The Seventh Commandment

The seventh commandment says : "You shall not commit adultery". Exodus 20:14

Adultery is sexual relations in which at least one of the participants is married.

So if you are married and have sexual relations with someone not married...you have committed adultery.

If you are not married and have sexual relations with someone who is married...you have committed adultery.

According to Jesus in Matthew 5:31-32 a divorced person who has sexual relations or who remarries may be committing adultery. That is one of the reasons he said you should not divorce.

The old testament penalty for adultery was death...for both parties!

Fornication on the other hand happens between two unmarried people and the penalty was...marriage.

There are several other places where adultery is mentioned in the Bible.

Such as Proverbs 6:32-33 where it says : "But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away."

Jesus affirmed the commandment against adultery and also extended it when he said ""You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Mathew 5:27-28

"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." Hebrews 13:4

Adulterers are also listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 as one of the types of people who would not inherit the kingdom of God.

Besides all that...with all the diseases out there these days it is very likely that you will end up with one of them. If you get a disease and give it to your spouse...that will most likely be the end of your marriage. If it is a deadly disease...then you could also be considered a murderer.

This is one temptation that should be resisted at all costs!