“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” — Exodus 20:14 (KJV)
The Nature of Adultery as Defined by Scripture
Adultery in the Bible is not merely a moral failing—it is a direct violation of God’s covenant order. The command in Exodus 20:14 is brief, but its implications echo across the pages of Scripture. Adultery is the breaking of the marriage covenant, a union God Himself established and sanctified: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9).
Marriage is not man’s invention; it is God’s ordained picture of His relationship with His people. This is why the sin of adultery reaches beyond the physical act and strikes at the foundation of covenant faithfulness.
The Severity of Adultery in the Old Testament
The Old Testament consistently treats adultery as a grievous sin. According to the Law, both the adulterer and the adulteress were guilty before God:
“And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife… the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10)
This extreme penalty reveals how seriously God views the fracture of marital fidelity. Israel’s national life was built upon covenant faithfulness, and adultery stood as an attack on the very order God established.
Furthermore, God uses the imagery of adultery to describe Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness:
“Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me.” (Jeremiah 3:20)
Thus, adultery becomes a metaphor for idolatry and rebellion. When a nation forsakes God, He calls it spiritual adultery.
Christ’s Teaching: Adultery Begins in the Heart
Jesus intensifies the matter by revealing that adultery is not only an outward act but also an inward corruption:
“Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)
Christ lifts the commandment from external behavior to internal purity. The heart is the battleground. A man or woman who indulges lust has already broken covenant faithfulness before any physical act occurs.
This teaching strikes directly at a culture that normalizes lust, provocation, and emotional unfaithfulness. Jesus shows that adultery is first a disorder of the heart before it becomes a scandal of the body.
The Destructive Power of Adultery
Solomon warns repeatedly of the deep harm caused by adultery:
“Whoso commiteth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.” (Proverbs 6:32)
Destruction follows adultery in multiple ways:
1. It destroys the soul.
Not merely reputation or relationships, but the inner life is damaged.
2. It destroys families.
The foundational unit God designed is torn apart (Proverbs 5:8–11).
3. It destroys trust and covenant.
Adultery shatters the picture of Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:31–32).
4. It opens the door to judgment.
God warns that He will judge adulterers (Hebrews 13:4).
Adultery does not remain isolated—it spreads ruin across generations and communities.
God’s Warning in Prophetic Scripture
Throughout Scripture, God uses the imagery of adultery to describe end-time rebellion. Revelation indicts the spiritual harlotry of the world system:
“For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” (Revelation 18:3)
Adultery becomes symbolic of a world rejecting God’s covenant in exchange for ungodliness, idolatry, and self-will. In the last days, this spiritual adultery increases as nations cast off God’s law and redefine morality.
Thus, adultery—both physical and spiritual—is a sign of a culture in rebellion and a world nearing judgment.
The Path to Restoration
Even though adultery is grievous, Scripture reveals that forgiveness and restoration are possible through repentance. David, who committed adultery with Bathsheba, cried:
“Have mercy upon me, O God… wash me throughly from mine iniquity.” (Psalm 51:1–2)
God forgave David when he repented genuinely. Yet consequences remained. Forgiveness does not erase earthly results, but it does restore fellowship with God.
Christ also showed restoring grace:
“Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
Forgiveness does not minimize the sin but magnifies God’s mercy toward the repentant.
The Call to Purity and Covenant Faithfulness
God calls His people to purity of heart, mind, and body. The believer is to:
1. Guard the heart
“Keep thy heart with all diligence.” (Proverbs 4:23)
2. Flee temptation
“Flee fornication.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
3. Honor marriage
“Marriage is honourable in all… but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4)
4. Walk in the Spirit
Only by the Spirit’s power can believers overcome the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Conclusion
Adultery in Scripture is more than a moral lapse—it is a betrayal of covenant, a wound to the soul, and a prophetic picture of rebellion against God. From the Law to the prophets, from Christ’s teaching to the letters of the apostles, the message is consistent: adultery destroys, corrupts, and invites divine judgment.
Yet, through repentance and the grace of Christ, restoration is possible. The believer is called to a life of covenant faithfulness, guarding the heart, honoring marriage, and walking in purity. In an age where unfaithfulness is normalized, the Church must stand as a prophetic witness that God’s design is holy, His covenant is sacred, and His command remains unchanged:
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”