DAY 1 – MAY 31
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “YOU SHALL NOT”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus
20:14
Leadership
Magazine reported that The Smith Agency in
What we do and what we do not do says a lot about
who we are and what we really believe. In our study of the Ten Commandments, we
come now to another short, but powerful commandment, “You shall not commit
adultery”. At the beginning of the
statement remains the words, “You shall not.” Adultery is not to be part of our
lifestyle.
In scripture, the word adultery refers to
“voluntary cohabitation with a person other than one’s legal spouse.” Adultery
differs from fornication, for adultery implies marriage, whereas fornication is
applicable to any kind of sexual irregularity, whether married or not. In the
Bible, adultery is treated clearly as sin. The seriousness with which adultery
was dealt with in the Old Testament is clear when scripture says, “If a man commits adultery with another man’s
wife-with the wife of his neighbor-both the adulterer and the adulteress must
be put to death.” Leviticus 20:10. As one theologian said, “The gravity of
the sin is in its betrayal of trust, its violation and destruction of the most
sacred human relationship, and its disruptive effects on the home and society
in general.” The words, “you shall not” are clear and to the point. Let us live
so that all that we read, watch, think, and talk about clearly demonstrates
that adultery is sin and not part of our lives or lifestyle in any way.
DAY 2 –
JUNE 1
“BACK
TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE:
“BE ALERT”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE
DAILY
SCRIPTURE
KEY
VERSE: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
Pastor
Ed Young, in his book, From Bad Beginning to Happy Endings, shares some
insightful information from psychologist, Dr. Tom McGuiness. He is a counseling
psychologist in
“Married
people seek out or succumb to affairs when they feel devalued or less than
fully alive. They are bored. Overburdened. People who have affairs have a
child’s deep longing to be touched, caressed, held, hugged and kissed, whether
they admit it or not. They want happy surprises. That might mean a sentimental,
unexpected gift every once in a while. More important, it is the dependable
gift of time and caring. The present of shared ideas, experiences, stories,
nonsense and games, including sexual games. They want the world to butt out.
They want a loving friend, a pal who isn’t judgmental. They want someone to
convince them they’re still loved, lovable and very special. For a little
while, now and then, they want out from under the grown-up responsibilities
that have become predictable, dreary and difficult.”
After
quoting this, Pastor Ed Young then asked the question, “If these are the
reasons extra-marital affairs occur, couldn’t we guard against them by seeking
to meet our mate’s deepest needs for affection, security, friendship, and
sexual fulfillment?” His question
reminds us that careful actions must be taken to prevent adultery from taking
place. A healthy God-centered and God-focused marriage can stand as a strong
protection against adultery.
Adultery
is serious and must be taken seriously. We must live in a close and intimate
relationship with God. As the people of God, we are to be alert to the
temptations around us, being careful not to feed our minds or souls with that
which destroys. Paul instructs, “And pray
in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this
in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18. We can never let our guard
down.
Back in
1990, one Christian author wrote these words in a book published in 1990. He
wrote, “It was reported today (7-24-90) in the news that former PTL leader and
TV evangelist, Jim Bakker, now jailed for various fund-raising improprieties,
makes eleven cents an hour cleaning toilets in the penitentiary. And, a federal
judge ruled that the little money he has accumulated could be seized to pay
penalties he owes of over $500,000. His empire crumbled when he had an
adulterous relationship with Jessica Hahn.” The tragedy is that the author who
wrote those words was later caught in the grasp of adultery. It is good to
remember the words of the Apostle Paul who said, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t
fall!” I Corinthians 10:12.
DAY 3 – JUNE 2
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “FORGIVENESS”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus
20:14
John, chapter 8, tells the story of a woman who was
caught in the very act of adultery and then brought to Jesus. The story begins
at dawn, as the people were gathering around Jesus as He sat in the temple
teaching. The religious leaders came, bringing a woman who had been caught in
the act of adultery, making her sin and shame public. The focus was on the
woman, as they made her stand before the group. They brought their accusations
before Jesus, reminding Him of the Law of Moses saying, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you
say?” John 8:5.
It was there in the story that the focus began to
move away from the woman to Jesus. It was a loaded question. If Jesus said, “stone her,” He would have
opened Himself up to the charge of counseling an action contrary to Roman law,
which did not provide for a death penalty in such cases. Capital punishment by the Jews was illegal
under Roman rule. On the other hand, if He said, “Do not stone her,” He could
be charged with going against the law of God.
“They were using this question as
a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.” John 8:6. Their motives were exposed.
Jesus responded to their question with silence,
bending down and writing on the ground with His finger. There is a lot of
speculation as to what Jesus wrote in the sand, but scripture does not give us
the answer. Regardless, they kept
pressing Him for an answer.
Jesus then straightened up and, with piercing
words, He took the search light off the woman and off Himself, and focused it
upon each of them. The answer Jesus gave completely disarmed them, saying, “If any one of you is without sin, let him
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
John 8:7. In part, Jesus was
echoing Old Testament regulations, which, for certain crimes specified that the
witnesses of a crime be the first to cast the stones. The twist that Jesus
added was that they be without sin. It has been said that when you point your
finger at someone else there are three fingers pointing back at you. Jesus held
up a mirror and asked each of them to look at their own lives and to examine
themselves.
Someone once said, “The real fault is to have
faults and not try to mend them.” This
woman was not the only one in need of forgiveness. The religious leaders had
been blinded and distracted from their own sinfulness by focusing on the
sinfulness of others in order to trap Jesus. The issue here is not if you have
been caught by someone in your sin, but if your sins have been forgiven. He
calls us to stop looking at others with a critical or judgmental eye and look
at our own spiritual condition.
The beauty of this story is found in the
forgiveness and hope Jesus offers us. When those who had condemned her left, He
did not give her a word of permission, but a word of grace. The word of Jesus
is not one of condemnation, but of compassion and liberation, for Jesus said, “Then neither do I condemn you.” John 8:11. This is the hope of the gospel
that we have to share with our world. Jesus offers forgiveness.
DAY 4 – JUNE 3
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “A NEW LIFE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus
20:14
Yesterday, we focused on the story of the woman
caught in adultery, as recorded in the eighth chapter of John. Today, I want to
continue to focus on the story by considering the closing part of that story.
Jesus did not intend to leave this woman the same. Jesus said, “…Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:11.
This woman was not to continue in the life of
adultery that she had been in. Jesus showed her mercy and grace and called her
to righteousness. Jesus came to transform lives. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” II Corinthians 5:17. Jesus challenged the
woman to begin a new life by leaving her life of sin. Jesus made it clear that
she had to stop her sinful habit. She was to make a clean break with sin.
Someone wisely observed, “Christianity is a demanding and serous religion. When
it is delivered as easy and amusing, it is another kind of religion
altogether.”
Jesus came to deal with the sin problem. The sin of
adultery was to be left behind, for it is not to be part of our lives. The
Apostle Paul wrote, “What shall we say,
then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died
to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
Romans 6:1-2. Grace had been
offered, but it needed to be experienced through leaving sin.
On one occasion, while filming “Little House on the
Prairie,” Melissa Gilbert forgot her lines. After several takes, it was obvious
that she needed help. Michael Landon dismissed the entire cast and crew for
lunch, but kept Melissa there. He worked with her patiently until she learned
her lines. Then, he looked right into her eyes and asked, “Will you ever let
this happen again?” She, tearfully and firmly replied, “No, sir!” He said,
simply and to the point, “Don’t!” He showed mercy, but connected a mandate.
And, you can be sure she never forgot her lines again – ever! This was a point
of grace in her life.
This woman was to get up and start a new day
because of Jesus. She could not go back and undo, but she could go forward in a
new life. She was to leave sin behind and live out the freedom of Christ. The
new life required leaving her life of adultery and sin. The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your
mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Romans 6:12. Yesterday’s sin and lifestyle
would not fit into her new life. Because of Jesus, she could leave behind her
life of adultery and start a new life in Christ.
DAY 5 – JUNE 4
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “JESUS SPEAKS ON ADULTERY”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus
20:14
In the
gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks on adultery, calling His followers to a higher
standard of living. In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus quoted the seventh commandment
and then proceeded to give it a higher interpretation. The Old Testament
addressed the issue of adultery and coveting the wife of another, but Jesus
takes it to a greater level. The sin of adultery, like other sins, finds its root
in a person’s inner thoughts. Adultery is forbidden, but equally condemned is
inward lust. To desire, act out, or imagine adultery in the mind is sin. Jesus again deepens the OT commandment by
interpreting it to include, “what occurs in the heart,” prior to and as the
foundation of the external act. This is the basic difference between the Old
Law and the New. The former deals primarily with actions, and the latter, with
attitudes. The former with deeds, the latter with desires, the former with
means, the latter with motives, the former with the hand, the latter with the
heart.
The person whom Jesus condemns here is the one who
deliberately uses their eyes to stimulate desires, committing sin in their mind
and heart. Disciples of Jesus are called to a standard of conduct that includes
even the realm of their thinking. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Frank Outlaw wrote:
“Watch your thoughts; they become words; Watch your
words; they become actions;
Watch your actions; they become habits; Watch your
habits; they become character;
Watch your character; it becomes your
destiny.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praise worthy-think about
such things.” Philippians 4:8
The seriousness of lust is seen in the action
discussed to deal with it in Matthew 5:29-30. Jesus talks about taking
aggressive action to overcome the sin issue. The literal plucking out of an eye
or cutting off of a hand, however, will not necessarily rid one of the sin
problem, for one does not need an eye to look with the heart. The root of the sin lies in the heart, the
inner person. Jesus uses this language to show how serious it is and the depth
of action we are to take. Jesus makes it clear that because of the importance
of obeying God’s standard of righteousness, radical action should be taken to
avoid the cause of the temptation. Colossians 3:5 says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
We are to take action against the things that cause
sin. Whatever becomes a source of temptation to evil must be abandoned and
avoided. Sexual desires must be
conquered through the grace of God. Paul said, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us.” Romans 8:37. Someone said
it this way, “Let the mind of the Master be the master of your mind.”