Moral Purity

MEMORY SELECTION: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” —Exodus 20:14

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:27-30; Exodus 20:14; John 8:1-11

THE lesson for this week focuses on mural purity. The commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” is one of the Ten Commandments of the divine Law as given by God to the children of Israel. It prohibits defilement of the marriage contract.

Opposition to adultery was firmly rooted in Jewish tradition, the focal point of the matter being centered around the commandment as given to Moses. In the Hebrew Scriptures, adulterers and murderers are grouped together (Job 24:14,15); adulterers and treacherous men (Jer. 9:2); and adulterers with sorcerers, false swearers, and those who oppress others (Mal. 3:5). And the penalty for adultery was death.—Deut. 22:22

Our attention is drawn to our Lord’s words in Matthew 5:27-30: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time [Exod. 20:14], Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell [Gehenna, eternal death]. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell [Gehenna, eternal death].”

The word hell that occurs twice in this passage is translated from the Greek Gehenna, which is a rendition of the Hebrew words for the “Valley of Hinnom.” This valley lay just outside Jerusalem and was used to burn garbage and other unwanted refuse. Fires were kept burning continually, and if the need arose, brimstone was added to assist combustion. No living thing was ever permitted to be cast into Gehenna, and under Jewish law no creature was permitted to be tortured. It was not until the Dark Ages that unscriptural ideas pertaining to a place of eternal torture crept into religious teachings.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry he magnified the Law and brought depth and understanding to its commandments. In the passage just cited he teaches us by way of illustration that it is better to give up one of the members of our bodies than to lose our lives as new creatures. The lesson is one of self-control. It is more profitable for us to refuse to gratify the desires of the flesh—although these at times may seem to be as near and dear to us as our right eye, or as necessary to us as a right hand—than to allow ourselves to be overcome and to lose the promise that has been offered us of a place in the glorious kingdom of Christ.

During the millennial kingdom, God’s laws will be enforced, but at that time assistance will be given to the people to enable them to attain perfection. Then it will be essential not only that all conform in outward appearance to the commandments but that the spirit and heart condition also be in harmony with God. Our Lord will look into the heart of the individual and will judge accordingly.

The selected scriptural reading calls for an examination of John 8:1-11. Bible scholars agree that this passage is not part of the original Scriptures. It is found in neither the Sinaitic nor the Vatican manuscripts. Authority for this conclusion may be noted in several modern translations of the Bible which offer a word of explanation in the way of a footnote to the text. One such translation (American Standard Version) says, “Most of the ancient authorities omit John 7:53-8:11. Those which contain it vary much from each other.”

The true Christian’s ambitions are higher than those of the world. And they are not under the Law Covenant as were the Jews. Those who have made a covenant of consecration to God are striving to grow in the spirit and not merely the letter of the Law. It is essential that every child of God strive to attain to moral purity and, in addition, be advanced in character development if he is to realize the hope of having a share in the kingdom.

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