82 – Sixth Commandment
SIXTH COMMANDMENT
§ 82. The Law condemns every one who carnally knows himself,1 or a brute,2 or another person of the same sex,3 or a person of the other sex with whom he is not4 or, because of a prohibited degree of consanguinity or affinity,5 or because of an existing marriage of either party with a third person,6 cannot be joined in lawful wedlock, or who, without a sufficient cause,7 refuses to live with8 or to love and honor his lawful spouse,9 or who annuls a valid betrothal,10 or who by any manner of lewdness or indecency in deed,11 word,12 or desire,13 defiles his body or soul. (See, also,§ 92.Matrimony)
1. The Law condemns every one who carnally knows himself,
Romans 1:26–27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, … receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
2. or a brute,
Leviticus 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Cf. Leviticus 20:15, 16.
3. or another person of the same sex,
I Corinthians 6:9–10 Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, … shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly.
4. or a person of the other sex with whom he is not
I Corinthians 6:15, 18 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? (18) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
5. or, because of a prohibited degree of consanguinity or affinity,
Leviticus 18:6 ff. None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord. …
Leviticus 20:11 ff. And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. …
I Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
6. or because of an existing marriage of either party with a third person,
Luke 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother.
Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
7. cannot be joined in lawful wedlock, or who, without a sufficient cause,
Matthew 5:32 Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery. See also Matthew 19:9 sub 6 above.
8. refuses to live with
Matthew 19:3–6: The Pharisees also came unto Him tempting Him, and saying unto Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
I Corinthians 7:3–5: Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
I Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
9. or refuses to love and honor his lawful spouse,
Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it. (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (33) Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
I Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
10. or who annuls a valid betrothal,
Matthew 1:18–20 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily… Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife.
11. or who by any manner of lewdness or indecency in deed,
Ephesians 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Matthew 14:6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
Romans 13:13–14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
12. word,
Ephesians 5:3–4 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
13. or desire,13 defiles his body or soul.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
Colossians 3:5–6 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.