Commandment 7 episode 8

There is a generally accepted definition of adultery which is in line with the Scriptures and it is ‘Unlawful sexual intercourse with married people’ – So this now depends upon what ‘Unlawful’ means

 

Lawful can change but what does not change is the spirit of adultery. It was lawful for Sarah to give Hagar to Abraham to have a child because if a woman was barren she could give her handmaid to her husband as a surrogate mother. It is unlawful in most of western society for a man to have two wives – bigamy, but it is not unlawful to commit adultery, but it used to be grounds for divorce in Australia till 1975. There are legal definitions of adultery in the American States of N Carolina, Minnesota and Virginia. And the commandment itself, and the spirit of adultery, or infidelity takes a lot more into account. Jesus once again expanded on this commandment in the sermon on the mount.

 

Jesus once again expanded on this commandment in the sermon on the mount.

Matthew 5:27-28. 'You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit adultery." 28. 'But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire to have her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

 

From what Jesus said in that Scripture we can see that it deals with the whole sphere of unfaithfulness or infidelity, wrong desires, and excessive self-indulgence.

The self-indulgence part is one of the biggest factors that drives the rest because the commandment is about commitment to another person and their needs.  Excessive self indulgence is about no one else’s needs but our own.

 

DOES PROSTITUTION COME INTO THE CATEGORY OF ADULTERY?

Prostitution more of an expression of the next commandment – number eight, because it is as much about materialism as relational infidelity - It’s the money for the prostitute but the spirit of adultery for the man/woman.

 

IS PORNOGRAPHY PART OF COMMANDMENT SEVEN?

In the sexual area pornography seems to top the list. It is an addictive behavior that allows a person to isolate themselves and be gratified rather than engage meaningfully in fulfilling relationships and be satisfied. Also in the area of sensual gratification and outside of the sexual area are found things like over-eating, and drug abuse which includes alcoholism, and the abuse of prescription drugs, as well as the abuse of narcotics, and stimulants. At first glance, these pursuits and activities might seem to be rather 'private' habits, which do not involve causing harm to other people, but really they destroy themselves, their families and everyone else in their world.