As we all know, President Clinton has publicly acknowledged committing adultery with Monica Lewinsky, a young summer intern in what was a sordid affair that lasted over a couple of years. As learned from the Kenneth Starr report, much of the sexual aspect of the relationship occured within the Oval Office - the workplace. In the corporate world this conduct would be immediate grounds for dismissal and termination. Nevertheless, much of America is crying, “This is his private life, leave him alone!” However, when he chose to enter into public service as a candidate for Attorney General of Arkansas some twenty five years ago, he chose, whether willingly or unwillingly, to make his private life public. Any individual who enters into public service knows that their lives will be closely and intensely scrutinized. As President, Mr. Clinton is fully aware of his private life being carefully watched and observed by the public and most of all, by the media. When abnormal conduct or behavior arises, in this case adultery, the public will eventually be made aware of it. And they should. It is one of our inalienable and constitutional rights to know.

Going back to the Bible, what stand does it take on adultery? Adultery is a voluntary sexual intercourse (or it’s association with) by either a married man or a married woman with someone other than his or her spouse.(1) The Bible simply condemns it. Aside from it being one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14), the Old Testament emphatically commands that it is an offense punishable by death. (Lev. 20:10, Deut. 22:22-23) Both the guilty man and woman were taken out to the city gate and stoned to death, a common means of execution under the Mosaic Law. Adultery was also a justifiable reason for divorce. If there was enough evidence of there being an extra-marital affair, the man or woman could simply present a certificate of divorce to his or her spouse and be confidently absolved of the marriage covenant.

The most notorious example of adultery and it’s consequences that occurred during the Old Testament period was that of King David. He had a sexual affair with a married woman named Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, which eventually would result in her pregnancy. God, in His grace and sovereignty, spared King David from being stoned to death (2 Samuel 12:13) but nevertheless, administered consequences for his actions. The death of his newborn son.

What does the New Testament say about adultery? Throughout the ministry of Jesus, it was quite common for him to go a step beyond the Old Testament Law by adding additional statutes and guidelines to already existing laws. For instance, in the case of adultery he added, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:27-28) A sin in which I’m sure most, if not all men have been guilty of at one time or another in their lives.

There is perhaps no more profound encounter in the Bible than the scene in which the adultress was brought before Jesus, ready to be stoned by her accusers:

“But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:1-11)

Two of many conclusions can be drawn from this brief encounter. First, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”, implies that only God will utimately cast the final judgement upon the accused or guilty. Secondly, Jesus commands the accused and guilty one to: “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Implying, to rid yourself of the besetting sin that exists in your life.

If we collectively combine all that has been presented regarding adultery, what conclusions can we logically draw from it? Obviously, it is a sin hated by the Lord as attested to by the many assertions and commandments in both the Old and New Testaments. However, as we can observe in both the story of King David and that of the adultress woman, it is also a forgiveable offense. Thanks solely to the grace of God and by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, we are told by Jesus, to stop the sin in our lives and to leave it behind us. Lastly, we can also see profound consequences in these individual’s lives, such as the death of a child as in the case of King David, and the fear of being condemned and stoned to death as in the case of the adultress.

How then can we compare this to the current crisis in Washington? First, the President clearly committed an act which is hated and detested by God. Secondly, he has publicly confessed to this act of adultery to millions of people in this and other countries around the world. He has even gone as far as asking for forgiveness to the American public in his address to prominent religious leaders at a Men’s Prayer Breakfast in early September. Additionally, the President needs to simply discontinue taking part in and being involved with extra-marital and sexual affairs. He must pursue counseling in order that he may abandon what seems to be an addictive behavior as evident of previous sexual relationships with other women. At the time of this writing, he has supposedly sought counseling from two reputable and evangelical Christian men. Let’s hope we see fruit from this. Finally, he must endure the consequences for this act he committed. Consequences we might or might not ever see. However, ultimately it is God who will determine and hand down the appropriate punishment and discipline.

(1)Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1974

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
The Christian Response

Back to Biblical Studies Directory