What is Deuteronomy 22:22 talking about? And why are we talking about this verse? Let’s examine and expose the Truth of God in God’s Word.
First, what does Deuteronomy 22:22 say?
“If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die—the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel.”
The false accusation: mockers claim a) God is evil for sentencing adulterers to death just for having sexual relations, and/or b) God is unjust by sentencing a woman to death, who they erroneously claim has been raped.
The truth in context: The woman in this verse was not raped. She showed utter contempt for God’s laws and for her husband and their marital covenant. The penalty for willfully breaking God’s laws is death. Rape is actually addressed in verse 23, mercifully sparing women who have been raped, while punishing the rapist.
Is this really a woman being raped?
This verse is dealing with a mutually consensual man having adulterous sexual relations with a married woman — an affair. Now, this verse alone does not give enough context, and that is often the problem: verses taken out of context lead to wholly different understandings and dangerous assumptions.
The surrounding context is dealing with sexual immorality according to God’s laws, and shows that there are multiple scenarios such as:
- v22 — a mutually consensual adulterous affair (cheating, infidelity). This is the reason both are sentenced to death: they both willingly broke God’s law, sinning against God and sinning against the woman’s husband.
- v23 — accommodations and justice from rape. The wife could have said no to the affair, and if the man forced himself on her, she would’ve been found innocent if she yelled and resisted to sexual assault. In this case, only the man would’ve been sentenced to death, according to God’s law.
- v18-20 — virginity / fornication. In v18, if the man claims his new wife is not a virgin but was lying, he is punished. If the woman is lying and actually had sex before being married, she is sentenced to death.
Why is this is even an issue, though?
Why do some raise this verse as an objection to the Bible or to believing in God?
Because of sin, rebellion against Christ, and a desire by some to do what is pleasing in their own eyes. Frankly, we live is such a debauched culture, where affairs, pre-marital sex, and all other manner of sexual immorality are not only accepted but applauded, that it’s hard to imagine that these activities bring a death sentence from God. But that is the truth. Sexual immorality is a dire sin, and is very displeasing to God. And without Christ, the person who has even once committed adultery, even in their heart, has sinned and will face eternal judgment from Christ.
Sexual Immorality is Forbidden Forever
If you think this is just Old Testament, listen to the apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Hope for the Sexually Immoral
Does that seem unfair or harsh to you? The fact is that the wages of sin is death. That is precisely why Jesus had to die on the Cross for our sins. Because everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we could only be spared from death by a substitutionary death — the death of a perfectly obedient Savior.
The Lord Jesus Christ died for you to save you!
But isn’t God merciful and gracious, you might ask? Of course! God gives grace, though, to the humble, to those who confess and forsake their sin (repent) and start following Jesus. For those who continue in their sin as though it’s not serious, will receive wrath and indignation from a Holy God.
Living for the Lord is to glorify your body, glorify your sexual life, and glorify your relationships — to please the Lord and live according to His original plan of Creation. Begin living for Him in all your ways and thoughts, especially in the area of sexuality. God is very pro-sex, but only within a marriage between a man and woman.
