Seeds of Adultery (7th Commandment) — Law Homily

As we come before the wall this afternoon, may we come with open hearts and hands, ready and willing to have our sin exposed, to confess it, and to receive pardon from the

Lord in His mercy. Today we read the seventh commandment in Exodus 20, verse 14.

Thou shall not commit adultery. It can be easy to look at such a short command and miss its gravity and scope.

While this is certainly a prohibition of having sex with someone you aren't married to, it reaches much further than that, to the seeds of adultery, and even further to the seedbed of every action, your heart.

Our Lord Jesus Christ makes this plain in Matthew 5, 27 and 28, saying,

Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, that 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.

The seventh commandment is also a prohibition of everything in between such a thought and the act of adultery.

Fortacious speech or texting, a prolonged hug, lingering eyes.

Every marriage that has been ruined by adultery began with something small, long before it became physical.

Even these small things are adulterous in nature. They're not just a precursor to the greater sin.

Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't speak to someone of the opposite sex or greet them with a hug.

However, if lust is in your heart, flirting or gazing longingly act as a till in the soil of your heart, making room for the seeds of adultery to fester and grow.

Said differently, anything that amounts to some measure of unfaithfulness or infidelity, even if it's just the thought, is a form of adultery.

And the seventh commandment expressly forbids it. Continuing in Matthew five, our

Lord turns up the heat, saying, And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Now, while I'm not prepared this morning to advocate that you saw off your hand or gouge out your eye, this underscores the seriousness of sexual impurity.

If you can't control your wandering mind, the very least you can do is implement safeguards in your life, lest you be forced to sever off your limb entirely.

And truthfully, you must. In order to obey the seventh commandment or any commandment, for that matter, we must be disciplined and intentional in our engagements, thoughts, and practice.

So don't be afraid to divert your eyes or avoid the hug. Be disciplined.

Men, don't put yourself in a situation where you're alone with a woman who is not your wife.

Women, don't allow yourself to be alone with a man who isn't your husband.

That means no DMs, no private texting. If you're married, always include your spouse in a group message.

If you're single, include a trusted friend. If you need to have a private conversation, do it in a public setting.

If you're planning a birthday surprise, include a mutual friend. Don't leave room for displaced affection to be watered.

And further, don't allow someone else to put you in such a situation. Simply say no.

Don't reply to the text. Invite someone else into the conversation. Look out for each other in this way.

Don't impose upon or put them in an awkward situation. And if you lack self -control in this category, heed the words of St.

Paul and find a spouse and get married. For it is better to marry than to burn.

Don't rest on your laurels. Go to the singles mixer. Ask your church family to make an introduction and diligently pursue this great gift from God.

And as we all know, the law is not just a list of prohibitions. It has a positive application.

So ensure that you love your wife, love your husband. Be a spouse that wins their hearts and affections.

Don't ignore your husband or wife at the end of the long day. Leave no room for a longing for touch or laughter.

Don't till the seedbed of your heart against yourself. Instead, water it and nurture it.

It's love and affection. And if you're presently single, love your future spouse in such a way that you keep yourself for them.

Put those safeguards in place. Find accountability and pursue purity. And in both seasons, be thankful for what the

Lord has provided and trust that he will abundantly bless your marriage.

Parents, teach your children to do these things too. They will not develop self -control and godly practice without your help.

Teach them God's word. Train their affections towards him. Monitor their friendships and conversations, especially as they approach youth.

Don't give them unfettered access to a phone or entertainment. Remember, many of the makers of these things hate your

God and his ways, and they are subversive and subtle. And the enemy will attempt to use it to corrupt your children and even you.

Give it no ground. Now this afternoon, search your heart for the seeds and thorns of sexual impurity and confess how you've committed the sin of adultery, even if in small ways.

If we're honest with ourselves, if we allow the law of God and the teachings of our Lord to expose our heart, we have much to confess.

Though we time and time again fall short of the standard of God's law, especially as it penetrates our hearts and examines our thoughts,

Christ is merciful to those who humbly come before him. In the ninth verse of 1

John, we're reminded of his faithfulness. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So after you've done so, lift up your head and receive pardon from your Lord and then go and sin no more.

so let us now confess our sins before our God. Please kneel if you're able.