What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving Adultery?

Jesus forgave a woman for committing adultery.

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about forgiving adultery. The Bible is clear that adultery is a sin. However, Jesus pointed out that a person can commit adultery in his heart even without doing so with his body. God forgave David for his adultery with Bathsheba and Jesus forgave the adulterous woman who was almost stoned to death. This implies that God wants people to forgive adultery when the transgressor has a contrite heart.

History

In the Bible, the command, "You shall not commit adultery," is included in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14). According to Old Testament law, an adulterer was to be put to death: "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10). Passages in the Old Testament about adultery are clear cut, without much room for forgiving adultery.

Considerations

Nevertheless, the Bible says that God did not put King David to death when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed. Instead, God sent the prophet Nathan to rebuke David for his actions. Instead of trying to defend himself, David took responsibility for his actions and repented (II Samuel 11 & 12). Although David's sin cost him the child that he had conceived with Bathsheba, God forgave David for his adultery and blessed the couple with another child, Solomon, who became the next king (II Samuel 12:24).

Identification

The Bible defines adultery much more liberally than people do. According to Jesus, fantasizing about committing adultery is also the sin of adultery: "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'" (Matthew 5:27-28). So, adultery is much more than a physical issue--it is an issue of the heart.

Significance

In John 8:1-11, the Bible says that Jesus forgave a woman for committing adultery and prevented a group of men from stoning her to death for adultery. The man with whom the woman committed adultery is noticeably missing from the story. Jesus said to the group of men, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). All of the men threw down their stones, beginning with the older men.

Effects

The Bible does not specifically mention a person forgiving a spouse for adultery. The Bible says that committing adultery is wrong, but it is also states that committing adultery is no worse than other sins. The Bible also points out that adultery can be committed in the heart. God Himself forgave adulterous Israel numerous times, which implies that we should forgive adultery as well when the other person has a contrite heart. See Psalm 51 for an example of a contrite heart after committing adultery.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Biblegateway: David and Bathsheba
• Biblegateway: Woman accused of adultery
• Biblegateway: Psalm 51