ADULTRY

Adultery: A Biblical Perspective

📖 Exodus 20:14 – "You shall not commit adultery."

Adultery is a serious sin in the Bible, breaking the sacred covenant of marriage and bringing destruction to individuals, families, and communities. God calls His people to faithfulness, purity, and integrity in their relationships.

What Does the Bible Say About Adultery?

1️⃣ Adultery Begins in the Heart
📖 Matthew 5:27-28 – "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
👉 Jesus teaches that adultery isn’t just the act—it starts with lustful thoughts.

2️⃣ God Honors Marriage
📖 Hebrews 13:4 – "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
👉 Marriage is a sacred covenant that must be protected.

3️⃣ Adultery Destroys Lives
📖 Proverbs 6:32 – "But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself."
👉 Adultery leads to pain, broken trust, and serious consequences.

4️⃣ God Offers Forgiveness
📖 John 8:10-11 – "Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’"
👉 Jesus offers grace, but He calls us to repentance and purity.

5️⃣ We Must Flee Temptation
📖 1 Corinthians 6:18 – "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body."
👉 The Bible calls us to run from temptation rather than entertain it.

How to Guard Against Adultery:

✅ Commit to Faithfulness – Honor your marriage and keep your vows sacred.
✅ Guard Your Heart & Mind – Avoid temptation in entertainment, conversations, and relationships.
✅ Stay Accountable – Surround yourself with godly men who will challenge you to stay pure.
✅ Strengthen Your Marriage – Invest in love, communication, and prayer with your spouse.
✅ Repent & Seek God’s Grace – If you have fallen, turn back to God in repentance.

📖 1 Corinthians 10:13 – "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

🔥 Challenge: Stay faithful, stay pure, and stay strong in Christ. He provides the strength to resist temptation and the grace to restore brokenness!

God’s Heart on Adultery

📖 Exodus 20:14 – "You shall not commit adultery."

God’s heart on adultery is clear and unwavering—He calls His people to faithfulness, purity, and honor in marriage. Adultery is a serious sin because it violates the sacred covenant of marriage, damages trust, and causes deep wounds. However, God also offers forgiveness and restoration to those who repent and turn back to Him.

Why Does God Take Adultery So Seriously?

1️⃣ Marriage Reflects God’s Covenant Love
📖 Ephesians 5:25 – "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her."
👉 Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with the church—faithful, sacrificial, and unbreakable. Adultery distorts this sacred image.

2️⃣ Adultery Begins in the Heart
📖 Matthew 5:27-28 – "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
👉 Jesus makes it clear that adultery isn’t just a physical act—it starts with lustful thoughts and uncontrolled desires.

3️⃣ God Hates the Pain & Destruction It Causes
📖 Proverbs 6:32 – "But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself."
👉 Adultery leads to broken families, loss of trust, and deep emotional wounds. God desires to protect us from this pain.

4️⃣ Faithfulness is a Mark of Godly Character
📖 Hebrews 13:4 – "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
👉 God calls us to honor marriage and remain pure in thought and action.

God’s Grace & Redemption for the Unfaithful

While God hates adultery, He loves the adulterer and offers forgiveness to those who repent.

📖 John 8:10-11 – "Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’"
👉 Jesus didn’t excuse the sin, but He offered grace and a call to repentance.

📖 1 John 1:9 – "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
👉 God’s heart is always for restoration, healing, and a new beginning.

How to Guard Against Adultery:

✅ Commit to Purity – Protect your heart and mind from temptation.
✅ Strengthen Your Marriage – Invest in love, communication, and prayer with your spouse.
✅ Set Boundaries – Avoid compromising situations and relationships.
✅ Seek Accountability – Surround yourself with godly men who will challenge you to walk in integrity.
✅ Repent & Seek God’s Grace – If you’ve fallen, turn back to God—He is ready to restore you.

📖 Psalm 51:10 – "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

🔥 Challenge: Choose faithfulness today. Guard your heart, honor your marriage, and reflect God’s love through purity and integrity.

Key Scriptures on Adultery

The Bible strongly warns against adultery, calling believers to faithfulness, purity, and integrity in relationships. Here are key scriptures that address adultery:

God’s Command Against Adultery

📖 Exodus 20:14 – "You shall not commit adultery."
👉 One of the Ten Commandments, showing God's high standard for marriage.

📖 Leviticus 20:10 – "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death."
👉 Under the Old Testament law, adultery was seen as a grave offense with severe consequences.

Adultery Begins in the Heart

📖 Matthew 5:27-28 – "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
👉 Jesus teaches that adultery isn’t just physical—it begins with lustful thoughts.

📖 James 1:14-15 – "But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
👉 Sin starts with temptation and desire, leading to destruction.

The Consequences of Adultery

📖 Proverbs 6:32-33 – "But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away."
👉 Adultery destroys lives and reputations.

📖 1 Corinthians 6:18 – "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body."
👉 Sexual sin deeply affects a person’s heart, soul, and body.

God Calls for Faithfulness in Marriage

📖 Hebrews 13:4 – "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
👉 Marriage is sacred and must be kept pure.

📖 Malachi 2:16 – "The man who hates and divorces his wife," says the Lord, the God of Israel, "does violence to the one he should protect," says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful."
👉 God desires faithfulness in marriage.

God's Mercy & Forgiveness for the Adulterer

📖 John 8:10-11 – "Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’"
👉 Jesus offers grace but calls for repentance.

📖 1 John 1:9 – "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
👉 God forgives those who truly repent.

📖 Psalm 51:10 – "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
👉 Ask God for a pure heart and a renewed spirit.

Encouragement:

📖 1 Corinthians 10:13 – "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
👉 God always provides a way to resist temptation!

🔥 Challenge: Choose faithfulness, purity, and integrity. If you have fallen, turn to God’s grace and restoration. Honor marriage, guard your heart, and live a life pleasing to God!

DISCLAIMER NOTICE: The information contained in this resource is general in nature and is not intended to provide or be a substitute for advice, consultation or treatment with a duly licensed mental health practitioner or other medical professional. This resource is intended to provide practical faith-based guidelines for balanced living and is not a replacement for medical advice. Professional services should be pursued whenever necessary and/or appropriate. By utilizing this resource, individuals acknowledge that Men of Faith is not providing direct clinically-oriented mental health treatment or therapy, and that it does not create a therapeutic relationship between any individual and Men of Faith.  Individuals who use this resource also agree to indemnify and hold harmless, Men of Faith, its licensees, affiliates, and assigns, as well as the officers, agents, and employees of Men of Faith and its licensees, affiliates, and assigns, from and against any and all liability, loss, damages, costs, charges, legal fees, recoveries, judgments, penalties, and expenses, which may be obtained against, imposed upon or suffered by Men of Faith. Additionally, certain views and opinions expressed in this resource may be those from sources other than Men of Faith and do not necessarily represent the views of Men of Faith, nor imply an endorsement by Men of Faith. All rights are reserved worldwide and no part of this resource may be reproduced in any form (print or electronic) without the expressed written permission of Men of Faith.