Proverbs 6:20-35
Warning against adultery and the consequences of immorality
Key Verse
Proverbs 6:27–28 – “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?”
Key Words
Command
Teaching
Adultery
Immoral
Consequences
Jealousy
Revenge
Fire
Main Lesson
Adultery is not a private matter—it brings shame, loss, vengeance, and irreparable consequences. God’s Word protects us not by restricting joy, but by guarding our hearts and relationships. Temptation may look harmless, but it burns.
Key Phrases
“Keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching”
“Bind them always on your heart”
“Do not lust in your heart after her beauty”
“Can a man scoop fire into his lap…?”
“A man who commits adultery has no sense”
Patterns
Fatherly appeal and repetition of instruction to “keep” and “bind” wisdom.
Consequences follow sin — specifically adultery brings disgrace, destruction, and danger.
The progression from lust in the heart to ruin in life.
People
The father and mother — representing sources of wisdom and instruction.
The immoral woman — symbolic of temptation and seduction.
The adulterer — the one who disregards wisdom and suffers the consequences.
The jealous husband — a figure of righteous anger and retribution.
Places
Domestic and social settings — the home, the community.
Implicit places of temptation — streets, secret meetings (v. 25 implies hidden encounters).
Observation
This passage links moral instruction with real-life consequences, showing how disregarding God’s wisdom — especially regarding sexual purity — leads to personal destruction and public disgrace. It stresses how temptation often appears beautiful but leads to ruin.
Reflection
This section is not only about sexual sin, but about the value of godly instruction and the high cost of ignoring it. Adultery is portrayed as foolish, not just wrong, because it damages the soul, relationships, and reputation. The emotional intensity of a betrayed spouse reflects the deep damage sin causes others.
Application for Everyday Life
Honor and obey godly wisdom from parents and Scripture.
Guard your heart and mind—temptation begins within.
Avoid compromising situations or relationships that lead to sin.
Value integrity and faithfulness in all relationships.
Teach the next generation the value of purity and wisdom.
Cross Reference
Proverbs 5:1–23 – Warnings against the adulterous woman and the consequences of unfaithfulness.
Matthew 5:27–28 – Jesus teaches that lust in the heart is equivalent to adultery in God’s eyes.
1 Corinthians 6:18 – “Flee from sexual immorality…”
Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure…”
Questions for Journaling
How do I respond to the wisdom of my parents or godly mentors?
What habits or thoughts might be leading me toward temptation?
Do I believe that God’s boundaries are meant for my good? Why or why not?
How can I guard my heart and remain faithful in thought and action?
How do I view purity—in my own life, and in what I model for others?