Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:14
Adultery is not just one of the expressed iniquities that God commanded against in the Ten Commandments, but it is mentioned several times in the bible (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:18, Judges 8:33, Proverbs 30:20, Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:19, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:19, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 2:22).
It has a brotherhood fraternity with fornication. While adultery comes from the infidelity of those that are married, fornication is that committed by bachelors and spinsters (sexual relationship between unmarried parties).
To avoid these, Apostle Paul asserted that to avoid sexual immorality, let every man marry his own wife and let every woman marry her own husband (1 Corinthians 7:2)
Like I have said in the past, iniquities emanate from things that we desire in life and avoiding them comes from our ability to allow spirituality to have edge above our carnal needs.
To understand how God view adultery, the Old Testament mandated that, adulterers should be put to death (Levticus 20:10). It is a serious matter in the sight of God as it involves the body and souls of two individuals. We should also note that sexual relationship between same sex partners is even worse and has negative influence on the procreation commandment of God (Levticus 18:22)
We have had instances where adultery and fornication led to either party committing murder. A good example is King David that murdered Urriah, the husband of Bathsheba, whom he had committed adultery with (2 Samuel 11, 12).
Meanwhile, there are types of adultery which include:
- Sexual adultery
- Stones and Stocks Adultery (Jeremiah 3:9)
- Animal Adultery (Levticus 20:15)
- Spiritual Adultery (Judges 8:27, Hosea 4:12)
- Backsliding Adultery (Jeremiah 3:8)
- Prophetic Adultery (Jeremiah 23:14)
- Idolatry Adultery (Revelation 19:2).
Meanwhile, adultery is even not only about sexul intercourse, Christ even said that looking at a woman lustfully is the act itself (Mathew 5:28).
Thus, beloved of God must repent from all of these and let our thoughts and heart be guided by the spirit of God. It is through this that we will be able to keep our body and soul from all kinds of adultery.
Finally, God in His infinite mercies has also given us the grace of repentance and He will grant us forgiveness. He will not condemn us like humans do, but will ask us to go and sin no more like Jesus Christ said concerning the woman that was said to have been caught in the act of adultery, (John 8:3-11)
May the good Lord grant us the desired spirit that will make us to run away from sexual immorality, through Christ our Lord.
Memory Verse:
Mark 10:11
“And he said unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, commit adultery against her”.
Baba Aladura, Elder Israel Akinadewo – FCA, PhD
Prelate, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW)/President, Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC)