What The Bible Says About Adultery - Soul Choice Ministries

If you are committing, or considering, an adulterous affair, or practicing sexual relations outside of marriage, you may want to read these verses first. The Bible has very specific things to say about the consequences of these particular sins.

Proverbs 7:
“Keep my words and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live…that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple; I perceived among the youths a young man devoid of understanding, passing along the street near her corner, and he took the path to her house…With her enticing speech she caused him to yield; with her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter…till an arrow struck his liver…For she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.”

Notice that Scripture says a person who has an affair or commits fornication is someone who lacks understanding and is compared to an ox going to the slaughter. He may end up with serious consequences, or worse, as it may lead him to hell. That is a very high price to pay for a moment of pleasure.

The next passage also reveals the end result:

Proverbs 9:
“A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing. ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here’; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, ‘Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’ But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.”

Again, this person is described as foolish. This behavior not only ruins a person’s life, but leads to everlasting destruction in hell.

Job 24:15:
“The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he disguises his face.”

I have known several married couples in which the husband committed adultery. Some couples divorced. Some wives were very gracious and forgave husbands who repented. Even when they were able to stay together, it caused a great deal of heartache, pain, and damage to their marriage and family.

For the Christian, we know that with God, and through much prayer, all things are possible. A relationship can be healed and restored. If Christians learned to walk in the fear of the Lord, this would not happen.

The following verses state what God thinks about adultery:

Leviticus 20:10:
“The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.”

1 Corinthians 6:9:
“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…”

Hebrews 13:4:
“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

Malachi 3:5:
“And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers…because they do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts.

If a marriage is having problems, it is often the man’s responsibility. The Bible says the man is the head of the house (Ephesians 5:23), and his duty is to love, protect, and cherish his wife (Ephesians 5:25). If a man treats his wife as God instructs, the woman will feel secure and valued and will respond accordingly. Often, however, the man fails to follow biblical instruction.

It is true that sometimes a woman may have a wandering eye, even when the husband has lived as a godly man, but most of the time this is not the case. Frequently, the man becomes involved with an assistant or coworker at the office, works late, shares meals, and gradually becomes emotionally and personally involved. This is not wise.

God’s commands are not meant to restrict us, but to protect and benefit us. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. Since sin brings death, it often brings sickness and destruction along the way as well. God desires us to enjoy life, health, and blessing. There are great benefits in obeying His Word.

Please think about this: A moment of sinful pleasure may end up costing you an eternity in hell.