Dictionary of Bible Themes: 6243 adultery, spiritual

6243 adultery, spiritual

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 6000 Sin and salvation » 6100 Aspects of sin » 6236 sexual sin » 6243 adultery, spiritual

In Scripture there is a close link between sexual sin and spiritual corruption and immorality as promoted by false teachers. Scripture frequently uses the language of sexual sin to expose the infidelity of God's people.

The link between sexual sin and spiritual adultery

In practice

Numbers 25:1-3 See also Exodus 34:15; Hosea 4:14

In false teaching

Revelation 2:20-25 See also Numbers 31:15-16; 2 Timothy 3:6; 2 Peter 2:13-15; Jude 4,8; Revelation 2:14-16

Spiritual adultery and God's covenant relationship with his people

God as a husband to his people

Ezekiel 16:8 The spiritual relationship between God and his people is defined in terms of the intimate and exclusive bond of marriage. See also Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 31:32; Ephesians 5:31-32

God is jealous for his people's affections

Exodus 34:14 Just as husband and wife are jealous for their relationship in love, so God is jealous for the affections of his people. See also Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 4:23-24; Deuteronomy 6:13-15

The history of spiritual adultery among God's people

Before Israel's kings

Deuteronomy 31:16 See also Leviticus 17:7-9; Leviticus 20:4-6; Judges 2:16-17; Judges 8:27,33-34

In the northern kingdom of Israel

In the southern kingdom of Judah

Jeremiah 3:1-3 See also 2 Chronicles 21:10-11; Isaiah 57:3-8; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 5:7-8; Jeremiah 23:13-14; Ezekiel 16:15-22; Ezekiel 23:11-21

In Jesus Christ's generation

Matthew 12:38-39 See also Matthew 16:4

God's judgment on spiritual adultery

Jeremiah 19:3-5 See also Jeremiah 3:6-10; Jeremiah 16:10-13; Ezekiel 23:36-49

Believers are not to be drawn into spiritual adultery

1 John 2:15-17 See also 1 Corinthians 10:6-11; Colossians 3:5; Hebrews 3:12-14; Hebrews 10:26-31; James 4:4-5; 1 John 5:21