27 September Leviticus 18

Adultery

Leviticus 18:19-20 (AMP) commands, “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness during her menstrual impurity and ceremonial uncleanness. You shall not have intimate relations with your neighbour’s wife, to be defiled with her.”

These verses emphasise the importance of respecting the boundaries God has established for sexual relationships. Adultery, which involves having sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse, is seen as a direct violation of these boundaries and a severe breach of the marriage covenant. Adultery is not only a betrayal of trust between spouses but also a grave sin in the eyes of God. It violates the sacred vows made before Him during the marriage ceremony and damages the very foundation of the family unit, which God designed to be a source of love, support, and stability.

Exodus 20:17 (ERV) further warns, “You must not want to take your neighbour’s house. You must not want his wife. And you must not want his men and women servants or his cattle or his donkeys. You must not want to take anything that belongs to another person.”

This verse highlights the concept of coveting, which is the desire to possess something that belongs to someone else, including their spouse. The sin of adultery often begins with this very desire, making it crucial to guard not only our actions but also our hearts and minds.

Deuteronomy 5:18 (ERV) “offers a clear and unambiguous command: “You must not commit the sin of adultery.” This directive is part of the Ten Commandments, which serve as fundamental principles for living a life that honours God. Adultery is listed alongside other serious offenses, indicating its significance in God's moral law”. When Jesus spoke about adultery, He reaffirmed the Old Testament's teaching and took it a step further by addressing not just the act itself but also the intentions behind it”.

In Matthew 5:27-28 (AMP), “Jesus said, “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 lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Jesus expanded the definition of adultery to include not just physical acts but also the thoughts and desires that can lead to such acts. He emphasized that purity in thought is just as important as purity in action”.

By raising the standard, Jesus called His followers to a higher level of moral integrity, one that recognises the power of our thoughts and the importance of controlling our desires. He taught that true obedience to God involves outward conformity to the law and inner transformation of the heart.

The Bible’s teachings on adultery are clear and consistent, spanning from the Old Testament laws to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Adultery is viewed as a serious sin because it breaks the sacred covenant of marriage, damages relationships, and dishonours God. Jesus, while affirming the Old Testament law, deepened its meaning by addressing the heart's intentions, urging His followers to maintain purity in their actions thoughts and desires.

This higher standard set by Jesus reminds us that God is concerned with the whole person—our actions, thoughts, and motivations. As believers, we are called to live lives of integrity, honouring God in every aspect of our lives, including our relationships and inner thoughts. Adultery, whether in action or thought, is a violation of God's design for marriage and a sin that separates us from His will. Therefore, we must strive to uphold the sanctity of marriage and guard our hearts against anything that would lead us away from God's standard of holiness.