If you were to ask a psychologist what harm may come from adultery, they might tell you that it can hurt a person in several ways.
At the top of the list, we find that adultery breaks trust and commitment in a relationship. Once shattered, it’s extremely difficult to rebuild it.
Adultery hurts everyone involved. The person who cheated may feel guilt, shame, and regret. The one betrayed could feel anger, sadness, and issues with self-esteem.
Adultery definitely hurts communication. It makes talking openly and honestly hard, stopping the healing process from happening.
I’ve often mentioned that the Ten Commandments were created to guide newly liberated individuals toward a life of utmost freedom and happiness. This is why God commanded us against committing adultery.
“You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20.14).
Jesus’ Teaching
The bond between husbands and wives is so important that Jesus could not eliminate the issue of adultery from his teaching.
“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 lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5.27-28).
Like in the case of murder, Jesus addressed the root cause of adultery. He understood that it starts within our hearts when we look at others with lustful eyes.
Why?
Have you ever questioned why our society is so filled with lust? Here are a few thoughts. I’m sure you can add your thoughts to these.
The Bible identifies three main sources of temptation: the world’s system, human nature, and demonic forces. All three contribute to lust.
The world’s system exposes us to sexual images, our flawed human nature amplifies these in our minds, and the devil lurks behind it all, trying to pull people away from the best God wants for us.
Lust can act as an escape or fantasy. We might use daydreams to deal with stress, boredom, or unhappiness in our lives. While these fantasies may provide temporary relief and pleasure, they can also result in guilt or internal conflict.
On one hand, not having a strong bond with the Holy Spirit can lead us to lust. On the flip side, if we have a powerful connection with the Lord, a closer relationship can overpower lustful desires and bring us into a deeper relationship with God.
From Freedom to Freedom
The Exodus story is about escaping slavery. God helped two million people to leave Egypt and gain freedom. He wants them to live without the issues that can break society apart.
The Ten Commandments guide us on how to achieve this lifestyle. One such area includes our relationship with our spouse and managing our sexuality, which are aspects God teaches us for living as his happy, free people.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny, and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 