Rule 7

Exodus 20:7

I. Christians Repudiate Worldly Behavior

A. Sanctification and honor frame Christian behavior, but they are from the norms of the unbelieving world; holiness isn’t often invited to the party. “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.” (1 Thessalonians 4:4)

B. Christians should avoid morally dangerous territory. “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1)

C. When David neglected the Biblical standard, he crossed the line and the consequences turned deadly for himself, his family, and the entire nation. “And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (2 Samuel 11:3) “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.” (2 Samuel 12:9)

D. Actual adultery is obviously wrong, but Scripture argues that lesser behaviors which tend in the wrong direction must be managed defensively as well. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

II. Respect for Marriage Is a Life and Death Matter

A. The home ought to provide the ultimate safe place in life. “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” (Proverbs 31:11) “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” (Proverbs 31:27-28)

B. Consider the implications of Joseph’s behavior in Potiphar’s house; on the human level, misbehavior would have been so easy. “But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” (Genesis 39:8-10)

C. Is that brief pleasure worth an eternity in hell? “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:13-15) “Dog” refers to a behavior pattern, not to a faithful pet.

D. When families collapse, God turns society and culture over to the covenant-destroying behaviors which always mark the end of civilizations. “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:24-27)

III. Avoid Putting Words in God’s Mouth

A. Adding rules to marriage which do not come from God can have disastrous results. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

B. Human wisdom can be nothing but self-promotion; cultures and cults add incalculably harmful nonsense. “Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:23)

C. Clever arguments over casual divorce and justification for open marriage are actually treachery, not wisdom. “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.” (Malachi 2:14-15)

D. Trust what God reveals and be skeptical of anything which isn’t congruent with Scripture. “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew 19:5)