I said that there are one or two of the Ten Commandments we know just by their number.

We talked together about Number 4 last week, the Sabbath Commandment.

And now we've come to number 7.

I hardly need to say it, do I?

No adultery.

And if you remember how Jesus taught us to understand these commandments, you know that this

goes much deeper than the physical act.

I say to you, Jesus said, that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery

with her in his heart. That's Matthew 5, 28. Now, I know what people say. There are other

sins. Why do you Christians obsess on sexual ones? I wonder if you know the famous Latin expression, Corruptio optimi

Pesima. The worst is the corruption of the best. That's not only morally true, it's

theologically true. Once God had finished his creating work by making man and woman as his image, everything

was said to be very good.

So since Satan knew he could not overcome the Creator, he simply moved on to the next stage.

He would seek to destroy what God had made really good and for our blessing.

It's illuminating to see the pattern.

First he spoiled the marriage.

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve have started a blame game.

Then Satan moved on to the family and incited Cain to slay his brother Abel, and before

we've reached the end of Genesis 4, we're hearing Lameh serenading his wives, plural, with

tales of his murdering vengeance.

He must have made an intimidating sort of husband.

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