Sexual Immorality

Lessons from Proverbs

by Bryan Gibson

The Book of Proverbs has much to say about the sin of sexual immorality, especially in the following passages: Proverbs 2:10-20; 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:1-27; 9:13-18. Let’s consider some practical points we can learn from those passages.

Gain as much knowledge, wisdom, and understanding as you can, because this is the key to prevention (2:11-12, 16; 6:20-24; 7:1-5; 9:13-18). Those who apply themselves to learning God’s word develop greater conviction, greater courage, and greater spirituality. According to the above passages, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding will “keep” us, “preserve” us, and “deliver” us—from this sin as well as others. Those who give in to this temptation are described as “simple,” as those who “lack understanding.”

Do not play around with this temptation; get as far away from it as possible (Proverbs 5:7-8; 7:24-26). The New Testament teaches us to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), and part of fleeing is avoiding situations which could easily lead to sexual immorality.

Do not be taken in by smooth, flattering, or enticing speech (Proverbs 2:16; 5:3; 6:24; 7:5, 21). Boys will sometimes heap praise on their girlfriends, hoping they will give them what they want. Lines will be used like, “This will bring us closer together,” or, “You have such a beautiful body, you don’t need to hide it.” Others might say, “This is what people do when they love each other.” Don’t be fooled. Someone is trying to get you to do something wrong, and that’s not love (please read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

This sin cannot be hidden from God (Proverbs 5:20-21). You may be able to hide it from your parents, or in the case of adultery, your spouse, but your Creator will still know. Some speak of having a “secret affair.” There is no such thing. “The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths” (Proverbs 5:21).

Sexual immorality can have some disastrous consequences, both emotional and physical (see all the passages listed at the beginning of the article). It robs young men and women of their virginity, something which many later regret. It can lead to unwanted pregnancies, which then leads some to commit further sin by getting an abortion. Some do harm to their bodies by contracting one or more of the sexually transmitted diseases. Besides all this, it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and this separation will become eternal, unless we repent (Revelation 21:8; 22:15). So many people look back on this sin and say something like, “Oh, I wish I would have listened to those who warned me about this. I made a terrible mistake” (Proverbs 5:12-14).

Sexual desires should be fulfilled only in the marriage relationship. (Proverbs 5:15-20). Besides this passage in Proverbs, the teaching of Hebrews 13:4 is very clear: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”