What does the Bible say about adultery?
Adultery, the act of sexual intimacy between a married person and someone other than their spouse, is consistently condemned throughout the Bible. From the Ten Commandments to the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, Scripture presents a clear and unwavering stance against it. This isn’t merely about a legalistic prohibition, but about understanding the profound spiritual, relational, and societal harm that adultery inflicts, undermining the sacred covenant of marriage and distorting God’s design for human intimacy and faithfulness. The biblical witness highlights a pervasive concern for fidelity within marriage.
The Bible unequivocally condemns adultery as a grievous sin that violates God's covenant of marriage and harms individuals and communities.
Adultery as a Violation of God's Law
The prohibition against adultery is foundational to biblical ethics, appearing explicitly and prominently in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:14 states plainly, "You shall not commit adultery." This command is reiterated in Deuteronomy 5:18, emphasizing its importance within the covenant relationship between God and His people. This isn't merely a suggestion but a divine imperative. The Old Testament law prescribed severe penalties for adultery, including death (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22), highlighting the gravity with which God views this sin and the way it ruptures the divinely ordained institution of marriage. While the New Testament does not uphold these specific civil penalties, it affirms the moral weight of the prohibition.
Adultery in the Wisdom Literature and Prophets
The wisdom literature, particularly the book of Proverbs, frequently warns against the seductive allure and destructive consequences of adultery. Proverbs 6:27-29 vividly describes the impossibility of escaping the consequences: "Can a man carry fire in his lap and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished." These passages emphasize not only the spiritual offense but also the practical ruin and shame that accompany such actions. The prophets also frequently used the metaphor of adultery to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God, equating spiritual idolatry with marital infidelity (e.g., Jeremiah 3:8-9; Ezekiel 16). This metaphorical use underscores the deep breach of covenant that both actions represent.
Jesus' Teaching on Adultery and Lust
Jesus intensified the understanding of adultery, moving beyond the physical act to the heart's intent. In His "Sermon on the Mount," Jesus declares in Matthew 5:28, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This revolutionary teaching reveals that sin originates in the heart and mind, not merely in outward actions. For Jesus, true righteousness involves purity of thought and desire, pointing to the need for internal transformation. This teaching challenges believers to cultivate inner holiness and to guard their minds as well as their bodies. It also means that even without physical consummation, the act of lust is a serious violation of God's design for sexual purity.
Adultery in the Apostolic Writings
The New Testament epistles consistently uphold the sanctity of marriage and condemn adultery. Paul, in his letters, frequently lists sexual immorality, including adultery, among the works of the flesh that are contrary to the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21) and warns believers to flee from such sins. He reminds the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6:18, "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." The author of Hebrews stresses, "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous" (Hebrews 13:4). These passages affirm that sexual purity is integral to Christian living and that adultery is an offense against one's own body, one's spouse, and ultimately against God. While there is broad consensus on the sinfulness of adultery, some Christian traditions differ on the permissibility of divorce and remarriage in cases of adultery. Jesus mentions "sexual immorality" (porneia) as a possible ground for divorce in Matthew 19:9, leading to different interpretations among denominations concerning the aftermath of adultery and the possibility of new marital covenants. However, these distinct views do not diminish the universal condemnation of adultery itself across Christian theology.
Bible verses about adultery
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
"Neither shalt thou commit adultery."
"And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."
"Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched? So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished."
"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."
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."
"Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge."
Frequently asked
Is lust the same as adultery in the Bible?
Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:28 that looking at someone with lustful intent is tantamount to committing adultery in one's heart. This shows that while physical adultery is the consummated act, lust is the internal sin of the heart that leads to it. Both are serious in God's eyes, revealing a need for inner purity and self-control, aiming at guarding our minds and desires in alignment with God's design for sexual faithfulness.
Can an adulterer be forgiven?
Yes, absolutely. The Bible teaches that God is rich in mercy and forgiveness for all sins, including adultery, when there is genuine repentance. Passages like 1 John 1:9 assure us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. While the consequences of adultery may still be painful, God offers full pardon and restoration to those who turn to Him in confession and faith.
Does the Bible allow for divorce in cases of adultery?
Jesus, in Matthew 19:9, indicates that 'sexual immorality' (often understood to include adultery) is a legitimate ground for divorce. However, there are varied interpretations among Christians regarding this verse—some see it as an exception that permits remarriage, while others believe it permits separation but not remarriage. The Bible strongly upholds the permanence of marriage, and divorce is always seen as a tragic outcome of sin, but most traditions acknowledge this specific allowance.
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