HenryWSC 72

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 72

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Is adultery a very great sin? Yes: How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Gen. 29:9
. Is it an iniquity to be punished by the judge? Yes: The adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death,
Lev. 20:10
. Is fornication a very great sin? Yes: Fornication, and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you,
Eph. 5:3
. Will these sins certainly shut men out of heaven, if they be not repented of and forsaken? Yes: for fornicators and adulterers shall not inherit the kingdom of God,
1 Cor. 6:10
.
Are unclean thoughts sins? Yes: for whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart,
Matt. 5:28
. Are unclean reflections sins? Yes: for some multiply their whoredoms by calling to remembrance the days of their youth,
Ezek. 23:19
. Are unclean desires sins? Yes: inordinate affection, and evil concupiscence, are to be mortified in us,
Col. 3:5
. And must all fleshly lusts be shunned? Yes: Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts,
1 Pet. 2:11
.
Are unclean words sin? Yes: for there must be neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting,
Eph. 5:4
. Must we therefore take heed of speaking any filthy words? Yes: let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
Eph. 4:29
. May we take delight in hearing filthy talk? No: for evil communications corrupt good manners,
1 Cor. 15:33
.
Are all unchaste actions forbidden in this commandment? Yes: not only adultery and fornication, but uncleanness and lasciviousness (
Gal. 5:19
), chambering and wantonness,
Rom. 13:13
. Are the occasions of uncleanness here forbidden? Yes: Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
Eph. 5:11
.
Is all uncleanness provoking to God? Yes: For I the Lord am holy,
Lev. 20:26
. Is it against our bodies? Yes: for the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord,
1 Cor. 6:13
. Is it a wrong to our souls? Yes: for fleshly lusts war against the soul,
1 Pet. 2:11
. Is it wounding to conscience? Yes: I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets,
Eccles. 7:26
.
Are idleness and gluttony occasions of uncleanness, and forbidden in this commandment? Yes: for this was the iniquity of Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness,
Ezek. 16:49
. And is drunkenness also a sin of dangerous consequence? Yes: for drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God,
1 Cor. 6:10
.
HenryWSC 72