Adultery is defined as “voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse” (Oxford English Dictionary). So the seventh commandment applies only to those who commit the act, right?
Jesus explained that adultery isn’t just the physical act; it’s what begins in the thought life (Matthew 5:27-28). It involves not only what we do with our bodies, but also what we look at with our eyes, fantasize about in our minds, or lust after in our wills.
D. A. Carson says, “Imagination is a God-given gift; but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it will be dirty. All sin, not least sexual sin, begins with the imagination. Therefore, what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance in the pursuit of kingdom righteousness. Not everyone reacts the same way to all objects. But if (Matthew 5:28-29) your eye is causing you to sin, gouge it out; or at very least, don’t look!”
Today, many men and women have fallen prey to the allure of online pornography. Given its promise of anonymity, it presents a nearly irresistible lure to explore sex outside of marriage.
Morgan Bennett wrote in his article The New Narcotic, “Another aspect of pornography addiction that surpasses the addictive and harmful characteristics of chemical substance abuse is its permanence. While substances can be metabolized out of the body, pornographic images cannot be metabolized out of the brain.”
So, how do we keep the seventh commandment? By being careful where our eyes linger and by keeping the greatest commandment: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-38).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 12:20-36
More:
Read Proverbs 5:1-23 and Proverbs 6:20-35. Identify the warnings against adultery and how to flee its ensnarement.
Next:
How can you practically love God with all your heart, soul, and strength? How does loving God help you steer clear of sexual sin?
Gary Shultz on August 30, 2014 at 7:52 am
Sound advice in a world affixed on uncovering everything that can speak to sexual desire. We need to be constantly on guard and constantly consider our weakness.
street on August 30, 2014 at 10:23 am
self-awareness,pride, is the spirit we were born with and lived in from birth.
when we come to the truth of our condition,fallen, we begin to look for help. that help comes from God.
Exodus 15: 13 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
poohpity on August 30, 2014 at 11:42 am
Having struggled with pornography before the ease of having it on the computer the images are hard to remove from my brain. It dehumanizes a person into on object. Turning something so beautiful into trash. That was over 25 years ago before my relationship with the Lord and i weep sometimes because if I ever get married again I am afraid I will never have a normal sex life.
I know the Lord makes all things new but the images are imprinted in my mind and the thoughts of it being beautiful seem to be lost. So let me warn you if you have never seen it do everything in your power not to experience it because it does not go away.
ghchong on August 30, 2014 at 10:12 pm
Toxic shows fill people with toxic which cannot be released.
Mike Wittmer on August 31, 2014 at 10:18 am
Great point about how hard it is to get images out of our brain. Some images are impossible to unsee. May God protect us from seeing them in the first place.