Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 6000 Sin and salvation » 6100 Aspects of sin » 6236 sexual sin » 6242 adultery Sexual relations involving at least one partner who is married to someone else. Such relations break the marriage covenant and are condemned in Scripture. Jesus Christ extended the understanding of adultery to include inner lust. Adultery is condemned by God God's law forbids it Exodus 20:14 pp Deuteronomy 5:18 See also Leviticus 18:20; Matthew 19:18 pp Mark 10:19 pp Luke 18:20; James 2:11 It is listed with other evil practices Psalm 50:18; Jeremiah 7:9-10; Hosea 4:1-2; Luke 18:11; 1 Timothy 1:9-10 The lure of adultery It begins with lust Proverbs 6:25; Matthew 5:27-28 See also 2 Samuel 11:2-3; Job 31:1,9; Jeremiah 5:8; Matthew 15:19 It is seductive Proverbs 7:14-21 See also Proverbs 5:3,20 It is secretive Job 24:15; Proverbs 7:8-10; Proverbs 30:20 It is a snare to the unwary Proverbs 7:7; Proverbs 22:14; Ecclesiastes 7:26 It is resisted by the wise Proverbs 2:16 See also Genesis 39:7-12; Proverbs 7:4-5 Adultery breaks the marriage covenant Proverbs 2:17 See also Hosea 2:2; Malachi 2:14 The consequences of adultery It destroys individuals and society Proverbs 6:32-34 See also Proverbs 5:4-5,9-11; Proverbs 6:26-29; Proverbs 7:22-27; Job 31:11-12 It was punishable by death under OT law Leviticus 20:10 See also Deuteronomy 22:22,23-24; John 8:4-5 Adulterers face God's judgment Hebrews 13:4 See also 2 Samuel 12:11-12; Malachi 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 2:22 Remarriage after divorce may be adultery Matthew 19:9 pp Mark 10:11 See also Matthew 5:32; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:3 Hypocrisy in relation to adultery Romans 2:22 See also 2 Samuel 12:5-6; Hosea 4:14; John 8:7-9 Examples of adultery 2 Samuel 11:1-4 See also Jeremiah 5:7 the people of Jerusalem; Jeremiah 29:23 the exiles in Babylon; Hosea 3:1-3 Hosea's wife, Gomer; John 8:3 the woman caught in adultery; 2 Peter 2:14 false teachers in the church Children born of adultery Isaiah 57:3 “offspring of adulterers” was a term of abuse. See also 2 Samuel 12:15-18 David and Bathsheba's child died when he was seven days old; Hosea 2:4-5; Hosea 5:7 See also
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