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'But I Say to You' (Part Three): Adultery

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Over the past fifty years, major cultural issues have centered around sex, marriage, and family, driving the sexual revolution since the late 1950s and 1960s. This relentless push by libertines across Western civilization seeks to dismantle all restrictions on sexuality, moving from free sex in the 1960s to issues of sexual orientation, homosexual marriage, and now transgenderism. The seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14), along with its associated moral precepts, is under attack, with efforts to erase its significance. Society now widely accepts multiple sexual partners before and after marriage, contrary to God's laws against fornication and adultery, with only a shrinking percentage of religious conservatives upholding virgin marriage and spousal faithfulness. The term adultery, like fornication, has become antiquated in public discourse, used almost exclusively in theological contexts, as few believe it is wrong. Legally, adultery remains a minor offense in some states but is rarely enforced, often struck down as unconstitutional for infringing on privacy and personal freedom. Feminists have pushed to eliminate these laws, viewing them as tools of oppression against women. In practice, adultery is widely tolerated, with little moral or religious taboo remaining, barely registering in the consciousness of many, who engage in it without fear or guilt. In Jesus' day, a similar disregard for laws against fornication and adultery pervaded the Roman Empire, including among the Jews, where easy divorce facilitated serial adultery. Jesus addressed this in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:27-30), expanding the seventh commandment beyond the physical act to include lustful thoughts, declaring that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart. He emphasized the seriousness of sexual fidelity, warning that failure to adhere to it risks exclusion from the Kingdom of God. Jesus broadened the commandment to apply to men as well as women, countering the Jewish interpretation that primarily held women accountable. He included all forms of sexual infidelity, regardless of marital status or age, using the Greek term moicheua to encompass a wider sense of moral corruption. He identified the heart as the source of adultery, stating that lustful thoughts alone constitute sin, without requiring a physical act. This internal corruption, He taught, must be addressed through drastic measures if necessary, likening it to cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye to avoid sin and ensure entry into the Kingdom. Paul further reinforced this in I Corinthians 6:9-20, listing sexual sins among those that bar one from inheriting the Kingdom of God, emphasizing that sexual immorality defiles both body and spirit, constituting unfaithfulness to Christ, our divine Spouse. Such sin is uniquely wicked for Christians, as it associates Christ with corrupt behavior due to our union with Him. Jesus' teaching, while stringent, also offers mercy, urging repentance and a life of purity, as seen in His response to the woman caught in adultery: "Go, and sin no more."

The Seventh Commandment: Adultery

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In Amos' prophecy, faithlessness and sexual immorality loom large, like a a prostitute chasing after lovers. Faithlessness extends into not keeping one's word.

America's Number One Addiction

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Pornography destroys intimacy and objectifies the sexual partner; it turns sex into a mechanical, self-gratifying act, destroying real, wholesome love.

The Seventh Commandment

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The seventh commandment protects family relationships from a sexual standpoint. Sexual sins are highly destructive, and God wants His children to be pure.

Purifying the Heart

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus advises a repentant Christian to attack sexual sin at its starting point, making it less about sinful acts than about an immoral way of thinking.

The Sacredness of Marriage

Article by James Beaubelle

Scripture holds the divinely ordained institution of marriage in high regard. Here is why God considers marriage to be so important to us, society, and His purpose.

Playing With Fire

Article by John O. Reid

Solomon uses the analogy of taking fire to his bosom or walking on hot coals to describe sinning. In particular, he warns against sexual sins.

The Writing of Prostitutes

'Prophecy Watch' by Martin G. Collins

What is pornography? Is nudity wrong? Discover the attitudes behind pornography and why Christians must strive for purity.

The Sexual Floodgate Is Open!

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

Progressive legislation is destroying the family, making sodomy the law of the land. Now pedophilia will be declared normal, and hence legal.

The Commandments (Part Sixteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

It is absolutely impossible for lust to bring about any kind of satisfaction. Adultery cannot be entered into without irrevocably damaging relationships.

Principled Living (Part Two): Conquering Sin

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christ warns that we must do everything possible to annihilate sin - surgically going right to the heart or mind: the level of thought and imagination.

Christian Marriage (Part One)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Cohabitation has led to increased divorce, marital violence, and lack of fidelity after marriage. Mass media has shamelessly used sex to promote materialism.

Themes of I Corinthians (Part 6)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Reminding us to stay sensitive to conscience, Paul suggests we become other-centered, doing everything to the glory of God, especially in our relationships.

Thou Shall Not Covet

Sermon by John O. Reid

Because virtually every sin begins as a desire in the mind, the command against coveting (lustful cravings) could be the key to keeping the other commandments.

God's Rest (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Coveting—lust—is a fountainhead of many other sins. Desiring things is not wrong, but desiring someone else's things promotes overtly sinful behavior.

Sin And Overcoming (Part 1): If Anyone Sins!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We are obligated to uphold a higher standard of morality, responsible for the letter and spirit of the law, as well as the prompts of our consciences.

The Commandments (Part Nineteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.

Matthew (Part Seven)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus, showing the spirit of the law, warns against rash divorces, taking oaths, invoking God's name frivolously, realizing that a covenant is binding.

Numbers (Part Three): Poised at the Jordan

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The last chapters in Numbers describe a lengthy holding pattern in which not much seemed to happen. We must have patience as we wait for the Kingdom of God.