"You shall not commit adultery." - Exo 20:14

The Seventh commandment.

This commandment is unique in that it has both literal and figurative dimensions that are of tremendous significance.We have seen the relationship of parents to their children elevated in the commandment to honor father and mother. In this commandment, the covenant of Marriage is brought into focus. There is a literal application that has to do with the sanctity of the human body, and the keeping of a sacred vow. The figurative dimension has to do with our present and future relationship to our eternal Husband, and our fidelity to that relationship. The book of Hosea opens with the Lord instructing the prophet to marry a prostitute, symbolizing the relationship of a faithful God to an adulterous nation that has broken faith with her God by committing idolatry and worshipping other Gods. The book of Revelation ends with the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! We are indeed in very very deep waters here, and pray for guidance and clarity in our exposition.

The Hebrew word translated as adultery is Na'aph; it signified an act committed between a man and a married woman who is not his wife. More generally, we should understand it as an act committed between a person and a married person who is not their spouse. Like murder, and cursing ones parents, this act was punishable by the death of both the parties. God is a covenant keeper- and this act not only violates the covenant of marriage, it causes us to sin against our neighbor. The strongest words of condemnation are reserved for the woman who sins against her husband, with another man, for she is sinning against three persons at the same time. "For a prostitute's fee is only a loaf of bread, but an adulteress goes after a precious life." - Prov 6:26. She brings the penalty of death on herself by sinning against God, her husband, and on the person who joins her in it.

This is the reason that Jesus forbids remarriage after divorce if the spouse of the divorced party is still alive, because the principle of judgement for this sin still applies! The act of legal divorce does not negate the covenant made between husband and wife with their bodies when they were originally joined together by God and became 'one flesh'. "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."- Matthew 19:9 Divorce is not the problem, remarriage is!

The only conditions where divorce is acceptable is where the covenant has - already been broken - due to unfaithfulness from either party. The Mosaic Law made allowances for the sinfulness of man and allowed people to separate themselves from abusive and unfaithful relationships. Our Lord says, "Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so."" 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." Matt 19:4-7

(Side note: Jesus is quoting and applying Genesis quite literally which should put to rest any notion that the first few chapters in Genesis are allegorical or not inspired.)

The only condition where remarriage is acceptable is on the death of a spouse. "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God." - 1 Cor 7:39. Remember that Ruth (in the lineage of Jesus!) was a widow and she remarried Boaz!

Going deeper, our identification with Christ's death on the cross, through the sacrament of Baptism, separates us from our marriage with the Law of Sin and Death, and frees us to be married to Him who redeems us!! ( Similar to Ruth ) We are baptized into death, and rise from the water - redeemed and free of the contract death and sin have on us by the Law! It's why Water Baptism is CRITICAL to being a Christian! It enables us to legally be engaged to Christ as His Bride and Body(!), and receive the engagement ring (figuratively speaking) of the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Speaking of the Body, sexual immorality is universally condemned throughout Scripture, because it is a sin against our own body, and ultimately, against the property of God. "Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? - for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. - But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Cor 6:13-20 Do you see it? This passage deals with immorality by also referring to the joining of our bodies in marriage mentioned by our Lord from Genesis!

The seventh commandment is about the sanctity and symbolism of our earthly marriage to our heavenly Marriage! That is why adultery is such a heinous act in the eyes of our Lord. We have just barely outlined some major concepts in this post that should be cause for deep reflection and concern about our current culture. These deeds will not go unpunished....

Christ forgave the Samaritan woman who had 5 husbands and was living with the 6th. He did not condemn the woman the Pharisees dragged in front of Him (He was the only one who could !) but told her to go sin no more. Forgiveness is available, but is also linked to repentance.

If we turn from our sins then the Lord promises us, "I will take you to be My wife forever. I will take you to be My wife in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion. I will take you to be My wife in faithfulness, and you will know Yahweh."- Hosea 2:19-20

Hallelujah!!