Lesson 6. Adultery. The “Foundations of the Teachings of Christ” School. A series of foundational teachings that Jesus Christ gave His disciples on the mountain.
Matthew 5:27–28 You have heard that it was said to those of old, “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.
Jesus reveals two types of adultery.
- Adultery in the body. This is when one spouse violates marital faithfulness by having a sexual relationship with another person.
- Adultery in the heart. This is when one person looks at another with the desire to have a sexual relationship with them. Jesus calls this adultery in the heart.
The punishment for adultery is very severe.
Matthew 5:29–30 If your right eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you, for it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you, for it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should be cast into hell.
What does the enemy use against people to draw them into adultery?
1. The enemy uses thoughts
Satan can send people thoughts.
Mark 8:33 But He turned and looked at His disciples and rebuked Peter, saying: Get behind Me, Satan, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.
John 13:2 And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him
Acts 5:3 But Peter said: Ananias! Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?
A person can receive any thoughts from the enemy, including thoughts of adultery. We must learn to take thoughts captive and control them. First comes the thought, and then the action, for example – adultery. No one can say that they cannot stop. There is always an opportunity to stop when the thought of adultery first comes.
If a person overcomes this thought, they have overcome the temptation. If a person swallows the thought, they begin considering how to act on it. Thoughts can and must be overcome by quoting the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. In exactly this way, Jesus resisted temptation from the devil and overcame it by saying: It is written.
2. Feelings and sensations
Scripture warns us that the desires of the flesh lead a person into sin.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lewdness
James 1:14–15 but each one is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own desires; then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Sexual desires arise in practically every person. They reach their peak during adolescence and gradually decrease with age. Satan can tempt people by using this area.
1 Corinthians 7:4–5 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except with consent for a time, that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Just as the enemy can tempt married couples, he can also tempt other people who are unable to control their sexual desires.
1 Cor. 7:8–9 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to remain as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
In other words, married couples should resolve all issues together and remove every obstacle so as not to deprive one another of intimacy. A harmonious intimate life – is good protection against temptation. Those who are single and cannot exercise self-control should marry. But those who can exercise self-control and are not controlled by sexual desires may remain single.
3. The Enemy Uses Eroticism
Eros is the name of the god of love in Greek mythology. In general, the word “eros” refers to sexual instinct (sexual attraction, sexual desire). Today, the world is surrounded by eroticism everywhere. The enemy uses some people to lead others into sexual sins. But everything begins with sexual desire, which is often awakened by what a person hears or sees.
Matt. 5:28 everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart
The person who looks at the opposite sex with such desire bears the greatest responsibility, but those who arouse these sexual desires in others are also guilty. The way you dress makes a great difference. If the same person is dressed in different clothes, the result will be different. In one outfit, the person does not provoke or awaken sexual desire in others. In another outfit, however, they do.
Never dress in a way that sexually arouses and inflames the opposite sex. Such people will not go unpunished either. The Bible says that woe to those who cause others to stumble.
4. The Enemy Uses Delusion and Deception
To remove the fear of divorce and adultery, the enemy deceives those who are not firmly established in the Word. He convinces such people that God is love, that He understands everything, that there will be no punishment, and that it is normal to:
– cohabit
– have sex before marriage
– use sexual services
– get divorced to find true happiness
– enter into same-sex marriages
– and so on.
Even believers fall into this deception and commit adultery or begin to engage in fornication.
What does Scripture say about adulterers and fornicators?
It is not people, but God Himself, who judges them.
Heb. 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
They do not receive an inheritance (success, prosperity, or ministry).
Eph. 5:5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
They will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Cor. 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor homosexuals
They will not inherit eternity.
Rev. 22:14–15 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers, and sexually immoral people (fornicators and adulterers), and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Therefore, every person has a choice regarding what they want to see in this life and where they plan to spend eternity. Make the right choice.
End of lesson.
Source: Father’s Blessing Church
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
