1 Thessalonians 4:6a – Crossing a Boundary

6 No one is to be circumventing and overreaching his brother in the matter…

Paul is still speaking about prostitution, which he has been discussing since verse 3. In contrast to the lack of restraint in casual sexual relations, he presented acquiring one’s own wife, “in holiness and honor.” Now he highlights another aspect of prostitution. Anyone who has sexual relations with someone other than their own marriage partner may also wrong another person in doing so. Paul even speaks of to be circumventing.

The Greek word for “to be circumventing” literally means stepping over something. After all, marriage is an exclusive union between a man and a woman. When someone becomes sexually involved with another person’s marriage partner, he crosses a boundary that God Himself has established. At the same time, he wrongs the person to whom that man or woman is joined. Prostitution, therefore, affects not only those directly involved but can also directly deprive a third person of what rightfully belongs to them.

Paul explicitly speaks of “his brother” and adds “in the matter.” His warning thus remains connected to the subject he is discussing. It is not merely a matter of personal desire, but also of respecting another person’s marital bond. Just as one’s own marital bond is not interchangeable, so another person’s bond ought to be respected. For what God has yoked together, man ought not to separate (Matt. 19:6)!

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