The Seventh Commandment - Do not commit adultery

The seventh commandment seems easy enough to follow: Do not commit adultery. But as we will discover through this Teen Bible Study Guide, there is a lot more meaning to that statement than what meets the eye.

Introduction

In Exodus 20:1-17 [1] And God spake all these words, saying,
[2] I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
[3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
[4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
[5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
[6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
[7] Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
[11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
[12] Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
[13] Thou shalt not kill.
[14] Thou shalt not commit adultery.
[15] Thou shalt not steal.
[16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
[17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

See All..., God gives us a list of ten commandments to follow in order to live a happy and fulfilling life. They are all very simply worded and seem easy enough to follow, but from human experience, we know that their simplistic wording is indeed deceptive for they are each a daily challenge not to break. In particular, the seventh commandment seems easy enough to follow: Do not commit adultery. But as we will discover through this study, there is a lot more meaning to that statement than what meets the eye.

Several Meanings

DEUTERONOMY 5:1-4 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. "

EXODUS 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."

1. In a physical sense, what is adultery? What constitutes adultery?

2. What were the punishments for committing adultery? For some answers, look in Leviticus 20:10And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
See All.... Is this too harsh? Other ideas are found in Revelation 2:22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
See All... and I Corinthians 6:9.

3. In Leviticus 20:10-21 [10] And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
[11] And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
[12] And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
[13] If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
[14] And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
[15] And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
[16] 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; their blood shall be upon them.
[17] 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; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
[18] And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
[19] And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
[20] And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
[21] And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

See All..., God gives some other guidelines regarding this matter. What are they? Are they being broken today?

COMMENT: The Bible makes clear that adultery can be committed before marriage (specifically referred to as "fornication") as well as after marriage. Fidelity to one's mate actually is lifelong.

4. What advantages are there to abstinence before marriage? Can you think of any disadvantages?

5. Are the rewards to practicing abstinence short term or long term? Which do you think is more gratifying?

6. What should one do when faced with the temptation to violate the 7th commandment? Consider I Corinthians 6:18 and comment.

PROVERBS 6:26,32 For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. (32) Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.

7. What does the Bible say about a man that commits adultery? Explain how a man "is reduced to a crust of bread."

8. Explain how it "destroys his own soul."

9. Why is adultery such a unique sin? Consider I Corinthians 6:18.

MATTHEW 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "

10. Many today think that they have not violated the seventh commandment unless sexual intercourse is actually performed. Is it okay to do anything and everything short of actual intercourse? How do Jesus’ words in this verse apply to such thoughts?

COMMENT: God’s way is the way of truth (Psalm 119:30I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
See All... ), not deceit. Lust may be disguised and professed to be love. Purity and innocence begins as a state of mind.

11. Is committing adultery more than just a physical act? Why is the mental act just as severe in God’s eyes? What harm does it do to the lustful person?

12. The breaking of one of God’s commandments can lead to the violation of another. What other sins can adultery lead to?

13. Part of retaining a healthy marriage includes being loyal to your mate. What are the rewards for remaining loyal to your mate?

14. The divorce rate in the United States has reached 50%, meaning that 50% of all marriages toady will end in divorce. How could this be connected to the outrageous breaking of the 7th commandment in today’s society?

15. Now that the 21st century is here, do you think the morals of society regarding adultery are the same as what God wants us to believe? What evidence can you cite?

Spiritual Adultery

1. Does God want us to learn something from this commandment that applies to a larger and more glorious marriage? Read Ephesians 5:31-32 [31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
[32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

See All... and comment.

2. In Jeremiah 18:13Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
See All..., 31:4, Amos 5:2The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.
See All... and several other locations throughout the Bible, Israel is referred to as a "virgin." Why is this? To whom is Israel to be married someday? Is she to remain pure until then? II Corinthians 11:2 may help.

3. How could one commit spiritual adultery? Read James 4:4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
See All... and comment.

Summary

1. How does our society view adultery? Do your peers think infidelity is wrong even before marriage? In your opinion, how common is the practice of abstinence?

2. Sexual immorality is a sign of the end time as in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah. Why do you think it is so important for God’s people not to partake in the ways of the world, especially during this time?

3. Why is it so important to think of the long term effects of breaking God’s laws, the 7th commandment in particular?

4. After this discussion, what do you think is the reason (or reasons) God created sex and marriage?