Question 78: What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

Answer: The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words and actions.

DAY 1:

This week we will continue to look at the seventh commandment. There were several areas that I wanted to cover. Last week we saw what God had established in Genesis as acceptable in His sight: one man and one woman in a covenant relationship for life. We also saw what Jesus defined as adultery, both in regards to our thought life and divorce and remarriage. Today I want us to give our attention to Ephesians 5.

In this passage Paul begins by calling believers to imitate God. Paul is not calling us to be gods by somehow trying to imitate His omniscience, omnipresence, or omnipotence. Rather, his desire is that we reflect the character of God’s righteousness and holiness in love. The love that we are to conduct ourselves in is the same kind of love which Christ demonstrated when he gave Himself for us to God as an offering and sacrifice (vs. 2). He says that we can only do this if we are renewed in the spirit of our minds (4:23) and if we put on the new man (4:24). Also, in chapter four he gives very practical ways of “putting on the new man”, both positively and negatively.

Verse three then speaks about putting away things in general of a perverse sexual nature. First we are told that there are some things which should not even be named among saints (holy ones). First, we see the word fornication (porneia por-ni’-ah). We mentioned this word in Matthew’s gospel when we discussed the issue of divorce and remarriage. It speaks to a wide spectrum of sexual sins. For instance it is used to speak of any type of illicit sexual intercourse. This includes adultery, sex between unmarried people, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, intercourse with close relatives, and intercourse with a divorced man or woman, and prostitution. Also, this word is used metaphorically to speak of idolatry. Sometimes that idolatry involved literal fornication, such as in the case of Solomon. All fornication is a type of idolatry in and of itself, because it expresses that a man or woman desire to fulfill their lusts and, in essence, worship the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever (Rom. 1:25). As a matter of fact, it was included by the Jerusalem council, along with idolatry and eating things that had been strangled, as instruction for the church (Acts 15:20). We are also told that all other sins are outside the body, but the one who commits fornication sins against his own body (1 Cor. 6:18).

Notice the second word given here: uncleanness (akatharsia ak-ath-ar-see’-ah). This word can speak to physical uncleanness, such as was mentioned in the Old Testament regarding such things as lepers or women that were ceremonially unclean because of their “monthly uncleanness”. But the context bears out its moral meaning. The word here means, “the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living; of impure motives”. This speaks not only to all sorts of other sinful and filthy lusts, but the carrying out of them in order that one might engage in fornication. This seems to be illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son. When he was given his inheritance and went away to a foreign land, he spent it and one of the things that he engages himself in is riotous living (Luke 15:13) and harlotry (Luke 15:30). In other words, this son used his money in order that he might bring attention to himself to indulge in the fulfillment of his inner lusts. This is the same type of attitudes of the false teachers that Peter spoke of in 2 Peter 2:14.

The third word used here is covetousness (pleonexia pleh-on-ex-ee’-ah). This word means, “greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice”. Coveting will be one of the commandments that we examine in the future. Notice that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, drops it right here along with fornication and all uncleanness. This should say something to us about the sin of covetousness. As a matter of fact, in verse five Paul goes on to say that a covetous man is an idolater. The term idolater (eidololatres i-do-lol-at’-race) is used here to speak of one that serves Master Mammon rather than the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Matt. 6:24). Theses last two words become almost interchangeable, because they are so similarly linked.

Paul says that these sins are not to be named among the members of the church, who are the saints. It is not that they are not to be spoken of, for Paul himself is speaking of them. But they are to be spoken of in the context of discipline and rebuke, not used for edification or exhortation. I say this because many of the pagan religions, as you will recall, formed their gods in their own image. In other words, they would have a god that engaged in some of the very same sins that they did. Even to the point where they would have temple prostitutes that would engage in sexual relations with the worshippers of these false gods. They elevated such sins, including gluttony, drunkenness, and self mutilation. Paul calls believers to a different standard than that of the world. He calls us to imitate the true and living God, who demands that we not be like that. Why? Because it is fitting for saints. The word for befitting here is (prepo prep’-o). It means, “to stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent; to be becoming, seemly, fit”. In other words, saints, or holy ones, are defined as those who are inwardly, outwardly, and spiritually chaste.

In Romans 6:13 Paul states that our members are not to be given to unrighteousness, but rather they are to be presented to God as instruments of righteousness. Later in Romans 13:13 Paul says that we should behave properly (euschemonos yoo-skhay-mon’-ose) as in the day. Our conduct should be decent and orderly as if we are observed in the daytime by all men. In contrast Paul specifically says that we should not be engaged in revelry (komos ko’-mos). This was an ancient practice where drunken and sexually excited worshippers of Bacchus (the god of wine) would parade through the streets singing and making all kinds of music. While we may not have such things as that going on today, we most certainly have the “nite life” today. The clubs that are offered produce the same parallel as the pagans. Therefore, we are not to conduct ourselves in such a fashion. Also mentioned are the very things that took place during this procession at night: drunkenness, lewdness (sexual promiscuity), lust, strife and jealousy. Rather than these things we are to do exactly what Paul commanded of the Ephesians in Ephesians 4:19. We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, which is parallel with the “new man”. We are to bear the character of Christ in our conduct in the world.

Let me mention here that this day’s lesson will be a little longer than usual. Therefore, if you wish to stop here and pick up verse four of Ephesians 5 on a following day, you may do so.

Verse four is a continuation of the thought that Paul is communicating regarding the believer’s conduct. He speaks of the words that proceed out of our mouths here. First he uses the term filthiness (ischrotes ahee-skhrot’-ace). This word carries the idea of a general obsenity. This includes the use of foul language and other offensive language and comes from a heart that is filthy. This filthiness usually produces the following kinds of conversation depicted in the next two words.

Paul uses the words “foolish talking” (morologia mo-rol-og-ee’-ah). This word is made up of two words: moros (mo-ros’), which means, “foolish; impious, godless” (we get our word moron from this word), and lego (leg’-o), which means, “to say, to speak”. John MacArthur defines this as, “It is stupid talk, talk only befitting someone who is intellectually deficient. It is sometimes referred to as low obscenity, foolish talk that comes from the drunk or the gutter mouth. It has no point except to give an air of dirty worldliness” (pg. 201, MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Ephesians, Moody). This would, in essence be the normal conversation that you would encounter if you came out on many of the jobsites that I work on. There is no lack of stench from much of the use of filthy foolish talking that I encounter. As Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”

Paul then speaks of coarse jesting (eutrapelia yoo-trap-el-ee’-ah). This is humor that is obscene. There is not a shortage of this kind of talk these days. Many in our society even make their living by taking variably innocent talk and cleverly turning it into sexual innuendos. Sadly, many of the talk show hosts, both on television and radio carry this kind of speech to “entertain” their audiences. However, it should not be so among Christians. Our speech should not be that which looks to insert some sexual connotation to innocent talk. Again, this kind of speech comes from a heart that is given over to filthiness. Jesus specifically addresses where this conversation comes from in Matthew 12:34 when He said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Paul says this kind of speech is not fitting. It is not to be the mark of genuine believers. Rather our speech should be that of giving thanks. Our mouths are not to be filled with sexual innuendos and suggestive speech and dirty jokes. Rather we are to be thankful with our lips. The phrase “giving of thanks” here is one word in the Greek, eucharistia (yoo-khar-is-tee’-ah). This is the term where we get eucharist. Though the eucharist has been exhalted to some meritorious work within the Roman system, it is still a valid term for evangelicals. Instead of selfishness, which is expressed in verses 3 and 4, we are to be those who are humbly thankful. We should not live as if to say, “we deserve to get all the good things in life”, but we should live with thankful hearts unto God for withholding from us what we justly deserve and giving to us the gracious gifts that we don’t deserve. This thankfulness in our hearts should be manifest outwardly by the thankfulness and praise that comes from our lips (Heb. 13:15). Oh that we would be those with clean hands and a pure heart that would be thankful and exalt God! As the Psalm says, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (107:21).

Also, our speech should be that which is gracious. In Colossian 4:6, Paul says that our speech should always be gracious and seasoned with salt so that we may know how to answer every man. I think Peter gives us a close parallel. In 1 Peter 3:15 we find that Peter says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” We should speak to others knowing that we ourselves are but sinners that have obtained the mercy of God. Therefore we should be those whose conversation should be that which brings grace to them. The phrase “seasoned with salt” speaks to the attitude behind our speech. Is our speech joyful, serious, and pleasurable? It should be. Of course there are times when it needs to be harsh and in a rebuking tone. However, we should be those kinds of people which have a gracious talk that comes from our mouth. This also implies thanksgiving in speech as well.

Let that be our goal that is set before us. Remember Paul comes to a conclusion about those who are fornicators, unclean, & covetous. In verse five he tells us that such have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. In plain language, those whose lives are characteristic of these things are not carnal Christians, but do not have eternal life. He then goes on in verse six to say that we should be on guard not to be deceived, because the reality is that God’s wrath is coming upon all those who are disobedient.

In closing, let me ask a question or two. What is the abundance of your heart? Though you might be one to be able to hold in some of the type of language we mentioned and thought you might be able to withhold some behaviors we mentioned, what is in your heart? This is a probing question. It is not meant to be answered quickly. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the true abundance of your heart to you. Is it thankfulness? Is it full of adulteries? Is it filled with filthy humor? What about sexual lust? If you discover that it is the latter, plead with God, who grants repentance, and confess your sin and see if He might be gracious to you and give you repentance from sin. Do you engage in any of the activities that we mentioned, only you do it in such a way as to hide it from others so that it is not known? Confess it as sin and turn from it and you will find forgiveness from the Father.

DAY 2:

I have been sick the past couple of days and had intended to provide a lesson on spiritual adultery. Possibly this Lord’s Day I can have some things to say about that. Let me give you three narratives with real people that speak to the principles of adultery. You may share all three or choose one. Look for what was done that honored God and look for what the consequences were in each situation.

Abraham: Gen. 16

Joseph: Gen. 39

David: 2 Sam. 11