A breach of the trust that is expected within specific relationships, and also a failure of mutual responsibility within a community life; the breaking of the last six of the Ten Commandments.
Unfaithfulness to one another breaks God's commandments
Leviticus 19:18 See also Exodus 20:12–17; Deuteronomy 5:16–21; Matthew 22:39 parallel Mark 12:31; Romans 1:29–31
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Unfaithfulness to promises made
Numbers 30:2 See also Numbers 30:9; Joshua 9:20; 1 Samuel 20:42
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.
Unfaithfulness in business
Matthew 25:24–26; Luke 16:3–12, Luke 19:8
Unfaithfulness to the marriage covenant
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
The seriousness of marital unfaithfulness
Adultery in the OT punishable by death: Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; John 8:3–5; Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:9
Examples of marital unfaithfulness
Judges 19:1–2; Hosea 1:2–3, Hosea 2:2, Hosea 2:5
Unfaithfulness among family and friends
Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
God's people may face opposition from their families
Jeremiah 12:6 See also 2 Samuel 15:10; Matthew 10:21 parallels Mark 13:12, Luke 21:16
Even your brothers— your own father’s household— even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
Unfaithful friends cause great sorrow
Psalm 55:12–14 See also Psalm 41:9, Psalm 55:20–21JOB Psalm 6:14–17; Psalm 38:11; Proverbs 25:19
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
Unfaithfulness to Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry
Jesus Christ deserted by his followers
John 6:66, John 16:32 See also Matthew 26:31 parallel Mark 14:27; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:56 parallel Mark 14:50
From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
“Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
Jesus Christ betrayed by Judas
Matthew 26:47–50 parallels Mark 14:43–46, Luke 22:47–48; John 18:2–5
Jesus Christ denied by Peter
Matthew 26:74 parallels Mark 14:71–72, Luke 22:59–61; John 18:26–27
Unfaithfulness to God's appointed leaders
The Israelites challenge their leaders
Exodus 16:3–8 See also 1 Samuel 8:7–8
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions. Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we, that you should grumble against us?” And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”
Paul's friends desert him
2 Timothy 1:15 See also 2 Timothy 4:9–11, 2 Timothy 4:16
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Examples of treachery and betrayal
Judges 16:18–19 Samson betrayed by Delilah; 2 Samuel 3:27 Joab murders Abner; 2 Samuel 4:5–6 Ish-Bosheth assassinated by Recab and Baanah; 2 Samuel 11:14–15 David has Uriah killed in battle; 2 Samuel 20:9–10 Amasa killed by Joab; 1 Kings 21:8–10 Jezebel's treachery towards Naboth
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.