Is Adultery A Sin?

Is Adultery A Sin?
There are many verses in the Bible that show us adultery is a sin. For example, Paul tells us in one epistle: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God," (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV). Also read: Mark 10:19 and Romans 13:9. Some try to argue against this point by citing verses out of context. (See refutations below)

Does Hosea 1:2 Condone Adultery?

In the book of Hosea, we read of the prophet Hosea. God requests Hosea to marry a harlot, as Hosea writes: "When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord," (Hosea 1:2 NASB1995). The main problem with citing this verse is it in no way endorses the harlotry of the wife; rather, the rest of Hosea shows how horrible adultery is, comparing it to Israel and God(Read more here). As the Lord our God says: "Upon her children also I will have no mercy, because they are children of whoredom,” (Hosea 2:4 ESV)

Does Numbers 31:18 Condone Adultery?

Another claim is that adultery is permitted in Numbers: "Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. And Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women? Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord. Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves," (Numbers 31:14-18 NASB1995). What is important here is to realize what and what not God said here. God never allowed Moses to give such an order; rather, Moses, in his anger, told his men this. We must remember not everything in the Bible that is described is then prescribed. God despises Adultery as shown earlier, this was a command outside of God's will.

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