The relentless push to dismantle moral boundaries surrounding sexuality has been evident in societal shifts, targeting the very essence of the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery," as found in Exodus 20:14. This commandment, along with its associated moral precepts, is under constant attack, with efforts to erase its significance by undermining the biological basis of sex itself. Society now often accepts having multiple sexual partners before and after marriage, directly opposing God's laws against fornication and adultery. Only a small fraction of religious conservatives still uphold the ideals of virgin marriage and spousal faithfulness, while the majority ridicule such standards as outdated. The term "adultery" has become archaic in common usage, relegated almost exclusively to theological contexts, as public discourse rarely addresses it due to widespread acceptance of such behaviors. Legally, adultery remains a minor offense in some states, though enforcement is virtually nonexistent, with laws often struck down as invasive to privacy or incompatible with personal freedom. Feminists have also advocated for the removal of these laws, viewing them as tools of oppression historically used by men to control women. In legal contexts, adultery typically only surfaces in divorce proceedings, affecting alimony or custody decisions, while in the military, it is addressed only when it impacts readiness or discipline, not for moral reasons. As a result, adultery is widely practiced with little fear or guilt, barely registering as wrong in the collective consciousness. The increasing secularization of society further normalizes it, making it more the norm than the exception. In the time of Jesus Christ, a similar disregard for laws against fornication and adultery existed across the Roman Empire, including among the Jews, where easy divorce facilitated serial adultery. Jesus sought to combat this among His disciples, emphasizing the original divine intent of the law. Jesus expands the understanding of the seventh commandment in His teachings, revealing that adultery is not limited to physical acts but begins in the heart with lustful thoughts. He declares that whoever looks at another with lust has already committed adultery in their heart, applying this sin to all, regardless of gender, marital status, or age. This broadens the commandment to encompass all forms of sexual infidelity and perversion, highlighting that illicit sex is evil whenever and by whomever it is practiced. He stresses the severity of sexual sin, warning that those who persist in it risk exclusion from the Kingdom of God. Furthermore, Jesus illustrates the progression of lust from the heart to the eye and then to the hand, showing how it moves from thought to action. He uses hyperbole to urge drastic measures to avoid such sin, emphasizing that purity is paramount for entering the Kingdom of God. Sexual immorality, including practices like pornography and auto-eroticism, is identified as a profound evil that defiles both body and spirit, uniquely wicked for Christians due to their spiritual union with Christ. This sin is not merely personal but affects relationships with others and with God, carrying eternal consequences. Despite His strong stance against sexual immorality, Jesus is not quick to condemn but calls for repentance, urging a life of purity and sanctification for those who seek to enter the Kingdom of God.

We are commanded with clarity and force: You shall not commit adultery. Breaking this seventh commandment, though often hidden, is a grave sin that brings profound personal consequences. Adultery, committed in secret and seldom making public news, remains a significant transgression, creating turmoil in its aftermath. Within the spirit of this commandment lie numerous other sexual sins, contributing to an immense, incomprehensible tally of wrongdoing. The impact of adultery extends to countless divorces, though exact numbers are impossible to determine, as it intertwines with other sins in fracturing relationships. Adultery is identified as an outgrowth of a broader national sin of deceit and faithlessness, reflected in the cultural and social fabric of a people. God portrays this faithlessness through powerful metaphors, likening it to harlotry and depicting a nation as a faithless spouse, chasing after fleeting desires. This spirit of harlotry, an intense attitude of infidelity, permeates society as a way of life, drawing individuals into its current of influence. It fosters an environment of distrust, where truth and steadfast love are absent, replaced by defensiveness and detachment among people. This spirit of harlotry, akin to an addiction, enslaves the heart, driving actions and destroying discretion and understanding. Adultery, rooted in deceit and irresponsibility, often hides behind secrecy due to an inherent awareness of its wrongness. It reflects a self-centered pursuit of momentary pleasure over discipline and fidelity, tearing apart families and producing societal ills such as broken homes and diseases. Leaders and industries profit from this cesspool of sin, perpetuating a cycle of moral decay. God laments the inability of a people to remain faithful, not only to Him but also to mates, contracts, and commitments. Surveys reveal a stark contradiction: while many acknowledge adultery as wrong, a significant percentage still engage in it when opportunity arises, driven by opportunism and self-interest rather than principle. Reasons for avoiding adultery often stem from fear of consequences or social pressure, rather than a commitment to faithfulness or reverence for God. Yet, God sees all and holds all accountable, urging a transformation toward fidelity in imitation of His unchanging nature. The root of pervasive sexual sins, including adultery, lies in a national character of deceit and faithlessness, a failure to honor covenants made with Him and with one another.

The Creator God gave the seventh commandment, You shall not commit adultery, to protect the honor and sanctity of marriage. It is through marriage and the family that proper relationships, both with other people and with God, are learned. Since marriage is vital to character development, God does not tolerate its defilement. Within marriage, sex is fully sanctioned by God, but outside of it, such practices cause great harm. This commandment, in principle, covers all forms of illicit sex. Adultery, according to the letter of the law, is sexual intercourse outside of marriage, but Christ emphasizes the spirit of the law, stating that even looking at a woman to lust after her constitutes adultery. This sin so defiles the land and its inhabitants that it must be removed, carrying the penalty of death under the law. The adulterer seeks to hide their guilt, as no one wishes to be found out. Adultery is not only an offense to the aggrieved spouse but also to their home and children, striking at the basis of a decent society. It is considered treachery, a violation of trust and confidence placed by spouses and by Almighty God. Violence is a fruit of adultery due to its treachery and self-centeredness, destroying loyalty and submission to authority while teaching disrespect for others. It also curses the land. The act of adultery brings harm upon a man, leading to severe consequences. God hates divorce but allows it in rare cases under specific circumstances. Marrying a divorced person can be considered adultery, and continuous, flagrant sexual immorality may necessitate exclusion from Christian fellowship for the spiritual health of the church. Committing adultery is a sin against God and merits His judgment. Adulterers cannot inherit the Kingdom of God unless they genuinely repent, at which point God will forgive them and grant eternal life. However, the consequences of such sin still bring harmful effects, as seen in enduring violence and loss. Symbolically, adultery expresses unfaithfulness to God, evident in Israel's idolatry where God is represented as the husband of His people. Spiritual adultery occurs by relying on the world and its false teachings rather than on God. The Bride of Christ, in contrast, will be a chaste and pure spouse, and all who are part of this righteous Bride are truly blessed.

Any given doctrine must be built layer by layer, combining and comparing scriptures rather than allowing a single scripture to determine the doctrine. When we understand that porneia includes all the hideous perverted sexual sins that go beyond ordinary adultery- including bestiality, pedophilia, homosexuality, incest, and every other imaginable sexual perversion, we understand that Jesus gave a greater latitude and flexibility in these divorce decisions than we had earlier assumed (based exclusively upon adulterous 'fraud'). Any violence against the marriage contract (stemming from unconversion) would constitute grounds for divorce, and would permit the converted partner to remarry. Mutual access to the tree of life (God's Holy Spirit) gives marriage the best (actually the only) chance to succeed.

In today's society, the bonds of relationships have become self-serving in disappointing ways. Adultery, once seemingly more common among men in the 1950s and early 1960s, began to shift with the sexual revolution and feminist ideology in the mid-1960s. Now, it appears that women may be committing adultery more often than men, facilitated by the internet and apps like Tinder, which provide easy access to extramarital connections for those dissatisfied in their marriages. Spouses, whether husband or wife, offer excuses for late returns home, citing business meetings, restaurant breaks, or social outings, while even stay-at-home moms increase gym visits or time with friends, instructing their partners not to wait up. When suspicion or proof of infidelity arises, the guilty party often employs gaslighting, a tactic where the faithful spouse is made to feel overreacting, insecure, or controlling, with the affair dismissed as a mere mistake needing an adult outlook. The aim is to shift blame, making the faithful partner feel responsible for driving the unfaithful one to seek comfort elsewhere, with no genuine repentance offered. Wise mates end such relationships, while the naive attempt to salvage them, only to face repeated betrayal. Historically, Israel's relationship with God mirrors this unfaithfulness. Despite being seen as a wife to Him, Israel committed adultery through idolatry during the 40-year exodus and beyond, even after entering the promised land. As recorded in Hosea 1:2, God instructed Hosea to take a wife of harlotry to symbolize Israel's great harlotry in departing from Him. In Jeremiah 3:8-9, God notes that He divorced backsliding Israel for her adultery, yet her sister Judah followed suit, defiling the land with casual harlotry and idolatry. Judah's return to Him was not wholehearted but in pretense, as stated in Jeremiah 3:10. Jesus Christ, in Mark 7:5-6, echoed this sentiment, citing Isaiah's prophecy that Israel honors Him with lips while their heart remains far from Him. Since calling them out of Egypt, He has viewed Israel as an unfaithful wife, bearing the pain of their dishonor and disrespect, yet still offering forgiveness and blessing, as seen in Isaiah 54:5, where He declares Himself their husband and redeemer.

This nation has absorbed behaviors reminiscent of pagan Gentiles, surpassing them in decadence due to its affluence. Such behaviors include overindulgence, marked by revelry and drunkenness, which lead to disorder and sensuality. Additionally, lewdness and lust manifest as immodest actions and illicit indulgences, prevalent among those who do not know God. Strife and envy further characterize this lack of self-control, fostering contention and intense passions that degrade attitudes and relationships. These tendencies mirror the pagan practices of old, where unrestrained behavior was common, and stand in stark contrast to the call for purity and holiness among God's people. Moreover, spiritual immorality, akin to adultery, emerges when individuals are enticed by teachings contrary to God's will, such as those from Far Eastern and Native American religions. These pagan influences, often promoted in media like children's movies and cartoons with themes of the circle of life, yin yang, reincarnation, spirit guides, and dream catchers, pose a risk of spiritual unfaithfulness. Witchcraft, growing rapidly among young women in schools, further exemplifies this trend. It is imperative to guard against such influences to maintain spiritual purity and honor the sanctification that God desires for His followers.