This study was first taught on April 14, 2010

Topic: God’s Standard for Sexual Immorality

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week we commenced a deeper look at the intent of the commandments of God with a view to living by a righteousness that excels that of the Scribes and Pharisees. The first was the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”

We saw that God’s standard for murder is not restricted to the actual act of taking a person’s life, but also includes the inner workings that can lead to the physical act. It became clear that uncontrolled and unjustifiable anger, condescending actions towards others, despising others, and name calling, are emotions and actions which, if allowed to go unchecked, can result in murder. We saw some of the horrible consequences of such seemingly ‘minor’ infractions in the bible. We noted that the sentence for these seemingly ‘minor’ emotions when unchecked is even greater than the sentence imposed for the actual act of murder.

We therefore counseled in line with the Lord’s admonition on the subject, that we (a) love all men; (b) resolve all issues promptly (both inner conflicts and conflicts with others); (c) forgive everyone who offends us from the heart; (d) submit our tongues to the control of the Holy Spirit; (e) allow the word of God to transform us in the inner man; (f) pray all the time; (g) fill our hearts with godly thoughts; (h) exercise self-restraint; (i) exercise long suffering; (j) seek to obey God’s word, rather than give unacceptable sacrifices via the performance of religious duty; and, (k) seek the help of the Holy Spirit to rid us of all bitterness, envy, jealousy, etc.

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 5:27-32
Tonight, we shall be looking at the seventh commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) and what God’s standard really is on this matter. May the Holy Spirit help us as we study, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The bible recognizes sexual intercourse as something that only two people who are scripturally married to each other should engage in. Adultery is therefore sexual intercourse outside of marriage: whether it is between two married people who are not married to themselves, or between a married person and an unmarried person, or two unmarried individuals. Adultery can be more appropriately regarded as sexual immorality, which includes fornication, incest, rape, homosexuality, bestiality, etc.
As with the sixth commandment, God’s standard for sexual immorality in not limited to the physical act, but to what takes place inside a man’s heart even before the physical act.
Deuteronomy 22:22-29; Leviticus 18:1-20, 22-25; 20:10-21; Matthew 5:28; 15:19; James 1:14-16; Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11-12 (Luke 16:18); 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 7:1-6; Psalm 119:9; Proverbs 6:24-35; 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:1-15; Genesis 38:2; Judges 14:1-2; 16:1; Proverbs 4:20-23, 25; Job 31:1; Romans 13:8-10.

Conclusion
God’s standard for sexual immorality, of which adultery is a major subset, is very high. So high that a lustful look at another individual with amorous thoughts is all it takes to be guilty of sexual immorality. Engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage is also wrong by God’s standard. Another major ground for failing God’s standard on sexual immorality is the issue of divorce and remarriage.

How do we deal with the issue of sexual immorality with a view to keeping God’s standard? The Lord’s answer about gouging out the offending eye may seem gross, but the point is to ensure that we get rid of every iota of the remote causes for sexual immorality. The bible encourages young people to flee every appearance of physical closeness, including loose talks of a sexual nature; and to get married rather than to burn. More fundamentally, however, you are advised to make a covenant with your eyes not to look lustfully upon a woman or man; bring your heart under the control of the Holy Spirit; store up God’s word in your heart, and heed His every command; and, have agape love for all men and women (see them as blood relatives). Though these remedies seem simplistic, in reality however, they require intense prayers unto God who is able to help us in time of need (Hebrews 5:7; Matthew 26:37-44).

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