Proverbs 6:24 Commentary and Bible Study

Adultery is the head of a family of sins which are an outrage and a betrayal of a special bond or relationship. You could say what is behind adultery is pride and greed. Yes but then why is there a distinct family of sins that come under this head? It is applied figuratively to apostasy, but in the context of marriage it is an outrage against a relationship God has made, which is uniquely personal and involves binding promise to a single other person. Adultery is also a betrayal of our own character and human endowments, for what is the difference between us and the animals? We alone have the gift of reason and the ability to exercise self-control. This bundle of emotions can be held in. But when we sin in this way, we betray our distinction from the animals.The part played by flattery in adultery is one that we should consider carefully. The one who is tempted in this direction may think of himself or herself as shrewd enough to spot flattery when it comes and not to be taken in by it, but it is a remarkably effective weapon. In a world that largely ignores us and gives us nothing for free, flattery appears as something very unusual and pleasant. We want to believe the flatterer because of our natural bias towards self. The flatterer has noticed something special in us which others have not seen. We are worthy of their attentions. Flattery is something soft but it has power to bend strong resolutions, and has been used to turn those who were once committed to the truth directly away from it. We should continue to be suspicious of the flatterer no matter how persistent.