The Ten Commandments - Lesson 9: The Seventh Commandment

The Ten Commandments

Lesson 9: The Seventh Commandment

Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery.

Mark 10:6-9 [6] But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. [7] For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, [8] and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. [9] What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

The Main Points for This Lesson:

Marriage is very important to God (he invented it) and so should be to us.

A husband and wife must be faithful to each other until death parts them (Mark 10:6-9; Romans 7:2-3).

Marriage should be held in honor by all (Hebrews 13:4). Those who are not married, young and old, should honor marriage by how they live (which includes their hearts, thoughts, words and deeds). God created marriage as the place for a man and a woman to have a special relationship. If you try to have all or part of that special relationship with someone outside of marriage, you are not honoring marriage, but you are breaking this commandment.

Breaking this commandment has eternal consequences (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5). We should flee from things that lead to this sin (2 Timothy 2:22), and pursue good things instead.

God hates divorce. It breaks the union of marriage, and breaks the vows made at the beginning of the marriage. Jesus said when someone remarries after divorce, they commit adultery (Mark 10:1-12).

Suggestions:

When I speak with my children about this, I talk about thinks such as kissing. I give kisses to my children, and perhaps to others (family members), but I only give special kisses to Mommy. They also have some minimal concept of sharing a bed. They don't know what happens there, but they do seem aware that it is special to share a bed as Daddy and Mommy do.

You can explain to them that such things are for marriage. God made such things for a husband and wife to share with each other and with no one else, as long as they are both alive.

This commandment is not just for married people. It is for all. Help the children to understand that for young people who are not married, this means waiting for certain things until you are married when you can share them with your husband or wife. This is one way we hold marriage in honor, and obey God in this commandment.

Use story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. Joseph set a good example of someone who obeyed God in this matter.

The older children may have seen television and movies, as well as commercials, which teach that the things God designed for marriage are good and normal for young people who are not married. If and as it seems appropriate, you may ask them if they have seen such things, and what they think such things are teaching or promoting. Ask how this compares to what God tells us in his word.

Stories:

Genesis 39:1-21 [1] Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there. [2] Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian. [3] His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand. [4] Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. [5] From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Yahweh’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field. [6] He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome. [7] After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.” [8] But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand. [9] He isn’t greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” [10] As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn’t listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her. [11] About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside. [12] She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside. [13] When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside, [14] she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. [15] When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.” [16] She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. [17] She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me, [18] and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.” [19] When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled. [20] Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody. [21] But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

More Stories and Examples:

John 8:1-11 [1] but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. [2] Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. [3] The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, [4] they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. [5] Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?” [6] They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. [7] But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” [8] Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. [9] They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. [10] Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” [11] She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”

2 Samuel 11:1 – 12:23 – Story of David and Bathsheba.

Other Verses:

Deuteronomy 5:18 “You shall not commit adultery.

Jeremiah 7:9-10 [9] Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known, [10] and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‛We are delivered;’ that you may do all these abominations?

Matthew 5:27-32 [27] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ [28] but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. [29] If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. [30] If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. [31] “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ [32] but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

Romans 2:22 You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 [9] Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit the Kingdom of God. [11] Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 5:3-6 [3] But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; [4] nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. [5] Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. [6] Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

ADULTERY AND THE HEART

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

Mark 7:14-23 [14] He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. [15] There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. [16] If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” [17] When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable. [18] He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him, [19] because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus purifying all foods?” [20] He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. [21] For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, [22] covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. [23] All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

[see also Matthew 15:10-20]

DIVORCE

Matthew 19:3-12 [3] Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” [4] He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, [5] and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’ [6] So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.” [7] They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?” [8] He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. [9] I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.” [10] His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.” [11] But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Mark 10:2-12 [2] Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” [3] He answered, “What did Moses command you?” [4] They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” [5] But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. [6] But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. [7] For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, [8] and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. [9] What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” [10] In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter. [11] He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. [12] If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Luke 16:18 Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

Romans 7:2-3 [2] For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. [3] So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man.

PROVERBS

Proverbs 2:1-11,16-19 [1] My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you; [2] So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; [3] Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; [4] If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: [5] then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. [6] For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. [7] He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity; [8] that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints. [9] Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. [10] For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. [11] Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you, [16] To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words; [17] who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God: [18] for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits. [19] None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:

Proverbs 5:1-23 [1] My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding: [2] that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge. [3] For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil, [4] But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. [5] Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. [6] She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it. [7] Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth. [8] Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house, [9] lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; [10] lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house. [11] You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed, [12] and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; [13] neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me! [14] I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly.” [15] Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. [16] Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? [17] Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you. [18] Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. [19] A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. [20] For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? [21] For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh. He examines all his paths. [22] The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly. [23] He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

Proverbs 6:20-35 [20] My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching. [21] Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck. [22] When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you. [23] For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, [24] to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue. [25] Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids. [26] For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life. [27] Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned? [28] Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched? [29] So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished. [30] Men don’t despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry: [31] but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house. [32] He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul. [33] He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away. [34] For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance. [35] He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.

Proverbs 7:1-27 [1] My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you. [2] Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. [3] Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart. [4] Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative, [5] that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words. [6] For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice. [7] I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, [8] passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house, [9] in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness. [10] Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent. [11] She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house. [12] Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner. [13] So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him: [14] “Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows. [15] Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you. [16] I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. [17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. [18] Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving. [19] For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey. [20] He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.” [21] With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. [22] He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose. [23] Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life. [24] Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth. [25] Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths, [26] for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army. [27] Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the rooms of death.

Proverbs 9:13-18 [13] The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing. [14] She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, [15] To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways, [16] “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, [17] “Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.” [18] But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.

Proverbs 23:26-28 [26] My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways. [27] For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well. [28] Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.

Proverbs 30:20 “So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

Ecclesiastes 7:26 I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.