Walking with the Wise #40: Jealous Justice

“He who commits adultery lacks sense;
he who does it destroys himself.
He will get wounds and dishonor,
and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
For jealousy makes a man furious,
and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
He will accept no compensation;
he will refuse though you multiply gifts."

—Proverbs 6:32-35

In today’s proverb, Solomon is speaking as a father to his son, describing to him the penalties for foolish actions. His purpose perhaps is not so much to point out Old Testament law (and the penalties of adultery), as much as to tell him the common reactions of men if they discover that their wife has been involved in an affair. His point is that there are consequences to actions and it is best to avoid such a choice altogether.

Solomon, acting as a father in this section, makes it clear that those who commit adultery are stupid. There is no way that it can ever been looked upon as something good, right, or admirable. It’s just stupid. As the proverb says, “He who commits adultery lacks sense.” The wording for “lacks sense” is actually the same word used for “inner man, heart, and will” the idea is that the person doesn’t have a clue what he is doing to himself. He is, as the New Living Translation translates it, “foolish.”

The Bible doesn’t mince words when it comes to sin. There is no redefining it, softening its blow, or trying to find something positive in it. The Bible knows nothing of our politically correct world where “sin” is redefined as “sickness,” or “bad habit.” Such thinking pollutes God’s Word, and fails to understand the true nature of sin. Sin is rebellion in the sight of God, and to commit adultery is not just rebellion against God and one’s spouse, but against oneself (v. 32).

God created marriage to be sacred, a living example of Christ’s love for the Church (Ephesians 5:25-33), whereby He gives a portion of His Spirit in the union of a man and woman for the purpose of creating godly children (cf. Malachi 2:15) in order that God’s glory would be proclaimed to a generation yet unborn (Psalm 78:6). It is a holy institution that is to be nourished and cultivated. Satan wants to destroy this union by playing on our fleshly desires (James 1:13-15).

Those who commit adultery are foolish, not realizing what comes as a result of unbridled passion—pain, dishonor, and disgrace. And what about the innocent spouse? As William Congreve wrote, “Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.” The innocent husband will respond in jealousy to the affair. He will take revenge on the man. There is nothing the adulterous man will be able to do for the innocent husband—no amount of money will be able to dissuade him from seeking revenge on this man for sleeping with his wife:

 
“For jealousy makes a man furious,
and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
He will accept no compensation;
he will refuse though you multiply gifts”

—v. 34-35.

Solomon offers us a peek into where adultery leads—shame, suffering, and death. In the Old Testament, we read that God commanded that anyone found committing adultery was to be put to death (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). However, in this proverb it appears that the offended husband was the one who was able to enforce that penalty (v. 34-35). And while such a response was proper in the Old Testament, God lets us know that in the New Testament, He is the one who will bring vengeance and justice:

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord’"—Romans 12:19.

God hates sin and He hates adultery. It pollutes what He has deemed to be sacred. However, He died for the sin of adultery just as He did countless others. And His death enables us to be cleansed, transformed and made new. As Paul wrote,

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”—1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

The key to the above section is verse 11, “and such were some of you.” That was us. Whether we were guilty of adultery in thought (cf. Matthew 5:28) or in deed, God chose to give His Son to die for us, and through His death we have been made clean.

Are you guilty of adultery? Are you experiencing the consequences of it right now? Know that there is forgiveness. Jesus paid the price for adultery. It doesn’t matter what you have done, or who you have done it with. Jesus died for your sin and offers His forgiveness to you; you simply need to confess, repent, and accept His forgiveness. And then be ready to experience the flood of grace that comes as a cleansing waterfall to your soul. Amen.