What does Proverbs 5:20 teach about the consequences of infidelity? Verse in Focus “Why, my son, be captivated by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?” (Proverbs 5:20) Key Observations • The question is rhetorical; it assumes there is no good answer for pursuing another person’s spouse. • “Captivated” pictures being spellbound—losing self-control and sound judgment. • “Embrace the bosom” highlights the intimacy that belongs only inside God-ordained marriage (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). Immediate Consequences of Infidelity • Emotional entanglement: illicit passion blinds reason and dulls sensitivity to sin. • Loss of honor: reputation is damaged (Proverbs 6:33). • Fractured trust: spouse, children, church family, and friends experience betrayal. Long-Term Spiritual Fallout • Separation from God’s fellowship: sin erects a barrier (Isaiah 59:2). • Enslavement: what began as an alluring escape becomes a controlling bondage (John 8:34). • Harvest of pain: “Whatever a man sows, he will reap” (Galatians 6:7-8). • Divine discipline: “God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers” (Hebrews 13:4). Relational and Societal Costs • Marital breakdown: covenant vows shattered (Malachi 2:14-16). • Financial strain: divorce, legal fees, or blackmail (Proverbs 5:10). • Physical danger: exposure to disease or violent retaliation (Proverbs 6:34-35). Protective Wisdom Offered • Delight in one’s own spouse (Proverbs 5:18-19). • Maintain vigilance: “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). • Walk in the Spirit to resist fleshly desires (Galatians 5:16). • Keep Scripture close: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Supporting Scripture • Proverbs 6:27-29—“Can a man carry fire next to his chest…?” Consequences are inevitable. • Proverbs 6:32—“He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.” • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5—God’s will is holiness, not passionate lust. Summary Takeaway Proverbs 5:20 underscores that infidelity is irrational and self-destructive. Yielding to an adulterous relationship exchanges fleeting pleasure for lasting regret, invites God’s discipline, and robs the adulterer of the joy, safety, and blessing that faithful marriage provides. |
    |