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Adultery
August 14, 2021

In our study of the ten commandments, we come to the commandment against adultery. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes plotted against Him so they could have a legal reason to kill Him. Jesus found Himself at odds with the scribes and Pharisees on their interpretation of the law rather than the intent of the law, and it was no different for adultery.

One morning after getting up early to go to the Mount of Olives, Jesus then went to the temple and when he arrived Jesus became the center of attention as a woman was brought before him who according to the mob was caught in the very act of adultery. They reminded Jesus that the law of Moses said that she was to be stoned and wanted to know what Jesus thought. Instead of responding orally to them, Jesus stooped closer to the ground and began to write. Eventually the accusers began to leave and when Jesus looked up all he saw was the woman whom he told to go and sin no more.

John 8:1-11
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 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. 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. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 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. 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? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jesus was given correct information by the scribes and Pharisees except they left out one little point. When they told Jesus the woman was caught in the very act of adultery, that meant the man was there as well, and the man was not brought before Jesus, only the woman. In the Law of Moses both the man and woman were to be put to death.

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.

We can’t be sure what Jesus was writing on the ground. We do know that whatever Jesus wrote on the ground caused the crowd to disburse. Jesus could have written names and dates when the scribes and Pharisees had their affair. Jesus could have also written the name of the man with whom the woman had her affair. If that man were a high-ranking religious or government official, these men probably would have looked the other way. From the perspective of the man who was caught in the act of adultery, he might have thought, I can get rid of this woman so no harm will come to me in the future, and I can use her situation to bring harm to Jesus. The man caught in adultery lost on both counts as the woman was let go and Jesus did not bite on the bait. Some wonder how Jesus would have handled this situation if the man were also presented to Jesus. In other instances where He was challenged by the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus cited stories from the life of David. These stories include where David’s sin of adultery was forgiven by God even though David could have technically been put to death. The actual command within the ten commandments is given to us in Exodus.

Exodus 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

In the Old Testament, divorce was a common option that a man could exercise. If a man legally divorced his wife, she was free to marry another man; however, she could not remarry the man she divorced.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

When Jesus came on the scene, Jesus began to change the dialogue on adultery and fornication. Jesus taught that adultery, as all sin, begins in the heart. Whatever we do, good or evil, starts in our heart. Jesus explained that a man who looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in his heart. Jesus was showing that when we are in control of our minds, we can be in control of our actions. Jesus was showing that it is hypocritical to think one way while acting another way. He taught we are to separate ourselves from that which causes sin.

Matthew 5:27-30
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.

Jesus also explained that all sin begins in the heart, including adultery.

Matthew 15:15-20
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Just like the Pharisees sought to destroy Jesus by bringing to Him a woman caught in the act of adultery, they also tried to destroy Jesus through the laws of divorce. It was during one of His campaigns on the east side of the Jordan river that Jesus was approached by Pharisees who asked if it was lawful for a man to put away his wife, divorce her, for any cause. Jesus explained that God never intended divorce, but allowed it because of the hardness of the hearts of people. Jesus explained that infidelity was the only reason one should divorce, and this prompted his disciples to swear off marriage.

Matthew 19:1-10
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 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? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 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? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 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. 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. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

The teaching of Jesus caused the Church of God many problems decades ago. There were some who made married couples where one of the spouses were previously married and divorced to get divorced themselves. That teaching never considered the concept of forgiveness or the example of King David and his tryst with Bathsheba, that violated multiple of the ten commandments. Repentance is a change from past sin but does not undo past sin. When Jesus told the woman caught in the act of adultery to leave and sin no more, he was telling her to repent. Her repentance did not undo the past sin of adultery. Divorce is a real part of modern life because of the hardness of the hearts of the people. God doesn’t approve of divorce and we are not to judge others knowing that God can and will forgive according to God’s mercy. We do not need to require any action be taken by people who are today married where one or both in the marriage were previously married, because God can and will forgive according to God’s mercy.

When Jesus said that God allowed divorce and wrote it into His law because of the hardness of people, it should give us pause to consider what else, if anything, is written that was also included for the hardness of our hearts but not intended from the beginning, when Jesus was the Word that was with God. When Jesus came during His ministry, in part, it was to restore that which was from the beginning.

John 1:1-15
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Adultery is a sin of uncontrolled passion, and with the story of David and Bathsheba, instead of being where kings were expected, in battle with their troops, David stayed back in Jerusalem and saw the eye candy that was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba. David found out that her husband was in the field ready to go to war and invited Bathsheba over, and the result was adultery.

2 Samuel 11:1-6
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

The prophets spoke of adultery in their writings. Ezekiel wrote of Aholah and Aholibah because they committed adultery with their idols. With the prophets we touch on the evil practices of the people, and adultery now moves beyond a physical act to a spiritual act where gods with a small g and idols take the place of God. Today’s Christianity looks very different than the faith immediately after the death of Jesus. Easter and Christmas which are observed by the majority of Christians are holidays that are not commanded in the Bible, and the Holy Days that are commanded are ignored. Some of the background on Easter and Christmas delves into pre-Christian non-Judeo religious practices, meaning the faith of modern Christianity is a product in part of adultery of faith with pagan religions. Going back to Ezekiel, God warned that the religious adulteresses would be removed.

Ezekiel 23:36-49
The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations; That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house. And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments, And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil. And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads. Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them? Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women. And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled. And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire. Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness. And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

The Book of Malachi specifically calls out the priests who should know better and somehow make huge mistakes related to spiritual adultery that is somehow related to their acts of infidelity and adultery with their wife. In the passage we will read we will see how God will take their blessings and turn them into curses. God shows how solemn religious observances will become wildly out-of-control disasters, because the priests have forgotten the law of God causing many to stumble. Malachi shows how the priests had become partial in the law, picking and choosing what was important, just like the scribes and Pharisees who very well knew both man and woman were to be put to death for adultery and brought only the woman before Jesus. Malachi shows how adultery with a strange god, with a small g, corrupted Judah. These priests were unfaithful to God by bringing the ways of these pagan gods into their worship, and also became unfaithful to their wives.

Malachi 2:1-16
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

Jeremiah writes of Israel’s adultery with nature and foreign governments. While we live in the world today, we live for the Kingdom of God which will come at a time in the future when Jesus returns as King of kings and later when New Jerusalem descends out of heaven. Because Israel was unfaithful to God, God will bring difficulties to Israel, and yet even with the unfaithfulness, will offer mercy as the first option by providing pastors who know the Bible and who can teach it.

Jeremiah 3:6-18
The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

Later in Jeremiah, the prophet writes of the spiritual adultery that continues by the people, showing that those who continue in evil will be scattered. In graphic language, Israel is shown to be a woman with her skirt over her head so that all can see what Israel was actually up to.

Jeremiah 13:21-27
What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail? And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness. This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear. I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

When Hosea writes, he shows a land that is devoid of truth, mercy, and knowledge of God. Adultery becomes commonplace along with lying, murders, and theft. Even though Hosea wrote his words thousands of years ago these words are fitting for the time we live in. We know because of spiritual adultery we live in a land devoid of truth and knowledge of God. We also live in very unforgiving times. Hosea writes that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge and too many today are without an understanding of God. Movies and television shows make God out to be human in some way. Hosea concludes this passage by showing this all begins with spiritual adultery.

Hosea 4:1-14
Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

In Revelation, Jesus praises and chastises the churches at the beginning of the letter. To the church at Thyatira he chastises them for spiritual adultery and fornication, allowing outside religious practices to change our religious practices.

Revelation 2:18-22
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Later in the book of Revelation, Babylon is featured as the great whore who is the mother of harlots and abominations who becomes prominent when the whole world is drunk with her influence.

Revelation 17:1-5
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Proverbs tells us that people who lack understanding commit adultery not comprehending that adultery destroys the soul. Spiritual adultery will also kill the soul.

Proverbs 6:32-35
32. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

James tells us what we need to look for in our life to see if are committing spiritual adultery. He also states that sin begins in the heart, though he uses different words to explain that concept. He then shows that adultery, spiritual adultery is when we are friends with the world. The word for friendship in the passage we will read is philia, Strong’s Greek word 5373, meaning fondness or friendship and is related to philadelphia. If we are friends with the world this implies we are friends with enemies of God. We cannot be friends with the enemies of God. This does not mean we have to become enemies of this world. We need not to take any special action against the world. We do have to love the world less than we love God, just like we are to love our family members less than we love Jesus.

James 4:1-6
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Jesus was challenged on many passages from the Old Testament, including passages on adultery. The people who brought a woman to Jesus who was caught in the very act of adultery probably never considered they themselves were guilty of spiritual adultery. In the end for each of us, the standard is the same. We are not to commit adultery, whether physical or spiritual.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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