Many people will answer that adultery is unfaithfulness to your spouse. However, the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), is so much more than a prohibition against marital infidelity—it is a divine call to faithfulness, integrity, and covenantal loyalty. Throughout history, Bible scholars and religious leaders have interpreted this commandment not only in the context of human relationships but also as a reflection of God’s unwavering commitment to His people.
Jesus took the common understanding of being unfaithful in marriage and extended it to a standard so high, that keeping the commandment was all but impossible.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28
Adultery extends beyond physical unfaithfulness. It encompasses emotional betrayal, lustful thoughts and even idolatry—turning away from God to pursue other desires. Throughout the Bible we read how God calls out his people, the Israelites, for their unfaithfulness to him. One whole book Old Testament prophetic book presents a striking commentary on this commandment. Hosea’s marriage to Gomer, a woman who repeatedly strayed, serves as a metaphor for Israel’s spiritual adultery—its unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and disobedience. Yet, Hosea’s relentless love for Gomer mirrors God’s grace, showing that while adultery is a grave sin, redemption is always possible.
We read about that redemption in the New Testament where Jesus compares himself to a bridegroom and the church as his bride, but a bride that has been unfaithful. Yet His love for his bride is so great that he went to the cross pay the penalty for her sins.
The seventh commandment has profoundly shaped legal systems across civilizations. In ancient Israel, adultery was punishable by death (Leviticus 20:10), underscoring its severity. Many societies, including medieval Europe and Islamic nations, have historically imposed strict penalties for adultery, viewing it as a crime against social order and family stability.
In modern times, while legal consequences have softened, adultery remains a factor in divorce proceedings and moral discussions. The commandment’s influence persists in shaping ethical norms, reinforcing the sanctity of marriage, and advocating for fidelity as a cornerstone of societal harmony.
Just as adultery violates the marital covenant, spiritual unfaithfulness—turning away from Christ—undermines the believer’s relationship with God. Jesus calls His followers to unwavering devotion, mirroring the purity and commitment expected in marriage. That’s why Paul in writing to the church in Ephesus implored husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. This imagery reinforces the idea that marriage is not merely a human institution but a divine reflection of God’s covenantal love.
If you have been unfaithful to your spouse, or to God, know that forgiveness and healing is possible. Jesus died on a cross and rose again from the dead to cover you sin and shame. He invites you into a new or renewed relationship with Him. If you would like to learn more about how you can become intimately connected to God and truly understand his purpose for you, please go to our Next Steps page.
Image by Couplehealth Care from PixabayAnd God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:1-17
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