The Creator God devotes two of His ten great laws to protecting family relationships, and the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18), is given to safeguard the honor and sanctity of marriage. Marriage and family are vital for learning proper relationships with others and with God, and since they are crucial to character development, God does not tolerate their defilement. Within marriage, sex is fully sanctioned by God, but outside of it, such practices cause great harm. This commandment, in principle, covers all forms of illicit sex. Adultery is not only a physical act but also encompasses the spirit of the law, where even lustful thoughts are considered sinful. The penalty for adultery under the law is death, as it defiles the land and its inhabitants to such an extent that it must be removed. Adulterers often hide their actions, not wanting to be found guilty, as this sin offends not only the aggrieved spouse but also their home and children, striking at the basis of a decent society. It is an act of treachery, violating the trust and confidence placed by spouses and by Almighty God. Violence is a fruit of adultery due to its treachery and self-centeredness, destroying loyalty and submission to authority while teaching disrespect for others. It also curses the land, bringing harm to the environment and its inhabitants. The act of adultery brings severe consequences upon a person, including shame and destruction. God hates divorce, though He allows it in rare circumstances, and marrying a divorced person can be considered adultery under certain conditions. Continuous and flagrant sexual immorality may necessitate exclusion from Christian fellowship for the spiritual health of the church. Committing adultery is a sin against God, meriting His judgment. Adulterers cannot inherit the Kingdom of God unless they genuinely repent, and while God will forgive such repentance and grant eternal life, the harmful consequences of the sin may still persist. Spiritually, adultery symbolizes unfaithfulness to God, evident in idolatry and reliance on the world and its false teachings rather than on Him. God is represented as the husband of His people, and the Bride of Christ is called to be a chaste and pure spouse, with all who are part of this righteous Bride being truly blessed.

The breaking of the seventh commandment encompasses far more than adultery, which is often committed in secret and rarely makes headlines. Within the spirit of this commandment lie numerous other sexual sins, including pornography, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, and the horrific sexual attacks against vulnerable children, such as pedophilia, which is more common than we might realize. The combined magnitude of these sins, alongside adultery, is beyond comprehension. While it is impossible to accurately compile figures on how many divorces result from these sexual deviancies, it is evident that they contribute significantly to the bitter fruit of broken relationships. Year after year, at least in the United States, sex and marriage are discussed with a God-ignoring confusion and growing pessimism, reflecting a state of calamity that has become accepted as normal. Serious cultural observers warn that we may be witnessing the end of marriage as a foundational institution in Western societies, fueled by trends such as cohabitation, feminism, and the push to legalize homosexual and lesbian unions. The divorce rate, hovering around 50% since the late 1970s, is skewed by the many couples living together without legal records, while 40% of births in America occur outside of wedlock. Opportunities for promiscuity and experimentation have increased with greater mobility and workforce participation by women, exacerbating the curses of broken homes and societal instability. Israel's national sin, as depicted in Scripture, often involves faithlessness, particularly in the form of harlotry, which signifies sexual wantonness and, in a spiritual sense, idolatry. The book of Hosea portrays Israel as a faithless wife and a rebellious child, departing from duties agreed upon in the Covenant with God. This faithlessness extends beyond personal relationships to affect family, community, and national life, eroding trust, moral standards, and steadfast love. God charges Israel with a lack of knowledge and acknowledgment of Him, indicating a distant relationship despite their access to His Word and commandments, for which He holds them more accountable. The Hebrew term zanah, translated as harlotry, implies a habitual way of life rather than a single act, and when linked with addictive influences like wine, it shows how this spirit of faithlessness enslaves the heart, destroying discretion and understanding. Israel struggles with fidelity in all aspects of life—toward God, mates, country, and contracts—reflecting a cultural absorption of this spirit of harlotry. The drive to be unfaithful to clear responsibilities provokes retribution from God, as any act that becomes an end in itself, such as sex, turns into an idol and fails to provide the satisfying pleasure He intends. Fornication, or unchaste conduct before marriage, is also a form of infidelity against a future mate, denying them a pure gift. This principle underscores a spiritual reality tied to our relationship with Jesus Christ, our promised Bridegroom. Nature itself rises as an enemy against those who break the seventh commandment, a consequence we witness in our lifetimes as the effects of such sins manifest in society.

Marriage in the United States is in a state of calamity, with divorce rates soaring from under 40% in the late 1960s to nearly 50% by 1975, and peaking at 51% by 1978, though stabilizing slightly under 50% since 1988. This crisis reflects a deeper national sin of faithlessness, which God frequently addresses in relation to Israel's relationship with Him under the Old Covenant. Israel's faithlessness, often described as adultery or harlotry, signifies a breach of the covenant with God, akin to a marriage contract, where they failed to fulfill promised duties. This faithlessness, when pervasive in a culture, blurs the lines between right and wrong, morality and immorality, leading to unreliable ethical standards in government, commerce, and social relationships. In the context of marriage, sexual promiscuity and the pursuit of personal pleasure over commitment contribute to broken homes, disease, and societal instability. The effects of such faithlessness are evident in rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases, illegitimacy, and other social ills, tearing the nation apart. God warns through prophets like Hosea and Jeremiah of the consequences of this unfaithfulness, not just to Him but also in human relationships, including marriage. Leviticus 20:22 emphasizes that breaking the seventh commandment, which governs sexual purity and fidelity, results in severe penalties, where nature itself becomes an enemy, making life in the land untenable and leading to expulsion and suffering through famine, war, and natural disasters. This national trait of faithlessness, especially in sexual matters, is on the verge of destruction, building toward a major social calamity that should motivate adherence to God's standards.

We are commanded with clarity and force: You shall not commit adultery. Breaking the seventh commandment, though often hidden and rarely making headlines, is a grave sin that leaves deep personal devastation in its wake. Within the spirit of this commandment lie numerous other sexual sins, contributing to an enormous, incomprehensible tally of transgressions. The impact of these sins, including adultery, is partly reflected in the high divorce rates, though exact figures remain elusive due to the private nature of such acts. The societal calamity surrounding marriage and sexual fidelity is evident, with divorce rates climbing significantly over recent decades and a growing acceptance of this breakdown as normal. This crisis is fueled by a broader national sin of deceit and faithlessness, which extends beyond personal relationships into the cultural fabric. God portrays this faithlessness as a spirit of harlotry, a pervasive and addictive force that enslaves the heart, driving individuals to prioritize self-pleasure over fidelity and responsibility. This deceit, rooted in a failure to honor commitments, manifests as adultery and other sexual sins within society, producing destructive consequences like broken homes, diseases, and societal instability. God laments this unfaithfulness, noting its deep impact on relationships with Him and among people. The root of adultery lies in deceit and irresponsibility, a failure to be faithful to vows, often hidden due to an inherent understanding of its wrongness. Yet, God sees all and holds us accountable, urging a transformation toward faithfulness that mirrors His unchanging nature.