FAQs Mondays: What is the Seventh Commandment?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is the sixth commandment?".  You can read that post here.  Now we turn our attention to answering the question, "What is the seventh commandment?".

Which is the seventh commandment?

The seventh commandment is, "You shall not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14).

What is required in the seventh commandment?

The seventh commandment requires that we preserve our own and our neighbor's chastity in heart, speech, and behavior.  Paul states, "Flee from sexual immorality.  Every other sin a person commits is outside of the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (1 Cor. 6:18, ESV).  Later he states, "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband" (1 Cor. 7:2, ESV).  Paul told Timothy, "Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with all those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:22, ESV). 

What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.  Jesus said,

You have heard it said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown in hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  For it is better that yo lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell (Matt 5:28-32, ESV).

Job said, "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?" (Job 31:1, ESV).  Paul urges, "Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy" (Rom. 13:13, ESV).  Elsewhere, Paul states, "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among the saints.  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which is out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving" (Eph. 5:3-4, ESV).

Summary

We have seen that the seventh commandment is designed to protect marriage.  Although the command only expressly forbids adulterous relationships, it extends far beyond the physical act alone.  The command to marital fidelity is designed to express God's covenant faithfulness to his people, as well as protect society for collapse.  Next week, we answer the question, "What is the eighth commandment?".