The Forbidden Woman and the Path to Death

Recently, there was a video circulating amongst Christians on Twitter of a beautiful woman who earns her money online by recording as she approaches men and entices them into sexual activity with her. This video was of a young man, likely in his early 20s, working at a fast-food restaurant counter. The young man quickly refuses her advances and says, “I am a Christian, and I am waiting until marriage.” She persists a little longer but to no avail. Christians were rightly commending this young man for his response—some even mentioning that he had the wisdom of Proverbs written on his heart. We often forget what scripture says about people who behave like this woman and the cost of giving into their perverse desires.

Proverbs 2:16-19 tells a young man that if he pursues wisdom that the Lord gives through his word, he “will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulterous with her smooth words.” The young man in the video is a prime example. The passage says, “her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.”

Wisdom of this kind is scarce in our culture. Sexual sin has been so normalized that the word “forbidden” is forbidden as long as the activity is between consenting adults. We must allow scripture to remind us that those who entice us to sexual sin will see their houses sinking down to death, and those who go to her do not come back or regain the paths of life.

This passage in Proverbs specifically warns young men against adulterous women because Solomon was writing to his son. Still, this warning applies to women who are enticed by adulterous men as well. The example in the video is as brazen as they get, but most temptations to sexual sin are more subtle and private. However, temptation being more subtle and private does not nullify Proverbs’ warning. Every lure we experience towards pornography is an adulterous person luring you towards the pits of death in which their house is sinking. Even fictional characters in erotic novels that lure our souls down that sinful path are pulling us from the path of life.

Many, if not all, who read this have some sexual sin in their past or currently at work in their life. How can we escape the death waiting at the end of those sins? We must look to the one who died in our place. Jesus took the death we deserve. We find the forgiveness we need in Him, and our sins are washed clean. What is impossible for us is possible with God. It is through Christ we regain the paths of life.

Once you are on the path of life, study his word, grow in wisdom, learn to recognize the forbidden adulteress with their smooth words in every form, and keep to the paths of righteousness. Like the young man in the video, walk securely in the way of wisdom—the way of Jesus—and your foot will not stumble. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Prov. 3:6).

-D. Eaton