The great figures of the Bible, those who made glorious marks in the significant stages of Revelation, were not exempt from weaknesses and mistakes.

Abraham, known as the “father of believers,” is a prime example. Shortly after arriving in the Promised Land, a famine struck, forcing him to go to Egypt. He made an agreement with Sarai, his wife, “who was beautiful in appearance,” that he would pass her off as his sister (she was actually his half-sister) to avoid the risk of being killed by someone who might desire her (Genesis 12:10-20). And so it was done. In Egypt, Sarai’s beauty was praised to Pharaoh, and she was taken to the palace, where she slept with the king. In return, Pharaoh treated Abraham well because of her, giving him livestock, servants, and maids.

The first recorded act of adultery in the Bible had just occurred. In other words, the unspoken contract of fidelity that bound Abraham and Sarai was broken. This situation resulted from a premeditated lie, a plan whose consequences neither of them could have foreseen. The Lord, angered by this, struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues and revealed to the king the hidden cause of these misfortunes. Pharaoh rebuked Abraham for his deception and expelled him, along with his people and livestock.

Hagar was among the Egyptian maidservants who followed the patriarch. We know how the story unfolds and the consequences that ensued… Some time later, God prevented a recurrence of this event with Abimelech, king of Gerar, where Abraham was residing at the time. Once again, Abraham claimed that his wife was his sister, fearing for his life because of her beauty. Abimelech took Sarai, but before he could touch her, the Lord revealed in a dream that she was a married woman. In his integrity, the king did not approach Sarai and returned her to Abraham.

God is faithful. He desires and expects the human couple, created in His image, to live in fidelity. His holy will is expressed in the seventh commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.” And the law’s enforcement under the Old Covenant specified the punishment for such an offense:

“If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10)

This illustrates the gravity of the crime in the eyes of the Almighty. King David would later commit this very sin. We know how he was captivated by the beauty of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his valiant soldiers. He sent for her and slept with her, resulting in a pregnancy. After several attempts to cover up the affair, David intentionally sent Uriah to the front lines of a fierce battle, where he was killed.

The prophet Nathan, sent by God, confronted David directly about his adultery. In his uprightness, David immediately acknowledged his sin and was granted forgiveness by the Lord. Because of his repentance, David was spared direct punishment. However, the child born from his affair with Bathsheba fell gravely ill and died.

God’s grace manifested itself afterward, as Bathsheba, now one of David’s wives, gave birth to Solomon, who was later appointed as the heir to the throne. This same Solomon, the wisest king on earth, was led astray by his unlawful love for foreign women and fell into idolatry toward the end of his life. Did an inherited weakness manifest itself in him when he gradually succumbed to disobedience?

Jesus demonstrated His Father’s mercy when faced with an adulterous woman brought before Him by the scribes and Pharisees, who sought to trap Him in a contradiction. They presented Him with a woman caught in the act, saying, “Moses commanded us in the law to stone such women. Now what do you say?” Everyone knows Jesus’ response: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.“

At these words, the accusers, from the eldest to the youngest, left one by one. Alone with the woman, Jesus said to her, “I do not condemn you either; go now and leave your life of sin.” Under the Covenant of Grace, which we are now under, the key principle is always to break with sin, which implies sincere repentance for past behavior. God’s continual desire, regardless of the sin committed, is expressed perfectly in Ezekiel 33:11:

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”

When it comes to adultery, Jesus’ teaching goes beyond the traditional interpretation of the Law. He addresses the root of the problem, equating a secret desire with the act itself:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Indeed, it is in the form of thoughts, often accompanied by images, that the destructive process of infidelity begins. Imagination always precedes the act, even if only for a brief moment. The exhortation from Proverbs 4:23 is therefore timely:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.“

We must be especially vigilant, for today’s mentality is immersed in adultery, which has become commonplace. Spouses who cheat, often both simultaneously, are featured in nearly every film and novel. Around us, many people openly have mistresses or lovers.

Hardly anyone is shocked anymore. After all, “you have to keep up with the times!” Those who haven’t had “adventures” are often considered abnormal or naive. Sadly, even churches are not immune to this virus. Like David, some servants of God have succumbed. What sorrow!

“Therefore, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

At the same time, conviction of sin has become rare. The notion of guilt is fading. The permissiveness of the world has infiltrated religious circles. Many couples, known to be unfaithful in previous relationships, have found acceptance in evangelical communities, even after leaving congregations that disapproved of their behavior. It’s true that financial generosity can sometimes cover up many ambiguous situations.

However, how can one honestly disregard Jesus’ teachings on adultery? His words remain clear and leave no room for ambiguity:

“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10:11-12)

This applies equally to legal marriages and common-law unions. In both cases, the man and woman become “one flesh,” and the bond uniting them cannot be broken without consequence. The sin of adultery is no more or less serious than other sins. Like the rest, it can be forgiven—but only if it is brought to an end.

The apostle Paul clearly defines the limits of fidelity within the human couple:

“A married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.”

Naturally, this principle, inspired by divine will, applies equally to both sexes. In the above statement, we can and should switch the terms “woman” and “man.” The fidelity inherent in marriage is not one-sided. It demands mutual and unwavering commitment. Why is this sacred principle so often disregarded? Simply because, in the absence of the fear of God, His will is deliberately ignored and violated. The naturally sinful inclinations of the human heart lead to adultery.

The spectacle offered by the world plays a corrupting role. Eyes filled with adultery stir up lust… and thus begins sin. For this reason, the Christian’s standard must never align with the morals of the time or the permissiveness that legislators might endorse. No, the immutable standard is found in Scripture, which commands:

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

This is clear, grave, and solemn. To live according to God’s will, Christians are often mocked by the world. Wasn’t Joseph unjustly imprisoned for refusing to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife? Wasn’t John the Baptist beheaded for denouncing Herod’s adultery? The day may not be far off when we, too, will suffer for our resolve not to defile ourselves…

This text is an excerpt from the book “They will Become One Flesh: Bible and Sexual Chaos“ written by Henri Gras.

We invite you to read the following article, “Within Reach.“

THE VIOLATED CONTRACT. THE VIOLATED CONTRACT. THE VIOLATED CONTRACT.

THE VIOLATED CONTRACT. THE VIOLATED CONTRACT. THE VIOLATED CONTRACT.