Proverbs 6: 30 - 35

Today we will finish up chapter 6 of Proverbs. The last verses of this chapter continue the discussion on adultery. First, lets go over the verses…

Proverbs 6: 30 - 35 (NIV)

30 Men do not despise a thief

if he steals to satisfy his hunger

when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,

though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;

whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,

and his shame will never be wiped away;
34 for jealousy arouses a husband's fury,

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;

he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Verses 30 and 31 tell us that even if we can understand why a person commits a sin, he still must pay the penalty for that sin. In this case the example is given of a person stealing because he is starving, not just hungry. Even though that can be understood, if the thief is caught, he would have to pay the penalty, which in this case, is seven times the amount stolen. Verse 31 goes on to say that the thief must pay the penalty, even if “it costs him ALL the wealth of his house.” This would be a problem for his family as well as himself.

Verse 32 states that a “lack of [good] judgment is shown by someone who commits adultery BECAUSE he destroys “himself.” As we studied back in Proverbs 5:22, and in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 the adulterer causes problems for themselves.

Verses 33 through 35 goes further in this discussion on adultery than our other studies, because they add the reaction of the husband that finds out about the affair. They describe the anger and fury that jealousy arouses in the husband, and the consequences to the man that has been caught… how he is liable to be beaten up and will be shown “no mercy.” In this example, not even a great amount of money will be accepted as “compensation.”

I think that the verses from Corinthians do the best job of explaining God’s feelings on the subject, so I will, again, close with them: 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.