The Ten Commandments and the Teachings of Jesus: A Theological, Cultural, and Political Exposition
1. Introduction
The seventh commandment guards the sanctity of marriage, affirming sexual fidelity as a sacred covenantal duty. In both the Old and New Testaments, sexual ethics are never reduced to private preference or pleasure—they reflect deep truths about God’s covenant, human dignity, and communal holiness. Jesus intensifies this command by moving from external acts to internal intentions, calling His followers to purity not only in body, but in thought and desire. This entry explores the commandment’s meaning, its socio-theological implications, and Jesus’ kingdom ethic of covenantal faithfulness.
2. Text and Translation
“You shall not commit adultery.”
— Exodus 20:14, cf. Deuteronomy 5:18
Hebrew: לֹא תִנְאָף (lō’ tin’āph) – “You shall not commit adultery”
The term na’aph refers specifically to sexual relations between a man and a woman when one or both are married to someone else. It is distinct from fornication (sex outside marriage generally), though all are addressed in the broader Torah and later Scripture (cf. Lev. 18; Prov. 5–7; 1 Cor. 6:9).
3. Historical and Cultural Background
In the ancient Near East, marriage was not merely a personal or romantic bond—it was a legal and covenantal relationship with communal implications.
- Adultery disrupted family lines, inheritance, and social cohesion.
- In Israel, it was considered a capital offence (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22), because it represented covenant betrayal, akin to spiritual idolatry (cf. Ezek. 16).
In patriarchal cultures, women were often more vulnerable to the consequences, though Scripture progressively emphasises mutual accountability (Prov. 6:32–35).
Marriage in Israel reflected God’s covenant with His people, and adultery was both a personal sin and a symbol of national unfaithfulness (Hosea 2:2–20).
4. Theological Significance
The commandment reflects three vital theological principles:
- Faithfulness is sacred – God is a covenant-keeping God (Exod. 34:6), and expects covenantal faithfulness from His people.
- Sexual union is holy – A one-flesh bond (Gen. 2:24) with moral and spiritual significance (1 Cor. 6:16–20).
- Marriage images divine love – Reflecting Christ’s love for the Church (Eph. 5:25–27)
Adultery distorts these truths and fractures the image of divine fidelity.
5. Jesus’ Teaching: Purity of Heart
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, elevates the seventh commandment to include not just outward fidelity, but inward purity:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
— Matthew 5:27–28
a. Lust vs. Love
The Greek term used (epithymēsai) refers to covetous desire—not mere attraction, but a willful, objectifying gaze. Jesus identifies this as a heart-level violation, showing that internal desires are morally significant.
b. Radical Discipleship and Accountability
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out… it is better that you lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
— Matthew 5:29–30
Jesus employs hyperbolic language to stress the seriousness of sin. The solution is not mutilation, but decisive, radical repentance—cutting off sources of temptation and reorienting one’s vision toward holiness.
6. Jesus on Marriage and Divorce
In later teachings, Jesus reinforces the permanence and sanctity of marriage:
“What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
— Matthew 19:6
He roots marriage in Genesis 2:24, affirming it as a divine covenant, not a human contract. While allowing divorce only in cases of porneia (sexual immorality) in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, He upholds fidelity as the norm for discipleship.
7. Political and Cultural Implications
In Jesus’ time, double standards prevailed:
- Men were often socially excused for sexual misconduct
- Women bore disproportionate blame (e.g. John 8:3–11)
Jesus upends this dynamic:
- He defends the woman caught in adultery while calling her to leave sin (John 8:11)
- He speaks to the inner sins of men (Matt. 5:28)
- He views sexual sin as a matter of the heart, not just public scandal
In our own culture, which swings between permissiveness and moral panic, Jesus calls us to a kingdom ethic of integrity, purity, and covenant faithfulness.
8. Contemporary Application
The seventh commandment challenges modern assumptions about sex, identity, and love. It remains relevant in:
- Marriage: Safeguarding fidelity, resisting pornography and emotional affairs
- Singleness: Embracing chastity as a form of discipleship
- Church life: Teaching redemptive sexual ethics with both truth and grace
- Media and culture: Resisting commodification of the body and objectification
Obedience to this command means pursuing whole-life purity: not just abstaining from acts, but cultivating faithful hearts.
9. Conclusion
“You shall not commit adultery” is far more than a social rule—it is a divine call to covenantal loyalty, inner purity, and holy love. Jesus deepens this command by revealing that adultery begins in the heart. In a culture saturated with sexual confusion and brokenness, Christ offers both a clear standard and the grace to be transformed. True discipleship is marked by fidelity—both to God and to one another.