Few actions endanger the marriage bond more than adultery, which has a spiritual equivalent in the church. The expression ‘adulterous people’ conveys a picture of marital breakdown. It is a term that goes back to the Old Testament, where the relationship between God and his people is compared to the marriage bond (e.g. Isa. 54:5; Jer. 3:20). This background lies behind the Lord’s command to the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute (Hosea 1:2). What a scandalous sign to the people of Israel of their