1 Corinthians 7:5

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for. season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

'Defraud' -650. apostereo ap-os-ter-eh'-o; from 575 and stereo (to deprive); to despoil: -defraud, destitute, kept back by fraud. 'One-sided insistence on abstinence therefore amounts to robbing the other party of his or her rights.' (F.F. Bruce p. 67)

-present imperative tense, the ordinary meaning being, "stop defrauding". 'Stop depriving' (NASV) Indicating that some Corinthians were "defrauding". Again, note the strong word that God chose for such withholding. To draw. person into. marriage, and then deny sexual intimacy, in God's view amounts to fraud. You lied! And we know how God feels about liars. (Revelation 21:8)

'except it be by consent' -'by agreement' (NASV) And this agreement must be mutual. One partner doesn't have the right to control the sexual on and off switch in. marriage. God gives neither one the "exclusive" control.

Note: Paul is speaking about voluntary abstinence. Sickness and other involuntary conditions are not seen as "defrauding".

In addition, because of sin you can create. situation in which your mate can't fulfill their sexual duties to you. If you break the law and end up in prison, you have defrauded your mate and have created. situation in which normal sexual relations aren't possible, they haven't defrauded you. A man who abuses his wife or children, has also created. situation in which his wife can't fulfill verses 3-5.

'for. season' -'fixed, definite time.' Willis reminds us that this should be. lesson to us men, especially preachers who can be out of town for extended periods of time. The needs of our wives (emotional and sexual) need to be considered and consulted before we fill up our calenders with extended business trips.

'that ye may give yourselves unto prayer' -'A separation because of gripes, to punish. partner, or some other petty reason is an unauthorized defrauding of one's mate...'(Willis p. 213)

'It indicates that the early church placed value on concerted times of prayer, uninterrupted by other normal pursuits.' (Fee p. 282)

The sad thing is, that often in the church we find Christian couples abstaining from sexual intimacy for all the "wrong reasons" (anger, bitterness, resentment, marital problems, selfishness, revenge, hate)....and while the griping level may be loud, the praying level is often non-existent.

'that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency' -'because of your lack of self-control.' (NASV) While this may not flatter us, it's honest.

'In light of society's wickedness, in light of their vulnerability (seen in the very fact that they married in the first place), Paul urges them to be sensible in their abstinence. "By all means", pursue deeper dedication by mutually sought abstinence, " but don't overdo it ".' [Note:. McGuiggan p. 95]

Points to Note:

1. Well-intentioned religious acts, carried beyond the limits of one's endurance, are vain. It doesn't do any good to devote yourselves to prayer, if such devotion tempts you to commit fornication.

2. The Catholic Church needs to read these verses. Their human rules concerning. mandatory celibate clergy has resulted in more harm than good.

3. Satan already knows what our own areas of weakness are and he will attempt to exploit any "weakness" that we give him. (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:27)