All sins are offences against God. But Joseph considered a sin as specifically against God and it was adultery. ‘How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’ (Gen 39:9). At the other end of the question was Potiphar’s wife who cast her eyes on Joseph and tempted him day after day to sin with her.
Why should Joseph consider adultery as a sin against God? It was long before the commandments were given through Moses when adultery was forbidden for being a great sin. Then we must admit that it was Joseph’s conscience that compelled him to be pure in thoughts, words, and deeds even in the absence of law.
But it is just part of the story. Adultery has a much greater dimension than we think, that makes it a grave sin, a sin with perhaps no comparison. Come to the New Testament and we see Paul’s teaching that one who commits fornication sins against the body itself. He continues to teach that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that we are not our own. We are bought with a price by Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is why the apostle warns us against the sins of flesh. ‘Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body’ (1 Cor 6: 18-20).
Much before Paul wrote these lines, Joseph knew in his heart that the body is not meant for fornication (1 Cor 6:13). He knew that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her (1 Cor 6:16). Instead of facing God with the ignominy of being the owner of a body united with a prostitute he preferred the difficult way; unite to the Lord and become one spirit with him (1 Cor 6:17).
Joseph did it at a time when law was not given. Now law being given by Moses and reaffirmed by Jesus Christ, the choice is ours; whether to become one flesh with prostitute or to become one spirit with God. May the Holy Spirit lead us through holy paths in a world that is constantly inviting us to enjoy the forbidden fruits of this sin against God.
