picture, that truth.

Rev 19:6-9

"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."  (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

NIV

Christ is also referred to as the bridegroom in other verses thus we, the church, are his bride. Thus if we are having an affair with the world we are committing adultery against Christ. If we even look at the world with lust we are committing the deed. That is to say if we want all the things of this world, if we spend all our energy trying to attain the things of this world, then who is it we are in love with? We are admonished to seek first the kingdom of God. We would have to include the whole of chapter six of Matthew if we were to give the full view of how we are to live as the bride of Christ in regard to the world. But it is needed to see most of it as it defines what adultery with the world looks like, and how we are enticed.

Matt 6:19-34

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

NIV

Are we a faithful bride or do we lust for this world Jesus defines? Now, if we have committed this sin in the flesh, we can have forgiveness, if we repent and seek his forgiveness. If we have only lusted with our eyes and allowed them to bring that lust into our heart and mind, we too can repent and have forgiveness. If we are having an affair with the world, or even just lustfully looking at it, we too can repent and seek forgiveness. The whole of this is repent. Turn from our wicked ways. There can be no room of others in our life. No room for anyone other than our spouse, no room for anything other than our bridegroom, Christ.