And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the Lord with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.

-Malachi 2:13, NKJV

Cheaters might cry over their infidelity. They might exhibit tears like these Cheaters in Malachi 2:13.

BUT God is not fooled!

They cry for themselves. The tears are not tears of true remorse. They are tears about not getting what they want.

Sure, some might ostentatiously say they are sad regarding their cheating. But don’t  be fooled; they are often crying over the bad reputation they earned by their sinful deeds.

They cry because they are now someone who would lie and cheat on their spouse. That reality conflicts with their “awesomeness.” And they are sad that it is now known.

The difference between remorseful tears and selfish tears is how they are oriented:

Does the Cheater ask you about how their sins impacted you? Do they offer restitution?

Or is it still about them? Their image? Their “toxic shame?”

If it is the later, then they are still the same selfish, entitled, unrepentant Cheater. The former suggests that they are actually taking their sin seriously and God might be doing a work in their hearts. Only change of behavior over time will tell for sure if this is the case.

My point:

Waterworks over cheating is not a given sign of true remorse.

Tears may just be another manipulation by Cheater to gain sympathy without making any changes. It does not necessarily signify a softened heart. In fact, like the Hebrew men in Malachi 2, it may signify a hardened heart. The fruit tells.