God’s Laws on Adultery, Marriage and Bondage – COURT OF GOD™ Jesus Christ Presiding

There is a nexus between God’s law on marriage and God’s law on bondage.

THE LORD’S DEFINITION OF ADULTERY

Mankind tends to believe that an adulterer is a person who is sexually unfaithful to their spouse, but that is a limited meaning of adultery.

Jesus gave us a better understanding of the Lord’s definition of adultery when He said "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28

SO WHAT IS JESUS SAYING?

Jesus is saying that anything impure, including your thoughts, which contaminate and lessen the value of that which is holy, is adultery in the eyes of the Lord.

So the Lord’s definition of an adulterer (noun) and adultery (adjective) is best defined by two words in the English language: adulterant (noun) and adulterate (adjective); respectively.

An adulterant is a substance that tends to contaminate. So applying the definition of adulterant to the Lord’s definition of adulterer, an adulterer is a person who contaminates or lessens the value of the thing that is holy – in this case marriage. People who do not abide by God’s laws before they marry, and during marriage contaminate and lessen the value of God’s Holy Institution of Marriage, and when they come to the Lord’s altar, they profane the Lord’s temple by turning the Lord’s altar into an altar of sin. . . Then adulterer in the Lord’s eyes means a person who contaminates the thing that is holy. The Lord does not limit His definition of adulterer to marriage. The Lord applies the label adulterer to any person who contaminates that which is holy to the Lord. This includes justice. Anyone who perverts justice is an adulterer because they have contaminated justice with their crookedness, and justice is holy to the Lord.

Therefore in the Lord’s Court, adultery takes on the definition of adulterate.

Adulterate means adj, impure; contaminated; to make impure by adding an undesirable substance; to lessen the value of by adding inferior ingredients. – adulteration (noun) adulterator (noun)

So the Lord’s command “"You shall not commit adultery.” – Exodus 20:14 means that you shall not contaminate or lessen the value of the Lord’s Holy Institutions: marriage, justice, the gospel; in other words you shall not pervert the Lord’s holy institutions because of your lust and wickedness.

MARRIAGE

Marriage is a holy union between a man, a woman, and the Holy Spirit set aside by God for sacred use. "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 'and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Mark 10:6-9

“But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.” – Malachi 2:15

The two become one spiritual flesh forever.

Marriage is NOT until death do you part. Marriage is FOREVER!
Spiritually, marriage is the union of two souls into one flesh by means of quantum mechanics.

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I remain in union with him.” – John 6:56 (WEYMOUTH NT)

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

"So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

-Matthew 19:3-6

Marriage is the spiritual state that results from the man and the woman entering into a marriage covenant with the Lord’s Holy Spirit. The marriage covenant has a duration of forever. Therefore, before a man and woman can enter into a marriage covenant, the man must first obtain permission from God in order to have the Holy Spirit become a party to the union.

Legal rights of marriage confer at the time of the marriage pledge, the betrothal. So the parties are deemed to be husband and wife at the time of the marriage pledge.

MARRIAGE COVENANT

Marriage occurs by covenant. When two people enter into a marriage covenant, before they consummate their marriage, they are said to be betrothed.

“ … she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” - Malachi 2:14

A marriage covenant is a promise or pledge made in the heart of a man and a woman who have been given genuine love for one another by God, in their sincere intent and desire for their souls to be bound together into one flesh as husband and wife for ETERNITY, they go to God and ask for His permission to enter into a marriage. If the Lord grants their petition, then the Lord Himself becomes a party to the marriage covenant by blessing the union with a remnant of His Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Holy Spirit is eternal, therefore the marriage covenant is spiritual and eternal.

THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF MARRIAGE ARE CONFERRED UPON BETROTHAL

Under God’s law, all legal rights of marriage are conferred upon betrothal.

"And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. – Exodus 21:9-10

“"If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, "then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor's wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you.” – Deuteronomy 22:23-24

"But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. – Deuteronomy 22:25

The best example of a legal marriage under the laws of God is the betrothal of Joseph and Mary; the stepfather and mother of Jesus Christ.

“So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child.” – Luke 2:4-5

As demonstrated in Luke 2:4-5 the legal right of marriage was conferred when Joseph and Mary became betrothed. Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem to have her registered with himself, even though he had not yet gone in to her to consummate their marriage. Again this is an example demonstrating that after the betrothal, the man and woman are legally recognized as husband and wife.

WEDDING CEREMONY

The purpose of a wedding ceremony is to commemorate a pledge that has already been made in the heart. It is a celebration of gladness of sincere love in the heart.

“Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart. The Beloved” - Song of Solomon 3:11

WEDDING FESTIVITIES DO NOT CONSTITUTE MARRIAGE

Under God’s law, weddings are feasts and festivities only – no legal rights transfer as the result of a wedding ceremony – the weddings are for show only to celebrate the gladness of heart.

"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;” – Luke 14:8

SPOUSES SUFFER SAME SPIRITUAL PUNISHMENT

Since marriage is eternal, there are spiritual implications. This is because two souls are literally joined into one flesh that a husband and wife suffer the same spiritual punishment under God’s law on marriage and bondage.

A person who commits adultery destroys not only his soul, but he also destroys the soul of the person that was the victim of the adultery. To avoid spiritual punishment because of a spouse, a victim must petition God under Genesis 18:25 to not destroy the righteous with the wicked.

“Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away.” – Proverbs 6:32-33

THE LORD’S POSITION ON DIVORCE

“"For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the Lord of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously." – Malachi 2:15

CHILDREN, MARRIAGE & BONDAGE

CHILDREN ARE GODLY WHEN THEY ARE BORN INTO A HOLY MARRIAGE. A HOLY MARRIAGE IS A MARRIAGE HAVING A REMNANT OF THE SPIRIT. THE LOVE BETWEEN THE HUSBAND AND WIFE IS GENUINE AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE HUSBAND AND WIFE’S RELATIONSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED CONFORMS TO GOD’S LAWS ON MARRIAGE.

But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.” – Malachi 2:15

UNIONS THAT HAVE COME ABOUT BY TRICK, [PREGNANCY] TRAP, DECEPTION OR LIE DO NOT CONSTITUTE A HOLY MARRIAGE.

CHILDREN BORN OF FORNICATION ARE NOT GODLY CHILDREN.
"You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father-God." - John 8:41

Until the age of accountability, children suffer the same spiritual punishment as their mother, regardless of the spiritual status of their father.

"If his master [sin] has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's[sin’s] and he shall go out by himself. . – Exodus 21:6

GOD’S LAWS PROTECT THE BETROTHED (EXCERPT)

GOD’S LAWS ON FALSE OATHS (EXCERPT)

“Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' Says the Lord." – Zechariah 8:17

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'

"But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

"Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

"But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. - Matthew 5:33-37

GOD’S LAW ON ADULTERY (EXCERPT)

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

– Matthew 5:27-30

"Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. – Matthew 5:31-32

“'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.” - Leviticus 20:10

“So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.” – Mark 10:11

“Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. “ Hebrews 13:4

GOD’S LAW ON BONDAGE (EXCERPT)

God’s Laws on Bondage apply to any type of slavery, including slaves to sin.

"Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them:

"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. . – Exodus 21:6

"If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. – Exodus 21:6

"If his master [sin] has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. . – Exodus 21:6

"But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' – Exodus 21:5

"then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. – Exodus 21:6

Ezra 9, Ezra 10 & 2 Samuel 12 is also instructive with respect to God’s judgment against unholy marriage.