Adultry, Divorce, and Toxic Empathy
Marriage is…
Rooted in Creation
What God has joined together let no man separate. —Genesis 2
Reiterated throughout scripture
Repeated by Jesus
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. —Matthew 19:6
Representative of Christ and the church
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. —Ephesians 5:25
Reflective of the Gospel
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. —Revelation 19:7
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who
at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart. —Matthew 5:27-28
Guard your eyes not just your actions
Supporting Scripture:
You shall not commit adultery. —Exodus 20:14
I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. —Job 31:1
Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. —James 1:14-15
How:
1. Commit to God’s word, devote yourself to prayer, engage in Godly community and REMOVE ACCESS
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away… And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. —Matthew 5:29-30
2. Take radical action against temptation
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. —Colossians 3:5
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. —1 Corinthians 6:18
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. —Psalm 119:9-11
Remove sources of temptation—whether tv shows, movies, pornographic books, toxic relationships, or habits—that lead to impurity.
Anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery… —Matthew 5:32
3. Honor and fortify marriage
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. —Genesis 2:24
“I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel. —Malachi 2:16
Haven’t you read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? —Matthew 19:3-9
Prioritize commitment
Prioritize Christ-like communication with each other
Prioritize Christ-centered love in marriage.
Seek reconciliation and godly counsel when facing marital struggles.
Confess and repent. Change.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But
, or . —Galatians 6:1
4. Fight for others’ purity but beware of toxic empathy
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. —Romans 10:9