Scholars advise us that in the original language of the ‘10 Commandments,’ this Commanment is put more in this manner; “Commit Adultery – Thou shalt Not.” But then again, what actually is “Adultery,” what is included in, and what is excluded out, what is actually permissible, and what is banned, then actually what then are the parameters? Let us consult “The New Unger’s Bible Commentary, P29” Adultery; “In Jewish thought, adultery was seen as the willful violation of the marriage contract by either of the parties through sexual intercourse with a third party. The divine provision was that the husband and the wife should become “one flesh,” each being held sacred to the other. Jesus taught: “Have you not read, that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female. . . and the two shall become one flesh.” When the Pharisees, with the apparent hope of eliciting some modification in favor of the husband, put the question, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate and divorce her?” Jesus replied, “Because of your hardness of heart, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it was not this way. . . whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery” (Matt 19:3-9). In perfect accord with this also is the teaching of the Apostle Paul (Eph 5:25-33; 1 Cor 7:1-3; 1 Tim 3:12). It will be seen that according to the fundamental Law, it is adultery for the man as well as for the woman, to have a sexual relationship with a person other than the legal spouse. In ancient times, however, exception was made among the nations generally in favor of the man. He might have more wives than one, or have intercourse with a person not espoused or married to him [concubine], without being considered an adulterer. Adultery was sexual intercourse with another’s married/espoused wife, or what was equivalent, the betrothed bride of another man, for this act exposed the husband to the danger of having a spurious offspring imposed upon him. In the seventh commandment (Ex 20:14) all manner of lewdness or unchastity, in act or thought seems to be meant (Matt 5:28)
The Roman Law appears to have made the same distinction as the Hebrew between the unfaithfulness of the Husband and the Wife, by defining adultery to be a violation of another man’s bed. The infidelity of the husband did not constitute adultery. The Greeks held substantially the same view. But Jesus held high the sanctity of marriage, and of an individual person, Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.” As a single person, one is to only have eyes for a relationship with Jesus Christ, as a married person, you only have eyes for Jesus Christ firstly, and then your spouse, Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Husband and wife are ‘One Flesh,’ so one couple plus Jesus is still, ‘One Flesh,’ Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” Back to Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart,” the passionate longing of the heart is essentially a “Soul Tie,” the knitting of two persons compassionately together, knowingly or unknowingly, with permission or without permission, it is unwholesome, defiling, impure and corrupting, it is adultery/fornication. Being bonded and tied to one’s spouse in love and adoration, compassion and commitment is ‘Marriage Language,’ and should be the fullness of the marriage contract and agreement. But then who benefits from this sinful arrangement; Offerer or Receiver or Both??
But what then is “Fornication?” in Hebrew it is termed; “That which should not ought to be,” In Greek it is “Porneia,” from which we get “Pornography.” Which is nothing more than what Jesus warned us against, back to Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart,” Let us, God Love, Agape, Romans 13:10 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore, love [is] the fulfilling of the law.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.” Proverbs 23:7a “For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he:” Deuteronomy 6:5-6 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” Scripture paints for us the concept of being a ‘virgin’ for God, no others are to have our passions and desires, our loves and aspirations, our body and soul and spirit, all of us, totally and fully being kept pure and clean for God, and God alone. When one digs very deeply into scripture, we discover that it is impossible to sin, yes, it is impossible to sin, to sin, firstly you must give sin permission, but then one belongs to God, we are to be his ‘chaste virgin,’ to sin, firstly you must give permission, for salvation, firstly you must give permission, so who has your heart, your passions, your desires, if is not God, then it is Fornication and Adultery, Exodus 20:14 “Commit Adultery – Thou shalt Not.”
