Craig Thomas

Long ago Job said:  “For this [adultery] is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.” (Job 31:11)  Adultery remains a “heinous crime” and sadly a crime that’s more and more common in our society, even among Christians.  Adultery is a crime because it is an offense against both God and man.  Statistics suggest by the age of 40, 50-65% of husbands and 45-55% of wives will have engaged in at least one adulterous relationship.

1) Adultery is cruel.  Cruelty intentionally inflictions pain and grief to another.  What’s more cruel than knowing the companion who vowed to be faithful to you alone has violated your marriage bed? (Heb. 13:4)  Adultery produces jealousy and anger in the heart of the offended that cannot be assuaged (Prov. 6:34-35).  It’s a sin that destroys hopes and dreams and brings untold suffering to everyone involved.  There is no greater cruelty we could perpetrate upon our children than to be unfaithful to their mother who we’ve vowed to “love and cherish,” “forsaking all others . . . keeping yourself unto her, for so long as you both shall live.”

2) Adultery brings self-reproach.  The wise man said, “So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” (Prov. 6:29)  What could be more reproachful than causing another to sin and rob them of their virtue to satisfy one’s own selfish lusts?  No wonder David said his “sin” was “ever before” him(Psa. 51:3).  Adultery is such a “heinous crime” against God and man that one who commits it cannot get it off his/her mind!

3) Adultery brings shame to one’s life.  What a stain adultery brings to one’s character, for “A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” (Prov. 6:33)  One who commits adultery brings shame upon their name, for adulterers “give thine honour unto others” (Prov. 5:9).  Committing adultery brings shame upon oneself, one’s family, one’s friends, and the church (1 Cor. 5:1).  Would a sane man even contemplate it?

4) Adultery corrupts one’s character.  Adultery destroys one’s moral qualities.  An adulterer is a flatter and liar (Prov. 7:21; 2:16), is loud and rebellious (Prov. 7:11), is a covenant breaker (Prov. 2:16), is one who takes advantage of others (Job 31:9), is one who is a “sneak” (Job 24:15).  Don’t be deceived!  Adultery destroys all who flirt with it, “Yea, many strong men have been slain by her” (Prov. 7:26).

5) Adultery brings impoverishment.  “For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.” (Prov. 6:26; cf. 29:3)  Many a man/woman has lost family, wealth, jobs, and their good name because of adultery.  And ultimately, the greatest loss of all will be one’s soul, for “he that doeth it [adultery] destroyeth his own soul.” (Prov. 6:32)

Our society glorifies adultery, condones it, encourages it, and ignores its destructive power.  Our society offers ample opportunities to commit this “heinous crime”. Adultery promises excitement and pleasure, but delivers heartache, sorrow, and destruction.  Why resort to shameful lust when God blesses us with lawful, honorable, and fulfilling love?  The wise man describes this type of love between a husband a wife and all the God-approved pleasure it brings (Prov. 5:15-19).  True satisfaction and happiness comes only when we follow God’s way and “drink water from [our] own cistern,” “rejoice with the wife of [our] youth,” and allow only “her breasts [to] satisfy you at all times.”  Don’t be fooled by adultery!  We can no more commit this “heinous crime” and not suffer its dire consequences than “a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned” (Prov 6:27).