Key Scripture: Exodus 20:14 — “You shall not commit adultery.”
💔 When Faithfulness Fails
Adultery is one of the clearest violations of God’s moral law. In fact, it is the seventh commandment in the Ten Commandments. Yet it is also one of the most common and culturally minimized sins—even within the church.
We live in a world that treats marital vows as optional and covenant love as conditional. Affairs are often romanticized in films and novels. Emotional attachments outside marriage are often excused as harmless. But God’s Word is not ambiguous: adultery is a serious sin with devastating consequences—spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and generationally.
📖 What Is Adultery, Biblically?
In Scripture, adultery refers to sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse. It is a betrayal of the sacred covenant God established between husband and wife. Jesus deepened the definition in the Sermon on the Mount:
“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 lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
— Matthew 5:27–28
This teaching reveals two important truths:
- Adultery is not just physical—it is spiritual and emotional.
- Lust is a form of adultery in the heart, even without physical contact.
🌿 God’s Design for Marriage
Marriage is not merely a human institution—it is a divine covenant that mirrors God’s relationship with His people. That’s why adultery is so grievous: it doesn’t just break trust between two people; it profanes a holy picture of God’s faithfulness to His bride.
Paul described this beautifully:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh… This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
— Ephesians 5:31–32
When a husband or wife commits adultery, they violate not only their spouse but also the sacred “oneness” that God has joined together.
🔥 The Cost of Adultery
The Bible never downplays the devastation adultery brings. Proverbs gives stark warnings:
“He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.”
— Proverbs 6:32–33
Adultery leaves deep scars—on the unfaithful partner, the wounded spouse, the children, and the watching community. It destroys trust, invites shame, and often leads to broken families. It is no surprise that adultery was punishable by death under the Old Covenant law (Leviticus 20:10).
🩺 Is There Redemption for Adultery?
Yes. The Bible offers redemption even for this sin. In John 8, the religious leaders brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. They wanted to condemn her. But Jesus did something astonishing:
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her…”
“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
— John 8:7–11
Jesus did not excuse her sin—but He forgave her and called her to holiness. That is the gospel. There is forgiveness and freedom, but not without repentance and change.
🧠 Why Do People Commit Adultery?
There are many reasons people fall into adultery, including:
- Lack of emotional connection in their marriage
- Lust, pornography, or fantasy life unchecked
- Pride, selfishness, or entitlement
- Loneliness, neglect, or unresolved conflict
- Spiritual coldness and drifting from Christ
But underneath all these lies a single root: unfaithfulness to God. Long before we break a vow to a spouse, we break intimacy with God.
🛠 How Do We Guard Against Adultery?
Here are seven biblical safeguards:
- Strengthen your walk with God — stay close to Christ (John 15:5)
- Honor your marriage — invest in your spouse daily (Hebrews 13:4)
- Be accountable — bring temptation into the light (James 5:16)
- Set healthy boundaries — avoid secrecy or inappropriate closeness (Proverbs 4:23)
- Flee temptation — like Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:12)
- Cut off access to fuel — remove digital and emotional triggers (Matthew 5:29–30)
- Pray for purity — ask God to guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:7–8)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Adultery
Is adultery unforgivable?
No. Adultery is serious but not beyond God’s grace. David committed adultery and murder—yet God restored him through repentance (Psalm 51). Jesus forgave the woman in John 8. The gospel is good news for sinners who turn from sin.
Can a marriage survive adultery?
Yes, with humility, repentance, counseling, and divine grace, many marriages have not only survived but been transformed. Healing is possible, but it takes time, truth, and the help of the Holy Spirit.
What is emotional adultery?
It is forming a secretive or romantic emotional connection with someone outside your marriage. Even without physical contact, it breaks trust and violates the exclusive intimacy God intended for marriage.
What if I’m struggling with thoughts of adultery?
Bring it into the light. Confess it to God and to a trusted Christian friend or pastor. Set boundaries, renew your mind, and remember the cost. God’s grace is available now—not just after you fall, but to keep you from falling.
💬 Closing Thought
Adultery is not just an act of betrayal—it is a departure from covenant faithfulness. But Jesus is the restorer of broken covenants. If your marriage has been affected by adultery—whether by you or your spouse—there is healing in Christ. And if you are currently tempted, now is the time to flee, repent, and return to your First Love.
In the next article, we’ll explore the widespread yet often overlooked sin of fornication—sexual sin before marriage—and what God’s Word says about purity, holiness, and hope for the unmarried believer.
