Question 272: What is the Seventh Commandment?

Answer:

The Seventh Commandment is: “You shall not commit adultery.” This command teaches that God created marriage to be a lifelong, faithful union between one man and one woman. It forbids all sexual impurity in thought, word, or deed, and calls us to honor marriage, practice chastity, and reflect God’s covenant faithfulness in our relationships. (Exodus 20:14, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 5:27–28, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5)

Full Scripture References

“You shall not commit adultery.” – Exodus 20:14 (BSB)

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” – Genesis 2:24 (BSB)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27–28 (BSB)

“Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” – Hebrews 13:4 (BSB)

“For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; each of you must learn to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

The Seventh Commandment teaches that sexual intimacy is a sacred gift from God, reserved for the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. It forbids adultery and all forms of sexual immorality, whether in thought, word, or action. Bishop Julian Dobbs (ACNA, Diocese of the Living Word) writes, “Adultery is not merely a breach of trust—it is a denial of God’s design for love and faithfulness. This commandment protects the sacredness of covenant.” (Marriage and Holiness, 2020)

Jesus expands this command in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching that even lustful thoughts violate its spirit. Fr. Keith Allen (AMiA, St. Brendan’s Anglican Church, AL) explains, “The Lord Jesus takes us beyond behavior to the heart. Purity is not merely abstaining from action, but honoring others as image-bearers, not objects.” (The Ten Commandments and the Inner Life, 2019)

This commandment is not only a prohibition, but a vision for love marked by faithfulness and sacrifice. Gerald Bray (ACNA-affiliated, Beeson Divinity School) teaches, “Marriage is a mirror of God’s covenant love. To violate it is to distort that image; to honor it is to reflect the faithfulness of Christ to His Church.” (God Is Love, 2012)

Anglican tradition has consistently upheld the biblical standard of sexual morality. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer marriage rite affirms that marriage was ordained for mutual joy, help, and purity. Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) notes, “In an age of confusion, the Church must proclaim clearly: chastity before marriage and fidelity within it are not repression—they are freedom.” (Recovering Anglican Ethics, 2018)

Fr. William Beasley (AMiA, Anglican Awakening) adds, “The Seventh Commandment teaches us that holiness and love are never opposed. It calls us to a higher love—one shaped by truth, self-control, and the dignity of the other.” (Living in the Light of God’s Love, 2017)

Early Church Fathers on Catechism Question

“Marriage is the school of virtue and the bond of peace. Let no man defile it by lust, for God is a witness to every vow.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews, c. 390 AD

“He who keeps the marriage bed pure honors God. For the body is not for immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” – Clement of Alexandria, Paedagogus, c. 200 AD

“Let no Christian think himself above the call to chastity. Whether married or single, all are called to purity in body and soul.” – Augustine of Hippo, On the Good of Marriage, c. 401 AD

“To lust is to turn a person into a thing. The gospel teaches us to see others as God sees them—worthy of dignity, not desire.” – Tertullian, On Modesty, c. 210 AD