Adultery is a sexual relationship in which at least one person is married to someone who is not their spouse. It’s a combination that God advised Himself. The root word of adultery is ‘adulterarte’. Adultery was considered a great social wrong, as well as a greater sin. Apart from physical adultery, there are types of infidelity indirectly described in the Bible.
Emotional Adultery
Emotional adultery can occur when one person shares his personal feelings, thoughts, feelings, and emotions with others who is neither husband nor wife. This can be deceiving because sharing such thoughts with others can be the first step towards physical adultery. It is more dangerous and can damage your relationship.
“The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.” (Proverbs 22:14)
It may occur
- When the conversation with others becomes more personal
- When the person starts discussing your marriage issues
- When the person is discussing sexual life with others
- When the person is physically attracted to someone else other than your spouse
- Hang out with someone who is not the spouse
Visual Adultery
Its committing adultery with your eyes. Some think that only physical adultery is a sin, but Christians believe that Jesus proved this is forbidden and said, if you look with lust in your eyes, then you have committed adultery in your heart.
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27-28
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” (Proverbs 6:23-29)
Lusting is when you intentionally direct your eyes towards a person or their body because it looks good or is sexually appealing to you.
Physical adultery
Marriage is the most sacred and precious step in the formation of any society.
It’s in the Bible, Hebrews 13:4, ESV. “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
God created marriage at the beginning. Leaving a spouse for another person may be right in his eyes but it adultery in God’s eyes. Any relationship outside marriage is a grievous sin, as per the Bible. However, there is forgiveness in religion.
“No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:8-11, NKJV.
God has set some rules and commands to try all that you can to keep your marriage vows. If one tries to maintain his relation but faces failure and his/her spouse has decided to divorce.
Spiritual Adultery
This is also discussed in the Bible. It is worshipping of other idols, gods or in the ways God hasn’t called for, its mentioned in the Bible,
Ezekiel 23:37, NKJV. “For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour them.”
Standards needed to overcome adultery
It is the fact that God’s standards are much higher than ours. God wants to protect us in every walk of life and hereafter. He wants to remain pure in ourselves. God lays his laws on our hearts, and when we sense the prompting of the Holy Spirit that says, “don’t go there, you’re crossing the line,” then we need to listen, or we could suffer the consequences of sin.
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.” (Proverbs 21:2)
“But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” (Proverbs 6:32-33)
Every little sin costs very high. When one committed any type of adultery, he invites evil in his life, marriage, and home. Satan then fungal up your mind and soul and drive any person away from his spouse because it’s his objective to destroy the man’s family, create unhealthy soul ties, and then break up this relation.
A betrayal has to pay for his deceiving nature; a major pitfall is in front of man who commit adultery. The Bible makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 10:12
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
Adultery often causes non-ending damage that no amount of repentance can undo. It is hurtful for the partner. It often leads to divorce and so the family collapse leaving other embittered, disillusioned, and poorer financially. It smashes away children’s confidence and trust and putting their marriage life in danger.