Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 09:02:46 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 12
Q: Which is the seventh commandment?
A: The seventh commandment is, "Thou shalt not commit adultery".
In this commandment, God protects the life in and out the marriage. The
marriage is established by Him. "Therefore shall a man leave his father
and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
flesh." (Genesis 2:24) After having it established, he cares through this
commandment, that it is kept chaste, i.e. in the form as He wills. When
He forbids something, adultery in this commandment, He wills that the
opposite be kept: in this case the holy life of man and woman.
Q: What is required in the seventh commandment?
A: The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our
neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviour.
Though there is something forbidden in this commandment, we will first
look to what is required. In the following question and answer, we look
to what is not allowed. The seventh commandment requires much. It is not
enough when we commit not adultery with our deeds. It requires the
preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity. Not only our own,
but also that of our neighbour. So, when we behave ourselves chaste, but
allow our children to come in wrong places etc., we do not enough. And
when we see another sinning against this commandment, and we warn him
not, we do too little. We have to keep both ourselves and our neighbour
in a holy life.
Further, it requires not only deeds, but also our heart is important.
In the answer, the heart is even mentioned first: in heart, speech, and
behaviour. For out the heart come forth all things. Our deeds are first
considered in our heart. Also the speech is important, and it is between
our heart and our deeds.
Chastity in the general is a virtue which consists therein that man
keeps the purity of mind and body, according to God's will. Further, that
man avoids all lusts, which are forbidden of God, and also all the
desires, causes, fruits, assumptions etc. thereof. And this both in and
out the marriage. The chastity is a great decoration of the entire man,
and of all virtues. The chastity is one of the most important virtues
wherein the image of God consists. With "image of God" I mean not one of
stone or gold, but like it is written, that men is made after God's
image: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27) The chastity
belongs to that image. Through the chastity, we become more uniform to
God.
The apostle commands everybody, man and woman, to be man or woman in
honour: "That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honour;" (1 Thessalonians 4:4) He also warns us to
abstain from the lusts, which above all prevail in the youth: "Flee also
youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace." (2
Timothy 2:22) Our speech ought to be not defiled, but graceful, like the
apostle commands us: "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with
salt." (Colossians 4:6) Besides, according to Peter, the chaste behaviour
of woman can have a great influence on their husbands. When they have
unbelieving husbands, and those men see the chaste behaviour of their
wives, maybe they come to belief. Listen to Peter, who says: "Likewise,
ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not
the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of
the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with
fear." (1 Peter 3:1,2)
Q: What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A: The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and
actions.
Our answer says it in short: avoid all unchaste thoughts, words, and
actions. But when we look to it more thoroughly, we see more and more
transgressions. First, not only the deeds are condemned, but also the
speech. Yes, even the thoughts are open before the eyes of God, Who knows
our heart. Jesus Christ explained this to us, when He said: "I say unto
you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed
adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) When we walk on
the street, we often see men looking to women. When you look at their
eyes, you see what they think. They are continually committing adultery
with the passing women in their hearts. That is what is meant, when we
say that also the unchaste thoughts are forbidden. Concerning the speech,
you have but to listen, and you discover how much is transgressed this
commandment.
The apostle warns us against adultery, both in deeds and in speech:
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be
once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of
thanks. (Ephesians 5:3,4) Use not your tongue for unchaste words, foolish
talking, jesting, but rather for the giving of thanks. The reason is that
no sinner will inherit the kingdom of God, like the apostle continues:
"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous
man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and of God." (Ephesians 5:5)
The punishment of the adulterers consists in the temporal and eternal
death. In the law, God commanded to put the adulterer to death. "And the
man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that
committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the
adulteress shall surely be put to death." (Leviticus 20:10) That
punishment is not abrogated in the New Testament. When Jesus said to the
adulterous woman, that He not condemned her, He left the government free
to punish her. When He not condemned her, He added: "Go, and sin no
more". (John 8:11) Also when He not condemned her, he only showed that He
came not to condemn, but to save the sinners, in order that they "sin no
more". Besides the temporal death, there is also an eternal death for the
adulterers. We have just read of Paul, who said "that no whoremonger, nor
unclean person, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God." (Ephesians 5:5)
Sins against this commandment are: the having of more than one wife.
God gave Adam one wife, no more. The whore and the sodomite are sinning:
"There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of
the sons of Israel." (Deuteronomy 23:17) The whorehouses ought to be
exterminated out of our country. Raping is forbidden, and also
homosexuality, as we see in the destruction of Sodom.
We can well ask ourselves: Who is able to keep God's law? Nobody is able;
and who thinks that He is able, is misleading himself, being utterly
blind for the truth. He has no idea about what God requires in His law.
But those, who begin to open their eyes, and begin to see what a great
transgressors they are, will do one of both: Either they flee from God,
or they go to him, asking for mercy.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
End of Catechism, 12
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