What Is Adultery? The Biblical Definition and Consequences

　　"He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself." ~ Proverbs 6:32

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

　　

Definition of Adultery

The definition of adultery is the "voluntary sexual relations between a married person and someone other than that person's current spouse."

　　Synonyms of adultery include terms like cheating, infidelity, and unfaithfulness. There is sometimes a confusion between adultery and fornication. While they are related topics, there are notable distinctions between the two.

　　

Bible Meaning of Adultery

According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, the simple meaning of adultery is marital infidelity. An adulterer was a man who had illicit intercourse with a married or a betrothed woman, and such a woman was an adulteress. Intercourse between a married man and an unmarried woman was fornication. Adultery was regarded as a great social wrong, as well as a great sin.

　　The Mosaic law (Numbers 5:11-31) prescribed that the suspected wife should be tried by the ordeal of the "water of jealousy." There is, however, no recorded instance of the application of this law. In subsequent times the Rabbis made various regulations with the view of discovering the guilty party, and of bringing about a divorce. It has been inferred from John 8:1-11 that this sin became very common during the age preceding the destruction of Jerusalem.

　　Idolatry, covetousness, and apostasy are spoken of as adultery spiritually (Jeremiah 3:6-9; Ezekiel 16:32; Hosea 1:2-3; Revelation 2:22). An apostate church is an adulteress (Isaiah 1:21; Isaiah 23:4-37), and the Jews are styled "an adulterous generation" (Matthew 12:39).

　　Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology also offers the following description of sexual immorality in the Bible, including the sin of adultery:

　　When God entered into a covenant relationship with the Israelites he furnished them with certain fundamental regulations engraved in stone to symbolize their permanence. These "Ten Commandments, " as they are styled, contain certain injunctions of a moral character dealing with adultery, theft, false witness, and covetous behavior (Exod 20:14-19). The last three offenses are social in character, involving the community of God to a greater or lesser degree. But the commandment prohibiting adultery deals with an act of a highly personal nature, occurring between normally consenting adults, which violates the "one flesh" character of marriage.

　　

Consequences of Adultery

There are rational reasons and practical benefits for each of God's laws. He established them as intelligent design. Yet since humans are fallen, and we sometimes think we will not suffer the outcomes of transgressing His truth or even consider the consequences. We must make the conscious decision and effort to not live by the flesh, but by the Holy Spirit within us. "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)

　　Jessie Warner furthers describes the consequences of adultery by saying,

　　Unhealthy soul ties could be created when you choose to lust after another person which could make it difficult to break free from the sin, needing God’s intervention to sever the tie. The pleasure of looking in lust, entertaining the idea of someone else, or having a “crush” on someone other than your spouse can be “fun” for a moment, but realize what you are signing up for when you do it. You could not only lose your wife/husband, your family, not be able to see your children anymore, pay hefty child support fines for a great deal of your life, be distant from your spouse and unsatisfied with them, bring strife and stress to your marriage and home, be a bad example to other believers, and send the message to others that you aren’t serious about following Jesus, but you would also be guilty before God and that is a scary thing.

　　“But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” (Proverbs 6:32-33)

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　　So, what should you do? The Bible’s instructions are clear. Guard your heart and flee from evil. When you feel that hint of attraction, it’s time to flee. Get out of the situation as soon as you can because anything less is agreement with adultery. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (Proverbs 27:12)

　　Clearly, the cost of committing adultery in any form is high. You have to decide for yourself if it is worth it. One major pitfall is thinking you are “above” the sin and won’t do it. The Bible makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

　　

Bible Quotes about Adultery

“You shall not commit adultery." ~ Exodus 20:14

　　"And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” ~ Matthew 19:9

　　“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 lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." ~ Matthew 5:27-28

　　"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

　　"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13

　　

Life Through the Spirit - Romans 8:1-11

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

　　Sources

　　Adultery - Merriam-Webster

　　Bible Definition of Adultery - Easton's Bible Dictionary

　　What Does the Bible Say About Adultery? (Plus 2 Types You Probably Didn't Know About) - Crosswalk.com