“Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.” (Hebrews 13:4) How appropriate this counsel, since sexual immorality was prevalent in the Roman Empire! Present-day Christians also need to heed these words in view of the world’s low moral standards and the fact that each year thousands are disfellowshipped from the congregation because of sexual immorality.

15. Who were designated as fornicators and adulterers at Hebrews 13:4, and how would God judge them?

¹⁵ Hebrews once under the Law but taken into the new covenant knew the commandment: “You must not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) But they were in an immoral world and needed the warning: “Let . . . the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.” Among the fornicators are unmarried persons who engage in sexual intercourse. Adulterers more particularly are married individuals who cohabit with those not their mates, defiling their own marriage bed. Since unrepentant practicers of fornication and adultery merit God’s adverse judgment, they will neither be admitted into heavenly New Jerusalem nor enjoy life eternal on earth under Kingdom rule. (Revelation 21:1, 2, 8; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) This warning not to defile the marriage bed should also make married Christians avoid defiling sexual conduct with their mates, though there is nothing unclean about proper physical intimacies within marriage.​—See The Watchtower, March 15, 1983, pages 27-31.