Romans 2:22
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
In its setting the question is directed to Jewish teachers who had perverted God's law, and although they were its most zealous advocates they were themselves transgressors of it. It rebukes those who claim to know God's will and to present themselves as guides, lights, instructors and teachers of others while breaking the law themselves. Its specific charge is telling a man he should not steal, should not commit adultery, and should abhor idols, while stealing, committing adultery and committing sacrilege.
A teacher who does this condemns himself, and boasting of the law while breaking the law dishonors God and causes His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles and unbelievers. Profession, knowledge of the law, confidence as a teacher, religious instruction, outward status and boast of religion give no righteousness and do not excuse disobedience, for the conduct of the professed worshiper is what matters before God. The warning is to those who condemn sin in others that they must not commit the same sins themselves, but must examine their own conduct rather than measure, judge, criticize and exclude a brother, put human measurement upon others, or read the heart.
It applies to ministers and church members in the perils of the last days, warning them to take heed to themselves, to be clean, to crucify hasty temper, impatience and oppression, and to put no occasion of stumbling in a brother's way. It applies to ministers who preach straight truths to others but fail to live by them, allowing hypocrisy and selfishness to replace genuine heart-work. The adultery it condemns includes giving to another woman attentions that should be bestowed only upon his wife. That wrong is taught by reason, judgment and the Scriptures, yet it takes hold of a man so that he fails to realize its sinfulness, it proves a snare, and it is a question of life and death requiring prayer to see it in its proper light, the blessing of grace to feel over it as he should, and constant watchfulness to cease it forever.
Familiar liberties and unchristian familiarities between a married minister professing to follow Christ and a professed Christian woman bearing the name of a Christian sister are an abomination in the sight of a holy God and sin against God. They are a deep wound, burden and injury to His cause, so that God cannot work through him or bless his efforts while he persists in that course. It pictures such a minister fixing his thoughts and affections on another woman though he has a lawful wife, unbalanced in preaching, especially with her before him like a man thrown off his balance, bewitched and enslaved by lust with a fevered imagination.