What is adultery?

What is adultery? Adultery is the act of engaging in sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse while being married. The Bible explicitly condemns adultery as a violation of the marriage covenant, which God holds in high regard. Exodus 20:14 NKJV states one of the Ten Commandments, "You shall not commit adultery." Jesus expands on the concept of adultery in Matthew 5:27-28 NKJV, teaching that even lustful thoughts can be considered adultery in the heart: "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Adultery is considered a grave sin because it not only betrays the trust between spouses but also defiles the sacredness of the marriage bond, which is a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32 NKJV).