Discourse on the Subject of Adultery:

INTRODUCTION:

Today many do NOT consider adultery a major wrong, but these ones willfully forget that in the covenant, Mosaic Law, that God (YHWH), the party of the first part, concluded with Moses (Mosche) and the Israelite nation, the party of the second part, adultery was prohibited and series penalties were prescribed. This clearly shows that God (YHWH) took very seriously the principle he set forth in Genesis at Genesis 2:23-24, "and the man saith, `This `is' the `proper' step! bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh!' for this it is called Woman, for from a man hath this been taken; 24 therefore doth a man leave his father and his mother, and hath cleaved unto his wife, and they have become one flesh. " (Young's Literal Translation; YLT). Clearly showing that from the beginning God (YHWH) intended man to have one wife and stick with her and not go out and have relations with other women and for the wife to do likewise. This was emphasized by the statement, "they have become one flesh." Therefore, adultery would be willful disobedience with respect to God's (YHWH's) original purpose for mankind.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ON ADULTERY:

What is Adultery?

Adultery, as used in the Bible, generally refers to voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with one of the opposite gender other than one's mate, or, during the time that the Mosaic Law was in effect, any such intercourse by any man with a married or a betrothed women. Let's consider the ancient Hebrew root meaning of 'commit adultery' which is 'na'sph',' and its Koine Greek counterpart is 'moi-dheu'a' as used at Ezekiel 16:32, "A wife that committeth adultery! that taketh strangers instead of her husband!" (American Standard Version; ASV), and Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV).

Of course the pagan nations around about the nation of ancient Israel did not subscribe to a high moral code and indulged freely in many cases in promiscuity as shown in the history of adultery as found in the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend (1949, Volume 1, page 15, says, "It occurs in all parts of the world and though it is considered reprehensible by many cultures it has enjoyed a considerable popularity in all cultures and at all times." This was shown in the Bible with respect the attempted seduction of Joseph by the wife of Potiphar as recorded at Genesis 39:7-10, "And it cometh to pass after these things, that his lord's wife lifteth up her eyes unto Joseph, and saith, `Lie with me;' 8 and he refuseth, and saith unto his lord's wife, `Lo, my lord hath not known what `is' with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand; 9 none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.' 10 And it cometh to pass at her speaking unto Joseph day `by' day, that he hath not hearkened unto her, to lie near her, to be with her;" (YLT). Historically as well as at present, adultery is generally forbidden, but penalties are seldom imposed.

God's (YHWH's) Law Separates Ancient Israel:

However God's (YHWH's) law separated Israel from the pagan nations and raised the moral status of marriage and family life to a much higher plain than that of the surrounding nations. In fact, the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue stated in clear, unmistakable language at Exodus 20:14, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT); and at Deuteronomy 5:18, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT). This commandment was NOT done away with when Jesus (Yeshua) Christ instituted the new covenant as clearly shown at Luke 18:20, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother." (ASV). Clearly showing that to present from the beginning that adultery was prohibited by God (YHWH) and went against his intended purpose for mankind.

Law Covenant:

Under the Law Covenant that God (YHWH) made with Moses (Mosche) and the ancient nation of Israel the penalty for adultery was severe; to wit, death for both guilty parties. This is recorded at Deuteronomy 22:22-24, "If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel. 23 If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them to death with stones; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee." (ASV). Under this Law Covenant, if a wife was suspected of adultery she had to stand trial per Numbers 5:11-32, "And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13 and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act; 14 and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: 15 then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and shall bring her oblation for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is a meal-offering of jealousy, a meal-offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. 16 And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Jehovah: 17 and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and let the hair of the woman's head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal-offering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causeth the curse. 19 And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under thy husband, be thou free from this water of bitterness that causeth the curse. 20 But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband: 21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to fall away, and thy body to swell; 22 and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, and make thy body to swell, and thy thigh to fall away. And the woman shall say, Amen, Amen. 23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness: 24 and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causeth the curse; and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her `and become' bitter. 25 And the priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Jehovah, and bring it unto the altar: 26 and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 And when he hath made her drink the water, then it shall come to pass, if she be defiled, and have committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her `and become' bitter, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. 29 This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled; 30 or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then shall he set the woman before Jehovah, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. 31 And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity." (ASV). This requirement and God's (YHWH's) unique enforcement of it is no longer in force.

True Christians are not under the Mosaic Law:

While true Christians are not under the Mosaic Law, they are required to refrain from adultery. This is shown at Romans 13:8-:9, "Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (ASV); and at Romans 2:22, "thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?" (ASV).

In teaching Bible principles, Jesus (Yeshua) raised the moral standard still higher for true Christians, his footstep followers. He broadened out the matter of adultery, saying it was not limited to sexual contact a man might have with a woman not his mate, but to wrong desire one may have for another as shown at Matthew 5:27-28, "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (ASV); and at 2 Peter 2:14, "They want to look at nothing else but immoral women; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. They are under God's curse!" (The New Testament in Today's English Version; TEV).

In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) pointed out that the only scriptural grounds for divorce was fornication, Koine Greek 'por-nei'a', which is adultery and deviant sexual behavior. The remarriage of either mate who divorced on grounds other than fornication would constitute adultery. Even a single man who took such a divorced women as his wife would be guilty of adultery as testified to at Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and Matthew 19:9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Mark 10:11-12, "And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: 12 and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Luke 16:18, "Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Romans 7:2-3, "For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man." (ASV).

Adultery is a Sin Against God (YHWH):

Adultery is actually a sin against God (YHWH) our creator, and this is clearly shown at Genesis 39:9, "none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.'" (YLT). This should NOT be taken lightly as God (YHWH) shall judge those guilty of adultery and deviant sex, and none who persist in such a course will per Malachi 3:5, "And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner `from his right', and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts." (ASV); and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (ASV); and Hebrews 13:4, "`Let' marriage `be' had in honor among all, and `let' the bed `be' undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (ASV).

How true Proverbs 6:32-35, "He who committeth adultery `with' a woman lacketh heart, He is destroying his soul who doth it." (YLT). In fact, in a spiritual sense, adultery denotes unfaithfulness to God (YHWH) on the part of those who are joined to him in a covenant. Natural ancient Israel in the Law Covenant was, therefore, guilty of spiritual adultery because of deviant sex practices, including fornication/adultery, and false religious practices, some of which included sex-worship rites and the blatant disregard of the Seventh Commandment. This was brought out at Jeremiah 3:8-9, "And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 5:7-8, "How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses. 8 They were as fed horses roaming at large; every one neighed after his neighbor's wife." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 9:2, "Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 13:27, "I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?" (ASV); and at Hosea 7:4, "They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir `the fire', from the kneading of the dough, until it be leavened." (ASV).

CONCLUSION:

For similar reasons to those of the prophets of old, Jesus (Yeshua) denounce as adulterous the generation of the Jews of his day as testified to at Matther 12:39, "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:" (ASV); and at Mark 8:38, "If, then, a man is ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godliness and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (TEV). As James 4:4 states, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God." (ASV).

Clearly then, since the Nation of Ancient Israel had concluded a covenant with him, Almighty God (YHWH) clearly had every right to expect that they should live up to it, and to impose severe sanctions for its violation. This being especially so since adultery is actually a sin against him.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Written Sermon on the Wickedness of Adultery, Fornication, and other Forms of Immorality:

Dear Truth Seeker:

Today many immoral things are practiced by a great number of people, but this widespread committing of wickedness does not make it any less wrong. In fact, this condition, now existing, was foretold long ago in the Holy Bible at 2nd. Timothy 3:1-5 which reads as follows, "Do not forget this: there will be terrible times in the last days...Men will be lovers of self...They will be treacherous, reckless, pompous, lovers of pleasure rather than of God as they make a pretense of religion but negate its power..." (NAB). Immorality in its many forms is unlike other sins in that it is a sin against one's own body as shown at I Corinthians 6:18-19, "...Every other sin a man commits is outside his body, but the fornicator sins against his own body...(NAB). In fact, the truth that fornication is a sin against one's body can readily be seen from recent medical reports even without recourse to the Bible, God's written instructions for us. Specifically, reports about many types of diseases transmitted by illicit sexual relationships of various forms such as adultery, fornication, and other forms of immorality are much in the news. Who has not heard of AIDS, Herpes, Gonorrhea, etc. that plague homosexuals and other promiscuous individuals? Thus, obviously all forms of illicit sexual relationships, homosexual or heterosexual, are indeed sins against one's own body.

All forms of illicit sexual relationships are clearly works of the flesh and the Apostle Paul said, "Now the work of the flesh are..adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness..." (Galatians 6:18-19 per KJV). God does not view these unclean "works" of the flesh with pleasure no matter who may endorse them be he/she a high governmental official, a church leader, a community leader, or a common citizen. These works remain condemned by God as shown by the Apostle Paul at I Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye...the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God...be not deceived: neither fornicators,...nor adulteress, nor effeminate,...shall inherit the Kingdom of God." (KJV). In fact is plainly recorded that God will judge all adulteresses and fornicators at Hebrews 13:4 which reads, "...God himself will judge those who traffic in the bodies of others or defile the relationship of marriage." (TNTMB). This fact that God will punish those who practice illicit sexual relationships is made very clear by his actions in the past as shown by his destruction of the inhabitants of ancient Sodom for the practice of immoral sex relations both heterosexual and homosexual. Their sinful practices of adultery, fornication, and homosexuality were so salient that Moses wrote at Genesis 14:13 under God's inspiration, "...the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the Lord." (NAB). Their evil practices of various forms of illicit sexual relationships were so flagrant they even tried to have homosexual relationships with materialized angles of God as recorded at Genesis 19:1-7, "The two Angles reached Sodom in the evening...Before they went to bed, all the townsmen of Sodom,...closed in on the house. They called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them.'" (NAB). Because of their wicked action with respect illicit sexual relationships of various types, i.e., homosexuality, adultery, and fornication, God destroyed the Sodomites as recorded at Genesis 19:24, "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom...brimstone and fire...out of heaven;" (KJV).

Sex relations of course in the right context are not wrong. In fact, the Bible recommends that each person have his/her own marriage mate, "God went on to bless Noah and his sons and to say to them. 'Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth," Genesis 9:1 (NWT). It also recommends that each adult having sexual desires should, "Because of the prevalence of fornication, let each man have his own wife and each women have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife her due; but let the wife also do likewise to her husband...that Satan may not keep tempting you for your lack of self-regulation," 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NWT). What is wrong, sinful, etc. is illicit sexual relations of all types, not proper sexual relations between husband and wife. Illicit sexual relations include sexual relations before marriage as clearly shown, as follows, "This is what God wills...that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in covetous sexual appetite such as also those have which do not know God; that no one go to the point of harming and encroach upon the rights of his brother in this matter, because Jehovah is one who exacts punishment for all these things, just as we told you beforehand and also gave you a thorough witness. For God called us, not with allowance for uncleanness, but in connection with sanctification. So, then, the man that shows disregard is disregarding, not man, but God, who puts his holy spirit in you," 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NWT). Note: the Greek word translated as "fornication" is por-nei'a, and refers to sexual intercourse between unmarried persons, and to married persons having sexual intercourse with other than their mate. Since marriage is the official union of a man and a women to live together as husband and wife according to standards outlined in the Holy Bible; it is a divine institution. The Apostle Paul in one of his writings stated, "Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers," Hebrews 13:4 (NWT). Thus, getting legally married plays an important part in having a marriage that is accepted as being "honorable," and is part of being in subjection to the superior authorities in keeping with Titus 3:1 (NWT) which states, "Continue reminding them to be in subjection and obedient to governments and authorities as rulers." The Apostle Peter states, "Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, that, in the thing in which they are speaking against you as evildoers, they may as a result of your fine works...glorify God in the day for his inspection," 1 Peter 2:12-15 (NWT).

Therefore let no one deceive you--illicit sexual practices bring God's disfavor as shown by many passages in God's written work, the Holy Scriptures. This point is made clear at Romans 1:24-25, "In consequence, God delivered them up in their lusts to unclean practices; they engaged in the mutual degradation of their bodies, these men who exchanged the truth of God for a lie....: (NAB). Rightly, as stated in the Bible at Ecclesiastes 7:29, "...God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans." (NWT). These works or plans of the fallen flesh are clearly identified, and I Corinthians 6:13 states, "...God will do away with them in the end--but the body is not for immorality; it is for the lord...." (NAB). In addition, I Corinthians 6:18 warns all wishing to win God's favor to, "Shun lewd conduct." (NAB), since this sin is within the body; whereas, "Every other sin a man commits is outside his body." (NAB). Also, I Corinthians 7:2 warns us to avoid illicit sexual relations in the following words, "But to avoid immorality...." (NAB). The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians warned at Colossians 3:5, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence..." (KJV).

Since as can be plainly seen from the foregoing we should strive not to be a part of the wrong doing of this sinful generation noted at Mark 8:38, "...this faithless and corrupt age..." (NAB), where all sort of uncleanness exist as noted at Ephesians 4:19 as follows, "Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort...." (NWT). We should take heed to abstain from these things by noting what is God's will as expressed at I Thessalonians 4:3-5, "It is god's will that you grow in holiness: that you abstain from immorality, each of you guarding his members in sanctity and honor, not in passionate desire as do the Gentiles who know not God." (NAB). Not only must we not commit adultery, fornication, homosexuality (sodomy), and other illicit forms of sexual relationships; we must not as recorded at Matthew 5:28, "...look at a women lustfully...." (TNTMB). Specifically we must guard against committing any form of illicit sexual act as God wants us as shown at Hebrews 12:16, "that there may be no fornicator nor anyone not appreciating sacred things...." (NWT) among you; but wishes all to stop these wicked practices and repent as noted at Acts 26:20 as follows, "...they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (KJB)>

However, for those who refuse to repent and turn aside from wicked acts of illicit sexual relationships such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality (sodomy), beastality, etc., and as directed at Romans 6:6, "...our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed and we might be slaves to sin no longer." (NAB). For those who refuse to repent and stop these things a certain judgment awaits as God will give them up to destruction as shown by what he did to Sodom. Also, as shown y his action at Sodom, he can deliver the righteous as recorded at 2 Peter 3:7, "He did deliver Lot...." (NAB). Thus in closing it is imperative to recall to memory that he destroyed Sodom as an example to the ungodly per 2nd Peter 3:6, "And turning the cities of Sodom...into ashes condemned them...making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly." (KJV). To emphasize this he caused to be recorded for our guidance a warning with respect to what will come to pass on those rejecting his teachings and practicing wrong acts such as sodomy at Matthew 10:15 which reads, "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom...in the day of judgment, than for that city." Be of good cheer win God's approval by rejecting wickedness.

NAB ----- The New American Bible, St. Joseph Edition (Catholic Book Publishing Company)

KJV ----- King James Version of the Holy Bible

TNTMB --- The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips

NWT ----- The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures by The New World Bible Translation Committee

Your Friend in Christ Iris89