Read

Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery.” 

Think

You can feel the sharpness of the words before you even unpack them. You shall not commit adultery. It's short. Clear. Final. It reads like a locked door that God intends to stay closed.

This commandment is often treated like an alarm that only goes off when someone is caught in an affair. But by then, the damage is already done. Trust is shattered. Promises are broken. And a vow once made before God lies in pieces on the ground. But this command was never meant to just police behavior. It was meant to protect something sacred. Adultery is not just about an act. It's about a covenant. And God's warning is not built on fear. It's built on love.

When you read You shall not commit adultery, it’s easy to hear judgment in it. But look closer and you’ll see grace. God is saying, “Protect what I’ve given you. Guard what matters most. Don’t trade lasting love for a temporary thrill.”

Marriage is not a contract. Contracts are built on mutual benefit. If one side breaks it, the deal is off. Marriage is a covenant. It’s built on unconditional commitment. It’s the promise to love, to stay, to serve, even when things aren’t easy. That kind of love reflects the heart of God. It mirrors the faithfulness he shows us every single day.

Adultery strikes at the core of that image. It doesn’t just violate a person. It tears apart a picture that was supposed to display God’s unbreakable love. That’s why this commandment is not simply about morality. It’s about worship. About identity. About reflecting something eternal through something earthly.

When a marriage begins, it is often celebrated with vows and music and shared joy. Two people stand before God and declare, “I do.” And heaven listens. Because something holy is happening. A covenant is being made. But those same words—I do—can lose their weight if they aren’t guarded. Promises leak over time. Intimacy fades. Distractions creep in. And slowly, the vow becomes vulnerable.

That’s why this commandment isn’t just for those who are married. It’s for everyone. It’s for singles who are preparing for the future. It’s for the engaged who are building their foundation. It’s for those who have been married for decades and are tempted to stop pursuing their spouse. It’s for the divorced who are healing. It’s for anyone who believes that love is worth protecting.

Think of it like a house. The structure may look strong from the outside. But if cracks form in the foundation and no one addresses them, it’s only a matter of time before the walls shift. You can paint the rooms and polish the windows, but underneath, something is weakening. That’s what adultery does. It doesn’t always start with an explosion. It often begins with neglect. A drifting heart. A small compromise. A glance. A text. A conversation that lingers too long.

It’s a slow erosion. And that’s exactly why God speaks directly and firmly. Not to shame, but to awaken.

Because here’s the truth: no one wakes up and suddenly decides to break their vows. The road to adultery is paved with smaller, quieter choices. Ignored convictions. Justified actions. Dismissed red flags.

That is why the seventh commandment matters. It stops us before we start drifting. It calls us back to the vow. You shall not commit adultery… because what you have is worth fighting for.

Imagine a trust fall. You lean back, hoping the person behind you will catch you. But what if no one is there? What if they promised they would be, but walked away? That’s what betrayal feels like. And God, in his wisdom, says, “Don’t let it get there. Stay. Catch them. Keep your word. Guard what you vowed.”

The command is clear, not because God wants to restrict your joy, but because he wants to protect the kind of joy that lasts. The joy that comes from a marriage built on trust. The joy that grows with years of faithfulness. The joy that says, “I’m still choosing you,” long after the honeymoon fades.

There’s also a deeper layer. The reason this commandment is sacred is because it reflects something eternal. Scripture often uses the metaphor of marriage to describe God’s relationship with his people. He is the faithful bridegroom. We are the bride. When we wander, when we chase other gods or other loves, we’re not just being distracted—we’re being unfaithful. Adultery doesn’t just happen between spouses. It happens spiritually too.

When we break covenant with God, we step outside of his love, not because it disappears, but because we forget it. We try to find intimacy in things that will never satisfy. That is why adultery is such a serious sin. It doesn’t just affect a person. It grieves the heart of God. Because he knows what it does. He sees the wounds it causes. And he calls us to something better.

This week is not about condemnation. It’s about clarity. It’s about looking at this commandment with new eyes. Not just as a line we shouldn’t cross, but as a gift that protects what’s sacred. A guardrail that keeps us from going over the edge.

Maybe today you’re feeling convicted. Maybe you’ve wandered close to the line. Maybe you’ve crossed it. Or maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of someone else’s betrayal. Wherever you are, God meets you with grace.

He doesn’t just call you to honor the vow. He gives you the strength to do it. And if the vow has been broken, he offers redemption. Healing. Restoration.

The world treats adultery casually. But God never does. Because love is never casual. Promises are not disposable. Vows are not optional. They are holy.

Apply

Take time today to reflect on the vows you’ve made—or hope to make one day. Whether you’re single, married, or recovering from betrayal, ask yourself what it looks like to live with covenant-level commitment. Consider where you’ve let drift or distraction settle in. Talk to God about where you need to guard or rebuild the vow.

Pray

God, thank you for being faithful, even when I’m tempted to wander. Help me take this command seriously—not just as a rule, but as a reflection of your love. Show me where I’ve drifted, and give me the courage to guard what matters. Build in me a heart that keeps its word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.