The Seventh Commandment

Good morning, Church!

A little story to start us off today: A Sunday School teacher was explaining the seventh commandment to her class. "Thou shall not commit adultery," she said, "Does anyone know what adultery means?" A little girl in the back raised her hand high and confidently said, "Adultery is when a grown-up lies about their age!" Well, not quite the right answer, but we certainly appreciate the innocence of children, don't we?

On a more serious note, our focus today is the seventh commandment from Exodus 20:14: "You shall not commit adultery."

At face value, this commandment is a directive about faithfulness in marriage. But, as with all God's commandments, there is a deeper meaning, a spiritual resonance that speaks to our relationship with God and with each other.

Our marriages are a reflection of our relationship with God. Just as we are called to be faithful to our spouses, we are called to be faithful to God. When we choose to put anything else before our relationship with God, it's akin to spiritual adultery.

Paul explains in Ephesians 5:31-32: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church."

Our faithfulness to God and to each other is not merely about following rules. It's about love, respect, and commitment.

The story of King David and Bathsheba offers a powerful lesson about the destructiveness of adultery. David saw Bathsheba bathing, desired her, and ultimately committed adultery with her. This act led to deceit, murder, and the death of their child (2 Samuel 11). This story serves as a solemn reminder of the pain and suffering that can come from failing to respect the boundaries set by this commandment.

In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus expands on this commandment: "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."

Jesus is driving home the point that adultery isn't just a physical act. It's also a matter of the heart and mind. It's not enough just to avoid the act; we must also guard our thoughts.

Let's bow our heads in prayer: "Lord, guide our hearts and minds. Help us to respect the sacred bonds of marriage, to be faithful in all our relationships. Let us not be led astray by our desires but focus on loving You and our neighbors with pure hearts. Amen."

In conclusion, the seventh commandment calls us to a high standard of faithfulness, both in our relationships and in our spiritual walk. It reminds us that our commitments, our words, and even our thoughts matter. As we strive to live out this commandment, let's remember that our faithfulness reflects God's faithfulness to us. 

May God bless you all with faithfulness in all your relationships, especially your relationship with Him. 

Amen.