Scripture: “You shall not commit adultery.”
Exodus 20:14 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the sixth commandment (You shall not murder) presents an ethical prohibition that rests on the sanctity of human life as image-bearers of God (Genesis 1:26–27 9:6).
Today’s reading is the seventh commandment: You shall not commit adultery. The second of the five prohibitions, this commandment is similar to the sixth in that it addresses the welfare of life—focusing on the integrity of the community and the family unit (see below historical context). But Jesus focused on the individual (see below takeaway).
Historical context: Historians Matthews, Chavalas, and Walton contend this seventh commandment focuses on familial (not marital) integrity to protect the husband’s name (assuring his children would be his own). Hence, when a married man had an affair with an unmarried woman, the Mosaic law did not deem his actions adulterous—the offender merely paid damages to the father (22:16–17). Still, the law prohibited promiscuous behavior (Deuteronomy 22:21; 23:2) to uphold the integrity of the family unit, for “Compromise or collapse of the family meant compromise or collapse of society” (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, 20:14, Electronic edition).
Like the other nine commandments, the seventh set Israel apart from its pagan neighbors. How so? In contrast to Israel, many neighboring cultures viewed wives as the husband’s possession and adulterous wives as damaged goods. Only Israel held wives in high esteem as one flesh with their husbands (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, 20:14, Electronic edition).
Takeaway: As with the sixth commandment that prohibited murder, Jesus upped the stakes for the seventh and confronted adultery as a matter of the heart. He declared, “But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28 ESV). He also leveled the playing field by making no distinction between men and women who commit adultery, as evidenced by his response to the Pharisees when they attempted to entrap him on the issue of a woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).
So, does the Old Testament view of adultery conflict with Christ’s teaching? No, Jesus was just as concerned about the stability of the family and society. But he was more concerned about our relationship with our Creator. As ancient Israel ongoingly compromised the integrity of Yahweh’s holiness code and followed the idolatrous ways of their pagan neighbors, the Lord spoke through the prophets (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea in particular) in calling Israel an adulterous nation. And Jesus referred to those who were ashamed of him and his teachings as adulterous (Mark 8:38).
Our takeaway? Infidelity, first and foremost, is a sin against God. When we violate the trust of our spouses, we breach the covenant we made with our Creator. Secondly, it begins with lustful thoughts that develop into emotional and physical affairs if left unchecked. And in this internet age, acting out with pornography is tantamount to infidelity. Sadly, surveys have shown that the percentage of adults who engage in pornography is the same as that in the secular culture.
Our part? The goal is not to “abstain” (resist) but to “obtain” (seek) purity of life. We will lose the battle if we focus solely on resisting sexual temptations. Instead, we need to fill the holes of our deepest longings with more of Christ through worship, his Word, prayer, godly fellowship, and serving others. And his grace and mercy will shore us up each step of the way because our gracious Father has imputed his Son’s purity of life into us so that we might hunger for righteousness and satiate our hunger in a maturing, loving relationship with our Triune God (Matthew 5:6).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for crediting your Son’s righteousness to us through his purity of life—always seeking and doing your will—even unto death. Please help us follow a similar pursuit, relying on your mercy and grace to obtain a life of fidelity that honors you and satisfies our deepest longings for pure, unadulterated love. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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