(Exodus 20:14), “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
In 1631, a New King James Bible was printed that became known as “The Wicked Bible.” The reason it became known as “The Wicked Bible” is because when the printers began preparing that particular edition, an error was made, and one word was left out in (Exodus 20:14). The word “not” was not included and so it read, “Thou shalt commit adultery.” Considering the basis of the sexual morals of our day, it seems that many people prefer the Wicked Bible over the true Word of God. We seem to be living in a generation when this commandment is more disregarded that any other time in history. We are living in a society that has gone sex crazy. Sex is now the major theme in most television programs and commercials. Sex has been used to sell everything from cars to toothpaste. When God created us male and female and has given us certain desires, which are not sinful but the world has taken sex, a gift from God and made it filthy. I recently read an article that said, 79 % of teenage girls have claimed to have had premarital sex, and that 72% of teenage boys have claimed to have had premarital sex. In another article I read that 40 to 50% of all married men have had an extramarital affair. In that same article it stated that 41% of married women have cheated on their husbands. But regardless of how society may disregard this commandment, God’s Word says, “thou shalt not commit adultery.”
- THE CONDUCT THAT IS PROHIBITED BY THIS COMMANDMENT
This commandment prohibits the sin of adultery. (Hebrews 13:4), “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers, God will judge.” This commandment also prohibits all sexual immorality. (Galatians 5:19a), “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication uncleanness, lasciviousness, …” This commandment further prohibits incest, rape, sodomy, and all unnatural sexual relationships. (Leviticus 20:11-16), “…the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall be put to death…And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death…If a man also lie with mankind as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death…And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death…And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing…” This commandment teaches us that the marriage bond is the only place for sexual activity.
- THE CHARGE THAT IS PRONOUNCED BY THIS COMMANDMENT
(1.) The first charge concerning the breaking of this commandment is that “adultery is a sin against your spouse. Job calls the breaking of this commandment a “heinous crime.” (Job 31:11), “For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.” Jeremiah calls it “villainy” which is a baseness of mind or character, viciousness of conduct or action, a treacherous act. (Jeremiah 29:23), “Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them, even I know, and am a witness saith the Lord.”
(2.) The second charge concerning the breaking of this commandment is that “adultery is a sin against yourself. (Proverbs 6:2-29, 327), “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned. Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned. So he that goeth into his neighbor’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent, whoso committeth adultery with a woman liketh understanding: He that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.” Adultery does incredible damage to one’s self in that it destroys ones witness and testimony.
(3.) The third charge concerning the breaking of this commandment is that adultery is a sin against your society. (Proverbs 14:34), “ Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” As goes the family, so goes the society. When we see the family unit being destroyed, society as a whole is in danger of collapsing. Adultery is not a private matter, just a little affair that can be hid. It is sin, it is adultery, and it destroys society.
(4.) The fourth charge concerning the breaking of this commandment is that adultery is a sin against your Saviour. (I. Corinthians 6:13b), “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord: and the Lord for the body.” Of all the reasons for not committing adultery, this is the greatest. If you are saved you should want to please the Lord, and not displease the Lord.
- THE CAUTION THAT IS PRESCRIBED IN THIS COMMANDMENT
There are some things we must observe if we are not to commit adultery. Firstly, don’t look at anything that would cause you to commit this sin. This would include indecent television programs that show nudity or two people in the bed together, pornography on the Internet or in indecent magazines, and also not going to indecent clubs. Set no wicked thing before your eyes because what goes through the eye gate causes one to lust in their heart. Then, if one isn’t careful, that causes one to give in to temptation. Secondly, when tempted, flee instead of giving into the temptation of lust which causes one to commit adultery. (I. Corinthians 6:18a), “Flee fornication.”
Pastor Allen Jackson