How To Build A Life – Keep Marriage Sacred

How to Build a Life: Keep Marriage Sacred

When in Doubt, Follow the Instructions.

God’s Commands are Blueprints for Building Our Lives.

Commandment #1: Put God First (Exodus 20:1-3)

Commandment #2: Accept No Substitutes (Exodus 20:4-6)

Commandment #3: Give God the Respect Due Him (Exodus 20:7)

Commandment #4: Take Time to be Holy (Exodus 20:8-11)

Commandment #5: Give Honor to Whom Honor is Due (Exodus 20:12)

Commandment #6: Respect Life (Exodus 20:13)

Commandment #7: Keep Marriage Sacred (Exodus 20:14)

Adultery in the OT

1. Occurred When a Man had Sex with a Married
2. Was NOT Reckoned as Adultery When a Married Man had Sex with an Unmarried or Unbetrothed Woman.
3. Adultery was a Property

Adultery in the NT

1. Jesus Expands Adultery to Include Husbands.
2. The Husband and Wife Belong to Each Other.
3. Adultery Shifts from Property Crime to Anything that Violates the Marital

Marriage Should be Honored

1. Marriage is Sacred and Vital to the Community (Hebrews 13:4).
2. Marriage is a “’Til Death do We Part” Covenant (Malachi 2:14-15).
3. The Marital Sexual Relationship is Very Good (1 Corinthians 7:2-5).

What Does it Mean to “Break Covenant”?

1. Physical Adultery (Sexual Infidelity)
2. Adultery of the Heart (Lust).
3. Legalized Adultery (Divorce).
4. Other Covenant Breaking Acts (Abandonment, Abuse, Neglect, Non-Support, Etc.; Exodus 21:10-11; 1 Corinthians 7:13-15).

Don’t Flirt with Sexual Immorality.

Work to Enrich Your Marriage.

Put Your Spouse First Emotionally & Sexually.

Remember God will Forgive Any Sin including Sexual Sin or Breaking Covenant with Your Spouse.

Last week we discussed the sixth commandment on the sanctity of life.  This Sunday we will examine the seventh, Keep Marriage Sacred.

Exodus 20:14  You shall not commit adultery.

The Ten Commandments provide a moral blueprint for how to build successful lives. Marital infidelity ranks high on the list of things that can destroy your life.  However, the commandment is about more than sexual behavior, it is about covenant.

Many are surprised regarding how adultery is treated in the OT. Fundamentally, it is about keeping a covenant that is at the heart of society. In the OT the command reflected a concern that affected property rights, legitimacy of heirs, and the inheritance of land. These are all legal issues related to covenant.

However, the teaching of the NT centers more on the relational and theological elements of covenant. Not only does this elevate women from the legal status of property to partner, it restores God’s original intent for the covenant of Marriage (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:21-25; Matthew 19:3-9).

There is so much to say.  I’ll pick up this thought and others in the lesson.  Join us for this message!

Joey