Adultery is mentioned frequently in the Bible as a serious sin. But what exactly constitutes adultery according to God? This article will examine how God defines adultery based on scriptures in the Old and New Testaments. We’ll look at the act itself, the heart and mind behind it, relevant commandments, and key Bible passages. By the end, you should have a clear understanding of what God says about the meaning and gravity of adultery.
The Act of Adultery
At its most basic level, adultery is committing sexual acts outside of marriage. God designed marriage to be an exclusive covenant between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Any sexual relations outside of this bond violate the commitment and trust marriage represents.
The seventh of the Ten Commandments explicitly prohibits adultery: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). This commandment comes from God himself at Mount Sinai, establishing adultery as a grave sin.
In the Old Testament, the death penalty was instituted for both parties involved in adultery (Leviticus 20:10). While not carried out today, this demonstrates how seriously God regarded adultery as a corruption of his good design for marriage.
Adultery in the Heart
However, Jesus took the Old Testament commandment further in his Sermon on the Mount. He emphasized that adultery begins internally, in the heart, before any physical act occurs:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
God examines people’s hearts and intended actions, not just outward behaviors. Indulging in mental fantasies of adultery violates God’s design for sexuality and marriage just as much as physical acts.
Lustful intent reveals a heart that is not fully devoted to one’s spouse. Adultery in God’s eyes can be committed without any physical intimacy taking place.
What About Divorce?
In addition to lust and sexual acts, Jesus also equated divorce and remarriage with adultery:
“And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9).
Unless the divorce was for a spouse’s unrepentant sexual immorality, remarriage after divorce amounts to adultery. By joining to a new partner, obligations and faithfulness to the previous spouse are breached. The exclusivity and permanence of marriage are violated.
So in Jesus’ teachings, adultery encompasses:
– Sexual acts outside of marriage
– Mental lust for someone who is not your spouse
– Divorce and remarriage (except for unrepentant sexual immorality)
This expanded view gets to the heart of God’s design for marriage and sexuality. For believers in Jesus, thinking adultery is just about physical acts alone misses the point.
Adultery Violates Other Commandments
When we understand adultery as God defines it, we can see it is not an isolated act. It almost always violates other commandments simultaneously:
1. Lying and deceit. Adultery usually involves deception, sneakiness, half-truths, cover-ups. All of these are forms of lying, which God prohibits (Exodus 20:16).
2. Covetousness. The lustful coveting of a person who is not your spouse is at the root of adultery. This clearly violates the 10th commandment not to covet your neighbor’s wife (Exodus 20:17).
3. Stealing. Adultery steals the trust, affection, and faithfulness owed to one’s spouse. It takes what rightfully belongs to the marriage and gives it to an illicit relationship.
So in multiple ways, adultery stands opposed to God’s laws for human relationships. It represents a web of deceitful desires and actions that affront God’s wisdom and design. This multi-faceted nature of adultery makes it repeatedly condemned throughout Scripture.
Old Testament Examples
The Old Testament contains many examples of adultery and God’s response to it. These accounts help establish God’s attitude toward adultery:
David and Bathsheba
One of the most well-known accounts of adultery is David’s affair with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. While Bathsheba was married to Uriah, David slept with her. When she became pregnant, David’s attempts to cover up the affair failed. So he ended up arranging for Uriah’s death in battle.
For his grievous sins of adultery, deceit, and murder, God punished David severely (2 Samuel 12:1-14). Through the prophet Nathan, God pronounced that David had “despised” God’s commandments and would face dire consequences in his family from then on.
This narrative reveals how God was displeased with David’s adultery and sought to discipline him and turn him back to righteousness.
Solomon’s Many Wives
Another telling example is Solomon, David’s son. 1 Kings 11 describes how Solomon disobeyed God’s command for kings not to acquire many wives (Deuteronomy 17:17).
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women” (1 Kings 11:1). He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines. This enormous harem led Solomon to idolatry and evil:
“For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods…” (1 Kings 11:4).
Solomon’s adultery was not in secret. It was brazen, public sin. His passion for so many women violated God’s standards for marriage and righteousness. This is another illustration of how seriously God regards marital faithfulness and how dangerous widescale adultery is to a society.
New Testament Examples and Teachings
The New Testament continues the strong warnings against adultery found in the Old Testament. Adultery is consistently listed among the sins that, if unrepented, will exclude people from God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8).
Pharisees and the Woman Caught in Adultery
A famous passage where Jesus encounters an adulteress is John 8:1-11. The Pharisees bring a woman caught in the act of adultery and publicly ask Jesus if she should be stoned (the punishment in the Law).
Jesus replies: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). The Pharisees’ own consciences convicted them, and they left one by one.
To the woman, Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11). Though she deserved death, Jesus offers her grace, forgiveness, and a new way of life without adultery’s sin and shame.
Adultery as Grounds for Divorce
As referenced earlier, Jesus permitted divorce in cases of unrepentant sexual immorality:
“And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9).
This implies adultery essentially breaks the marriage covenant, freeing the innocent spouse to legitimately divorce and remarry. Adultery is a profoundly hurtful betrayal that ruptures the marital bond on a deep level.
So while God hates divorce in general (Malachi 2:16), adultery represents a particular situation where divorce is biblically allowed.
Why Does Adultery Matter So Much to God?
Considering all the evidence, we can conclude adultery is extremely serious in God’s eyes. It violates his good purposes for marriage and sexuality. But why does adultery draw such strong condemnation compared to other sins? Here are some key reasons:
1. It corrodes marriage and family. As the most basic building block of society, marriage and family must be protected. Adultery undermines these crucial foundations.
2. It spreads deception and distrust. Families and communities function based on trust and honesty. Adultery destroys those bonds.
3. It is often injustice to the injured spouse. Adultery inflicts immense pain and consequences on the innocent husband or wife.
4. It permanently alters lives. Adulterous relationships often lead to divorce, child custody battles, unintended pregnancies, and lasting emotional trauma.
God knows the immense damage adultery inflicts, so he forcefully warns against it. His commands are given to protect individuals, marriages, and society as a whole.
Fleeing Adultery
For believers seeking to honor God and his Word, what practical steps can help avoid adultery? Here are some key actions to take:
– Renew your mind with scripture and reject cultural lies about sex and marriage (Romans 12:2)
– Nip lustful thoughts in the bud; don’t entertain them (2 Timothy 2:22)
– Avoid tempting situations that could inflame passion (Proverbs 6:27)
– Cultivate complete satisfaction in your spouse (Proverbs 5:19)
– Become totally transparent with your spouse about temptations (James 5:16)
– Surround yourself with godly friends of the same gender (Titus 2:6-8)
– Immediately confess any flirtatious interactions (1 John 1:9)
– Pray constantly for purity of heart and mind (Psalm 51:10)
With the Spirit’s help and God’s grace, married couples can root adultery out of their hearts and lives. They can maintain undivided loyalty and enjoy all the blessings of an adultery-free marriage.
Conclusion
Adultery is explicitly and repeatedly prohibited throughout Scripture, from the Ten Commandments to Jesus’ teachings. God defines it not just as an physical act, but also as lust, divorce, and remarriage. Adultery strikes at the heart of God’s design for marriage and sexuality. It brings immense harm to individuals, families, and society as a whole. As children of God, we must flee from adultery and all the sins surrounding it. Through Jesus Christ, we can find forgiveness and freedom when we fail. And by the Spirit’s power, we can live in joyful purity within God’s plan for marriage and sexuality.