In this chapter we are introduced to the Ten Commandments. Moses had been called to God up the mountain. However, when God spoke these words we can assume, from Deuteronomy 5:22 and later in this chapter (v18,19), that the voice of God was heard by them all at the foot of the mountain. However, it seems that they were afraid that they would die, having heard God’s voice, and asked that God spoke to Moses, and he pass on the message to them.
C.S. Lewis said that all cultures agreed on the basics of morality because they were implanted in the heart and mind of mankind.
This was God’s moral code; we refer to it as The Law of Moses, but it is really God’s Law – “God spoke all these words”. All our present-day laws are based upon the Ten Commandments. Note that these are Commandments and not suggestions.
The Ten Commandments – are they still relevant today?
It has been said that we must move with the times and live in the twenty first century. Time is moving on and what was appropriate in one era is not appropriate today. Many say that The Bible is out of date and that we must make it fit present-day ideas, and some have even replaced The Bible with their own set of ideals as they consider that those of old have no relevance in a modern society. They say that we are no longer primitive and barbaric and that we have advanced so much that the old ideas cannot possibly be applicable and fit into the type of world we live in today.
Sadly, even many of our churches and their leaders are saying just that. Little wonder that we see them in a mess and many of them breaking up. God is not to be mocked; we will reap what we sow. Also, little wonder that society doesn’t take much notice of the church. We must build on a solid foundation and that is only found in Christ and on God’s Word.
Well, we would have to say “Yes” to that if we were talking about human ideas, after all, kids don’t use logarithms; today like we did sixty years ago, they use calculators and computers. We had a book with all these calculations based upon Pythagoras theorem. Wonderful for their day, but far too long winded for the up-beat speed of life, but have you really read all the instructions for your software on your computers? We are far cleverer than our forefathers in those primitive days, or so we like to think.
However, despite the modern contraptions for doing all these calculations, the basis remains the same – Pythagoras the original theory has not changed, merely the methods to calculate it. If you ask the modern-day kids to sit down and work it out they would probably look aghast and think we were daft. It is too easy now, the machine does it for them.
The same goes for any invention and theory which those in-the-know tell us are old hat compared to the brilliance of modern knowledge.
However, here we have things that remain. Solid, unchangeable, absolutely certain and guaranteed never to fail or become out-of-date despite what men may think of them.
It has been said that the Church has failed to teach the Ten Commandments, some would say, because they are old fashioned. It is true that we in the Church have neglected to do so, and it is very evident that we have failed at our peril.
We can see a generation which is totally lawless and without thought for anyone but self. Surely if anyone has grounds to say that His teaching supersedes the teaching of old it was Jesus for after all He was God manifested in the flesh. God Incarnate who says, “I change not”. But Jesus states that those self-same Ten Commandments were just as relevant for His day as they were about two thousand years before when they were given to Moses.
The Ten Commandments are God’s Blueprint for life. Life is about relationships with God, man, and things. If our relationships are not right, then life is burdensome. All we hear today, and little wonder the world behaves as it does, is ‘my rights’ but what about my responsibilities? We even had The Human Rights Act 1998 but no Human Responsibilities Act.
The late Alan Redpath said, “The great message of the Christian faith is that we are free from the Law’s condemnation in order that we may be able to fulfil its obligation by the power of Jesus within us.” “My obedience therefore is not legal but inspired by love and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit. Does New Testament grace allow a lower standard than Old Testament law? The standard under grace is higher.”
The Bible from beginning to end says that I have a need to love God and to love my neighbour. But it also makes it clear that our salvation is not just loving my neighbour but loving God first and foremost.
Recognising that I cannot possibly keep the Commandments in their entirety of my own strength because I am a sinner and to offend in one point is to be guilty of the lot. It’s like writing them all on a balloon, pricking it with a pin; the whole lot go. And therefore, if so guilty, I cannot possibly be saved and at peace with God. Jesus summed up the Ten in Two, by stating that you are “To love The Lord Your God with all your mind, soul and strength, and your neighbour as yourself “but he did not discard the Ten.
Now if we look at the Ten will see that they fall into two categories, the first four relate to our love for God, and the last six our love for our neighbour. The two are not separate though, for the New Testament makes it clear that we cannot say that we love God and fail to love our neighbours for if we do, we are liars. (1 John 4:20) “For he who does not love his brother who he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen” and v8 “He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love” “This is how we know that we love the children of Cod, by loving God and obeying His commandments.” (1 John 5:2) and 1 John 2:4 “He who says, I know Him (that is Jesus Christ) and does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.”
Now you may or may not know that the 10 Commandments were given by God at least three times – here in Exodus 20 they were given by word of mouth. God spoke them to Moses in the hearing of the people and then Moses taught them to the people and later wrote them down at God’s command (Exodus 24:4). But in Ch. 24 
God invited Moses up the mountain v12 “Come up to Me, and I will give you tablets of stone and the law and commandments which I have written.” This time actually written by God’s own hand on stone tablets.
When Moses came down the mountain after forty days, he found that the people were worshipping a golden calf and he (Chapter 32:19) saw the calf and the dancing, So Moses’ anger became hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. In chapter 34:1 “And The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke. “ And v28 “and He (that is God) wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. ” Written with His own hand.
It is of vital interest to note that God spoke and wrote (twice) exactly the same words. There was no need for a rethink, or a revision, or even the slightest amendment to the original. If God required an opportunity to do so, this was it! But not so, God got it right first time.
When man makes laws and having been involved in the English Legal System for over forty years — I know this only too well, in a very short space of time shortcomings are evident and consequently they must be revised or repealed and re-enacted. Not so with God.
In Deuteronomy 5, Moses reminds the people of the Ten Commandments and note the words in v. 22 “And He added NO MORE.” (my emphasis).It was complete and accurate and sufficient. Moses did not give new laws; he merely restated the old laws for the benefit of a new generation. The old law was given when they were in the wilderness. The forty years of wandering in the wilderness had seen the passing of one generation and the rising of another. The new people faced a new situation, they are about to enter a new land and a new era, but they must keep the old standards. The same Commandments were right for every situation and every generation. Just as they are today.
Sadly, we often hear of the law changing and that old laws are out of date, and we must move with the times. Even the church has done that which is even more sad. God’s law, however, never changes and it is still as relevant today as it ever was.
In Deuteronomy 10:12 Moses asks the people “What does The Lord your GOD require of you, but to fear The Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to love Him, to serve The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of The Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”
The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)! ‘We are complex physically and even more so psychologically and spiritually and the Bible can be called the Maker’s handbook and His summary of the way to live is in the ten Commandments. The Bible spells out the gospel of grace that restores sin-damaged human nature; but it is the Commandments that crystallise the basic behaviour pattern which brings satisfaction and contentment and it is precisely for this way of living that God’s grace rescues and refits us;’ (J. I. Packer) He goes on to say that “The Ten Commandments are the blueprint for this life set out for ALL time, God gave it to the Jews through Moses on Sinai about thirteen centuries before Christ. Yesterday’s Christians saw them as (to quote William Barclay) ‘The Plain Man’s Guide to Ethics’. They were right. Today’s world, even today’s Church, has largely forgotten them. That is our folly and loss, for here, in nugget form, is the wisdom we need.” ‘Where the law’s moral absolutes are not respected, people cease to respect either themselves or each other – humanity is deformed and society slides into the killing decadence of mutual exploitation and self-indulgence.’
To put it, in plain language ‘We all look after number one and blow anyone else or their feelings. I want what I want and will go to any lengths to get it and too bad on whom I tread on the way there.’ Or to put it in the words of the book of Judges “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Thus it is clear that, as we said earlier, life is all about relationships, and the Ten Commandments plumb the depths of relationships in a thorough yet simple way that everyone can understand from the youngest to the oldest
Jesus summarised the ten (Matthew 22:35-40) when, “a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher,
which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
The Law (Commandments) is given to inform of sin, and restrict sin, but not to provide another way of salvation from sin. In fact, the Apostle Paul (Gal 3:24) says “The law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.” Paul has much to say about the law, especially in Romans chapters 7 & 8. In Ch. 7:7 He says, “I would not have known sin except through the law, For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”” He continues v 12 – “Therefore the law is holy….” v14 – “…. the law is spiritual”.
He places before us the fact that he wants to do good, but his flesh is weak and that he is carnal, sold under sin, and what he does not want to do, he does, whereas what he wants to do, he does not. There is a war going on inside him and he is driven to despair “O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death. I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (v24, 25). He then exclaims with a cry of victory in ch.8:1 “There is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (v2) “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. “
Paul, therefore, makes it clear that our salvation is not by keeping the law because we are unable in our own strength to do so, but through Christ Jesus, His death and resurrection life.
It is important that that fact is made clear before we embark upon any study of the Ten Commandments, so that the background is plain.
A prisoner made a very shrewd statement – “The law is like a mirror, it shows me how dirty I am, but it cannot do a thing to make me clean.”
LAW AND LOVE.
People dislike law (this is a sign of our sinfulness, and the idea is widespread that Christians should not be led by law but only by love. Law and love are not opponents but allies, forming together the axis of true morality. Law needs love as its drive, else we get the Pharisaism that puts principles before people and says one can be perfectly good without actually loving one’s neighbour. Again, I quote Jim Packer, “Love needs law as its eyes, for love is blind. To want to love someone Christianly does not of itself tell you how to do it. Only as we observe the limits set by God’s law can we really do people good.” “Keep two truths in view — first, God’s law expresses His character, it reflects His own behaviour, it alerts us to what He will love and hate to see in us. It is a recipe for holiness, consecrated conformity to God which is His true image in man. Second, God’s law fits human nature.”
God made us and there can be no doubt that He knows how we should work perfectly.
What does the world say?
Situationism – all rules have exceptions for the situation.
Sin – says the end justifies the means.
Permissiveness is worldliness, says I can do what I feel is best, but not only that, it seeks to squeeze Christian morality into our mould.
I’m sorry if you think that was long introduction but I think it was necessary. We now come to what God said and notice first of all, that God gives a reason for the law – Exodus 20:2 – “I am The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
The law begins with FREEDOM and WHO gave it to them. He does not just simply ‘lay the law down’ He reminds them of the great deliverance He achieved for them from the bondage of Egypt and the slavery they were under.
For life to be lived as God intended it and for it to be the very best for mankind, we must get things in order of priority.
To do justice to the Ten Commandments we need to look at them in some detail.
First Commandment — WHO IS FIRST?
God of course. “You shall have no other God’s before me. “
Some might say – Well He would, wouldn’t He; Isn’t that selfish of God? No not in the least. For after all we depend upon Him for everything. The Israelites would never have got out of Egypt without Him. He performed wondrous miracles to get them where they were. The Passover when all the firstborn who were not covered by the blood on the doorposts and lintel were slaughtered. The Red Sea parting and then returning to drown the Egyptians; being fed, in the wilderness with manna from heaven and quail; water from the rock; victory over the Amalekites who attacked the rear ranks, all the stragglers at the rear, “When you were tired and weary, and he did not fear God. “(Deuteronomy 25:17) – just where and when the devil often attacks, at the weakest point. All these events were recorded in Exodus chapters 11 to 19 where we have arrived at Mount Sinai in this chapter.
Surely, in the light of all that, there would be no need for God to say that they were to have no other gods before Him, would there? Well, events soon took their course which showed how fickle they were. I have already alluded to it – it comes in chapter 24 where we read that Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights (v 18).
The people got impatient and said to Aaron chapter 32:1 “Come make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron, shame on him, acceded to their request and made a golden calf and they worshipped it. (v4)
Didn’t take long – 40 days. So easy for us to forget God and what He has done for us. So easy to put something or someone before God, thus taking away His rightful place. He asks for first place and surely, He deserves no less.
Your god is what you love, see, worship, serve and allow to control you. Make sure it is ALMIGHTY GOD, for He wants us to live for Him in faithful and loyal obedience. This attitude is expressed in worship and service according to His Word – that fear which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).
You don’t need me to tell you what other gods there can be – pleasure, possessions, position – the list is endless.
Let us who are Christians remember what He has done for us – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). What more could we ask for, hell-deserving sinners offered a lifeline, not only for this life but for eternity.
He has brought us out of Egypt – you say “I’ve never been to Egypt;” maybe not, and neither have I, but you have been in the spiritual Egypt, the place of bondage, the bondage of sin, as have we all. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” A bondage far worse than that of Egypt was ours – bound in the chains of sin, captive to its evil desires and ways and held in bondage to Satan. Hopeless and helpless. We’ve been in the bondage signified by Egypt, of that there can be no doubt. BUT HE HAS DELIVERED US. He deserves first place.
Before we leave this first Commandment it is important to note that in the margin reference of the NIV, it indicates that the word “before” can properly be translated “besides” thus reading – ‘You shall have no other gods besides me’. We must not think that we can have other ‘gods’ alongside Him. This would indicate that He is NOT number ONE God. Deuteronomy 6:4 would tend to confirm this where we read the words of Moses reiterating the Ten Commandments, and stressing ” Hear O Israel, The Lord our God, The Lord is One. “ or, The Lord is our God, The Lord alone. There is but ONE GOD everything else is an IDOL, whether before or besides Him.
Which brings us to the Second Commandment — NO IDOLS (no graven images) (v4-6)
These can be real or imagined. They are not necessarily made of wood or stone. Someone has said that we should be careful of saying “This is how I like to think of God” Whenever we read of idols the people who made them were likening them to God. Notice the words of ch.20:4-6 “You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, The Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “
We do not need to make anything in the image of God, for Jesus has revealed to us completely what God is like. The Roman Catholic Church omits this Commandment to allow for its worship of images and to make up the Ten has split the tenth (covetousness) into two.
In this Commandment God reveals to us His real nature – jealous, seeks true and total loyalty, just, judges righteously, merciful – showing steadfast love to thousands who love Him and keep His Commandments.
Some might ask “Can God be jealous and not sin?” This is Divine Jealousy. God is jealous of the redeemed, after all they have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, His Son, spotless Son. He has every reason to be jealous of us. He has bought us with a price, AND WHAT A PRICE? The life of His Son. How can we put in His place, or even alongside Him, a piece of wood or stone or anything else for that matter? He loves us with an Everlasting love, we are His purchased possession, He rightly jealously guards us and is rightfully angry should we put anything in His place whether it be real or imaginary. Whatever we place as an idol we are replacing God.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:14 to “Flee idolatry” and goes on to make it clear that an idol is of the devil and the devil and God are diametrically opposed. No wonder God is jealous of idols; they are Satan himself. AND GOD KNOWS THE DANGERS of the devil. He knows just what it took to defeat him.
Deuteronomy 4:15-40 give us further insight of the danger and real characteristics of idolatry. v15 says “Take careful heed to yourselves for you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you, at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure….”
It was ALL OF FAITH, just as we have not seen God, neither had they, and the Bible says the words of Jesus Himself- “Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. “ They were to trust in faith having seen what God had done – v20 ” But The Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, His inheritance, as you are this day.”
Moses reminds them of the final part of this second Commandment — not only is God a jealous God, but He is a just God – “…. visiting the iniquity of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me but showing mercy to thousands to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
He judges righteously in successive generations on those who “hate” Him – those who defy God’s rule and treat Him with total irreverence. But thank God, we also see His mercy on those who love Him and obey Him. Being absolute in His justice we see the severity and the kindness of God. We cannot play games with God. It is serious business. (James 1:25) calls it “the law of liberty” Keeping God’s law brings deeper freedom and inner contentment.
Jim Packer states it thus – Law-keeping is that life for which we were fitted by nature (although to remove any confusion I prefer the word — creation), unfitted by sin and refitted by grace, the life God loves to see and reward, and for that life liberty is the proper name
There is no doubt that without the mercy and the grace of God we are bound in the chains of sin and captive to Satan. But Praise God there is a way out – freedom – to love, serve and obey the Living God, which is liberty, set free from the law of sin and death.
Many say that God is a God of love and therefore will not condemn anyone to hell. To say this shows no conception of the true love of God. Yes, He loves us, dearly loves us, but if we do not come God’s way, the only way, which is through His Son, Jesus Christ who gave His life for our sins, then “We are condemned already because we have not believed in the name of the Only Begotten Son of God”. (Often forgotten words of John 3:18.) But thank God for v16 which we quoted earlier.
Third Commandment — The Name of The Lord our God.
“You shall not take the name of The Lord your God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain.”
The NIV uses the word ‘misuse’.
It is clear that to use the Name of The Lord our God is serious business, for to misuse it brings upon us the pronouncement of ‘guilty’by The Lord God Himself. So, if man is not serious, God certainly is.
There are at least three aspects to this – taking of (misusing) The Lord’s Name in vain – the first is failing to ‘reverence His Name’. The second is using His name as a swear-word’, and the third is using God’s Name falsely in connection with promises or oaths.
1. It is important to reverence The Name of The Lord. It saddens me that many use it in an irreverent way, thus failing to recognise who God really is. We must recognise God as THE GOD, the first two Commandments have made that very clear.
Even Christians must be very careful how we use the name ‘God’, ‘Jesus Christ’. We must not be guilty of cheapening the Name. Deuteronomy 28:58 says, “The name of The Lord thy God is glorious and fearful”. We must fear His Name; Yes! even be afraid of that Name; afraid of misusing it; but more – fear or revere His Name, give it the due respect that His Name deserves.
I am concerned that we often refer to God as simply ‘God’or ‘Jesus’. Some of our Christian songs do it, some do it in prayers, some Bible Reading Notes do it. Now I don’t want to ‘split hairs’, but sometimes I wonder if that is too stark and not reverent enough. Surely, He deserves His full title “Lord God;” or ” Almighty God” or “Lord Jesus ” or “Lord Jesus Christ “.
Just listen to the words of Isaiah 57:1 – “For thus says The High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, Whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also of a contrite and humble spirit….”
And to Ezekiel 36:22,23 “…. thus says The Lord God I do not this for your sakes… but for my Holy Name’s sake, which you have profaned among the heathen wherever you went. And I will sanctify my Great Name, which was profaned among the heathen, which you have profaned in the midst of them and the heathen shall know that I am The Lord saith The Lord God; when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”
And in Matt 6:9 the words of The Lord Jesus Himself: “After this manner pray, Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be Your Name….”
We do not read of those closest to Jesus, His disciples and other followers calling Him “Jesus” the usual form of address was “Lord” “Master”; in John11 where we have recorded the raising of Lazarus, in v 12 the disciples called Him “Lord” and in v21,27,34 both Mary and Martha refer to Him as “Lord”
Job offered sacrifices on behalf of his children, while they were still alive for fear that they had “cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5) and after their death, when his wife in her bitterness at what had happened, urged him to “curse God and die”(2:9)’ he refused.
We must never allow sin to make us hate God for what He allows to happen to us or others. God is Sovereign, He never makes a mistake, and if you are a Christian the words of Romans 8:28 should be etched upon our minds “All things work together for good, to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.” So even though we can’t see it, it is for our good. We must remember that God will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain.
2. Bad language. It is often said that when a person uses a ‘swear word’ it is because of lack of intelligence and vocabulary. To some it is normal pattern of speech and to emphasize a word. How I cringe when someone utters curses and swear words using the Name of God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, or Christ. It is common for people to say “O God” etc. out of a sense of annoyance, surprise, anger even. I don’t think Christians should say “O my God” as an exclamation.
It is not easy to live in a world that uses His Name in this manner, sometimes it is possible to request that they refrain from doing so, for after all, to a Christian, His Name(s) mean everything. (To those of us who believe He is precious.) And He is not to be dragged into the gutter. Somehow, we should, in humility, kindly remind them that God will not hold them guiltless for taking His Name in vain. I’ve done it – I recall one solicitor who often said it and after I told him gently, and if he ever said it again in my presence, he apologised. If nothing else, it put him on his guard.
Often, particularly when it is on the TV or radio, it is not possible to say something, but we are always urged to complain to the Broadcasting Authorities and make our views known either in writing or by telephone. If no-one says anything then nothing will change. From experience, sometimes they take no notice, but I can say that sometimes they do. And if enough complained, well who knows?
It is discrimination against Christians – they don’t use the names of Allah or Mohammed or Buddha etc. in the same way. Sometimes we have to be ruthless and turn the programme off however much we may be enjoying it. We always do when the name of Jesus or Christ is used in this way. We don’t even have to get up and reach for the ‘off button’, we usually have a remote close at hand.
It is sad that modern remakes of films are usually ‘spiced up’ by these exclamations. I have complained to the Broadcasting Authorities that the original books did not contain that, so why do they put it in? It is the day we live in and so long as we allow it to happen, they will do it. You may think I’m stupid, but this is one of the reasons I rarely go to the cinema because at home I can switch it off, whereas if I’ve paid to go, I am probably unlikely to walk out.
TV presenter Dan Walker says, “The biggest test comes when you are on air. Not laughing at a dodgy joke is tough enough in the office but when 150,000 people are listening it adds an extra pressure to your response. I suppose it’s the same in most offices. If you ask people to stop swearing or blaspheming, some people will silently respect you while others will go out of their way to turn the air blue. Noel Gallagher (Rock band Oasis) has asked me why I don’t swear. I find it as hard to witness as anybody, but I have to remember that I may be the only Christian these people will ever meet.”
3. Using God’s Name to stress a promise. It does NOT say that we cannot use God’s Name in this way; But Leviticus 19:12 says “You shall not swear by my Name FALSELY nor profane the Name of The Lord Your God, I am The Lord.” (emphasis mine) I do not intend to go into the question of oaths in court or for legal documents, save to say that I don’t believe that it is forbidden as it is usually not ‘falsely’. I would rather they didn’t and simply make a promise. However, between two believers there should be no need for it whatsoever – James 5:12 says “Let your yea be yea and your nay, nay.” Be a person of your word and keep your promises.
The biggest problem in our world and certainly in the courts is that people do not tell the truth, and where there is no truth there is no justice. I’ve often said that some wouldn’t know what the truth was if it hit them in the face. It should always be the truth, particularly in our churches, but I have to reluctantly ask, is it?
Perjury is a serious sin (as well as a crime) – God will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain.
Fourth Commandment – Remember and Keep the Sabbath Day Holy.
Now this raises a question – What is the Sabbath Day?
Remember in Exodus 16 God did not provide the manna for them to eat on the Sabbath Day, but He provided twice as much on the previous day. And further back than that in Genesis 2:2 right at the very Creation, God rested on the seventh day and ‘hallowed it’. God treats it important.
If we needed any confirmation that God was responsible for creation, here it is. ‘In six days, God created the heavens and the earth and everything else, and on the seventh, He rested.’
Before the resurrection of The Lord Jesus, the Sabbath was the seventh day, i.e. Saturday hence the Jews keeping it as such to this day (and even the Seventh Day Adventists)
The seventh day was the commemoration of creation and redemption from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15), But the Lord’s Day is the first day of the week when Christians met for worship, thus commemorating Jesus’ resurrection. (Acts of the Apostles onwards). In one sense, it is immaterial which of the two days we keep. However, it has been traditional practice for New Testament Christians, which we are, to keep Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, resurrection day.
Romans 14:5-14 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. …. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ” ‘As surely as I live, says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus….”
The main question is “Do we keep it holy, and how?”
The Lord Jesus Himself kept the Sabbath for worship and not for idle amusement. One commentator says that the Sabbath was made a day of holy rest so that it might be a day of holy work. From this holy day, in our sedentary and lonely world, physical recreation and family fun will not be excluded, but worship and Christian fellowship will come first. Jim Packer says that the underlying principle is clear – We must honour God not only by our loyalty (1st commandment), and by life (2nd commandment), and words (3rd commandment), but also the use of our time (4th).
It is becoming increasingly difficult in our day to keep Sunday special. More and more people must work; (sadly more want to, originally it was because they got extra pay, but not always now) and the more Sunday is eroded away as The Lord’s Day, the more difficult it gets. Shops, pubs, clubs, amusements, sporting activities etc. open for greed, and because they have no respect or reverence for God.
I know there are certain jobs that are seven days a week, essential services – Doctors, Nurses, Police, Fire, Prison, Ambulance, Carers etc. But most are not so. I think it was D.L. Moody who told the story of the man who was a Christian and was asked by employer to work on Sundays. The man refused, but his employer said, “Doesn’t the 
Bible say if your donkey falls into a pit on the Sabbath you can pull it out” – “Yes” replied the man, “But if it fell into the pit every Sunday, I would either fill in the pit or sell the donkey.”
I recall, as a boy, I wanted to be a train driver (many boys of my era did) but when I realised that I would have to work Sundays the idea evaporated.
What we must remember is that this one day is given to us by God Himself, as a special day, a holy day. Different from the others. Man needs a day of rest, the Bible says that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. If God Himself rested on it and hallowed it, so we ought to set a day apart. It is part of our make-up that we have been created by God to work six days and have a day of rest on the seventh. Exodus 23:12 says that we should do our work in six days so that even our ox and donkey as well as our employees can be refreshed with a day of rest.
It is very sad that youngsters are encouraged to play sport on Sundays. In fact, it is becoming increasingly difficult for youngsters to engage in sport at which they may be very talented without having to sacrifice The Lord’s Day as Special.
I know when I played cricket for various clubs, the chances of getting picked for the Saturday teams were reduced if you, like me, refused to play on the Sunday teams. It will be extremely difficult for anyone to follow a career in Professional sport today without playing on Sundays. How we should support those who refuse. Eric Liddell (‘Chariots of Fire’ fame) refused – God honoured him for it. In the film he was passed a note which stated, ‘Those that honour me (God) I will honour’. I remember Tom Farrell, an international athlete Hurdler from Liverpool, refusing to run on Sunday in the Olympics – they changed the day of the race for him – that was in the 60’s! I doubt they would do it today, but if there were enough to stand up for what they believe, they might. Mike Jones, New Zealand Rugby player, refused to play on Sunday even though having played in the games not played on Sunday leading up to it, he missed the final of the World Cup in 1991, and refused similarly in 1995 and therefore was not chosen for the party, even though he was the best in his country, because too many matches were scheduled for Sundays. He said, “Jesus Christ is the most important person my life.”
Dan Walker, TV presenter, refuses to work on Sundays. Walker became a Christian at the age of 12. He made a decision not to work on a Sunday once he started employment …. He says, “…. By the age of nine or ten, I was asked by several clubs to go for trials at football and play in their youth teams. The problem was that every one of them played their matches on Sundays. This was a real test for me. Although I wasn’t a Christian at the time, I began thinking about the importance of God’s commandments and particularly the Lord’s Day. After many tears, I explained to the clubs that I would love to play for them – but not on a Sunday. I was turned down. If you can’t play football, then the next best thing is being paid to watch it! God clearly led me through the years.”
“I thought it would be more difficult for me not to work on a Sunday than it has been. When I first got the job, I said that I would be willing to work extra time for six days of the week in exchange for Sundays off. My boss agreed. Since then, although I have been asked to work on Sundays, he has gone out of his way to give me other shifts. It has been difficult at times….”
“I believe that the Christian Sabbath is a day given to us by God, our creator, for our own good …. but we live in a world where every corner of our Christian witness is being eaten away. By treating Sunday as a different day, we immediately show that God makes a difference in our lives. People have asked me on numerous occasions, for example, why I don’t go to United v Arsenal when they play on a Sunday. It gives me a perfect opportunity to say why I go to church, what I believe in and what God has done in my life. People can make excuses for doing anything on a Sunday – it is easy to justify what we want to do. But you can never get away from the fact that in doing so, we are going against God’s plan.”
“When asked had his convictions affected his career, he says, yes, they have, but God has blessed me greatly. In my two and a half years in radio I have won nine awards, and I firmly believe that God has a plan for me to progress in the industry. It can be a little frustrating at times, but you have to remember that God will honour those who honour him. I have had to turn down job offers from a number of companies because they stipulate Sunday working. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted by a great job offer but I value peace with God far higher than a chunky salary.”
What would you tell Christians who say they can worship God watching or playing in a football game on the Lord’s Day?
“I would say, look what you’re missing out on! When you’re on the pitch at 11 o’clock on a Sunday morning think what you could be doing. Is it really more beneficial for you and more honouring to God for you to be kicking a football around on his day rather than worshipping him in church? God sent his Son to die for your sins on the cross and yet you treat his day like a sports day! The Bible commands us not to neglect meeting together with other Christians.
“I do feel that God has given me clear pointers that I am in the right profession. A couple of people advised me not to pursue this career because it would be too difficult but every step of the way I have felt God’s support. He has given me the words to say in awkward situations and most importantly peace with difficult decisions. Some Christians are still surprised that I do what I do …. A wise Christian told me about a year ago that I should never forget that God has put me in a great position to witness to lots of people. It seems weird but during interviews I’ve talked to David Beckham about going to church and Noel Gallagher has asked me why I don’t swear. I find it as hard to witness as anybody, but I have to remember that I may be the only Christian these people will ever meet.”
Sadly, in my opinion, there are others who do play on Sundays despite being professing Christians -e.g. Inga Tuigamala (who sadly passed away recently), Jason Robinson (who was saved through Inga), Andrew Trimble, Rugby players and golfers the German, Bernhard Langer and a few others. Jonathan Edwards, athlete, once stuck by Christian principles but more recently, sacrificed them and now says that he is not a Christian.
Make of that what you will. Whether they and all others are right in their decision regarding Sunday is for them to make. But it is very sad that they are forced into that situation. We can only pray for their testimony before the world.
It could be argued that if we refused to travel on Sundays there would be no need for bus drivers, train drivers, petrol stations etc. to work. I recall when I was young when very few people had cars, most of our Sunday preachers travelled by bus. It is not an easy decision, but what is vital for a person who is a Christian, is that we look for God’s approval not man’s, and we rely on God to supply our needs. Jesus, much to the annoyance of the Pharisees plucked the ears of corn for food on the Sabbath and that was when He said those words “The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath.”
I believe God will bless us for it, not necessarily make us the best athlete, Cricketer, footballer, whatever, but He might just do that if that’s what He wills. Again, I quote T.V presenter Dan Walker said, “Whichever side of the microphone or camera you are on it will be difficult to be a Christian and be involved in sport at the highest level – but never let that put you off. You have to come to terms with the fact that you may never get to the top of your game, but I firmly believe that we should pray for talented sportsmen and women to really achieve as much as they can in sport. If you are the best at what you do, then organisers will move mountains to accommodate you. What a witness it would be if the next tennis superstar was a devout Christian who got to the final of Wimbledon and refused to play! If the organisers disqualify him for not playing, then people will see how much his faith means to him and if they move the final then it would be a great encouragement to Christians everywhere struggling to make a stand. We should also pray for established stars to be converted in the same way as we pray for our government. If top golfers wouldn’t play on a Sunday, then soon enough golf tournaments would start on a Wednesday and finish on a Saturday. What a phenomenal witness that would be!”
I worked in the Courts for 43 years and until the late 90’s courts could not be held on Sundays, Good Friday or Christmas Day. This changed however, and law was passed to change it. We were told that we would have to work on these days to hold courts. I told my boss that I was prepared to work six days, and I would come out at any time of day or night, but I wasn’t prepared to work Sundays. He professed to be a Christian and he accepted it. During all the years, up to my retirement in 2005 not one court was held on a Sunday.
I remember when I was young that there was a great clamour for cinemas to be allowed to open on Sundays. Eventually they were. What good did it do them? I can guarantee that every cinema I knew has now closed. Yes, others have sprung up, but they are relatively few and under a conglomerate with several smaller screens in one building. They didn’t prosper in the long run!
I believe that God prospers a Country that is prepared to obey His laws.
Be prepared to give God ALL your time, including the Lord’s Day – Paul says “Look carefully then how you walk … making the most of the time (redeeming, buying up, not wasting), because the days are EVIL” (Ephesians 5:16 Colossians 4:5).
Make every minute count for God and I believe that means giving Him the first of everything including His Day.
Sundays can be difficult, boring even, if we are not careful, especially if we were brought up in a strict Christian home like I was. Parents have a difficult job in getting this right but with a lot of prayer it can be done. And successfully as well as honouring to God, which is the most important factor.
Proverbs 3:5,6, “Trust in The Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”
Commandments 5 – 10.
It is important to recognize that not only are the Commandments rules for good living, and they certainly are that, but they also reflect the character of God Himself. In them we see the uniqueness and holiness and love of God for us.
Commandments 1 -4 are described as our duty towards God. As Jesus outlined it in Matthew 22 v 37-40 “Thou shalt love The Lord Thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind. (This is the first and great commandment. The second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. “ Thus Commandments 5 – 10 are rightly described as our duty towards our neighbour. But they are not exclusively so, because even they are irrevocably connected with our duty towards God. As we shall see.
Now we come to what Jesus described as “…like unto it” (the last six)
In other words, Jesus was saying that our love for God cannot be separated from our love for our neighbour. Our love for one another is “like unto” our love for God.
Let me remind you again of the words in 1 John 4:20 “If someone says, “l love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him; that he who loves God must love his brother.” (v21)
We must stress again that keeping the commandments will not pay our entrance into heaven, this has been paid by the precious blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. In any case, without the indwelling presence of God, through His Holy Spirit in our lives it is impossible to keep them in their entirety, which is what we must do if we are pinning our hopes of heaven on our observing them. For if we offend in ONE point, we are guilty of ALL. The Commandments are rules for good living but none of us are able to keep them all, so we need another way to Eternal Life – That has been provided – repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
FIFTH COMMANDMENT – Honour your parents
Notice where our love for others starts – With the family. And I believe that it is no coincidence. This fifth commandment recalls us to God’s order.
If any institution has been undermined in our day, it is the institution of marriage and the family. The devil is hell-bent on destroying the family. Satanist churches are particularly praying for the breakdown of marriage and the family.
If the family disappears, we are in grave trouble, for it is how God has made us – to be born into families, to be reared in a family relationship with all the support necessary for life. The family is God-given. God cares about families; they are part of His purpose for both parents and children and how we behave as children and parents is a prime test of our humanity and our godliness. God’s Word has much to say about this.
· The family is the basic social unit – no nation is stable where family life is weak.
· The family is the basic spiritual unit in which God makes parents their children’s teachers.
· Children owe a large debt of gratitude for years of care and provision.
· Children need parental guidance.
· Parents need their children’s loving concern just as children need their parents’ care.
The bible stresses the responsibility of parents to train their children, and children to honour their parents. In the Old Testament disrespect for parents was a major sin – Exodus 21:17 says that “He who curses his father or mother shall surely be put to death.” and v15 “Anyone who attacks his father or mother must be put to death.”
In the New Testament Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for failing to provide for their parents whilst hypocritically claiming that they were keeping this commandment. (See Matt. 15:4-7)
In Romans 1:30 amongst a long list of evils which Godless people degenerate into, is – “disobedient to parents”. Likewise, Paul writing to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:3) indicates that “disobedient to parents is part of the indication of the last days in which perilous times will come”.
Honouring parents and obeying them is serious so far as God is concerned. The commandment even has a promise – “Long life in the land God is giving to you”. Note this long life is in the land God is giving to you. It was a promise to the Children of Israel as to their occupation of the Promised Land. In other words – God would keep them and protect them in their inheritance in the land of promise. It is not a promise of long life to us all. But it remains true that children who do not honour their parents suffer loss. They miss out on a vital part of human maturity and cannot expect their children to honour them if they do not or did not honour their parents. Further they make it harder for themselves to honour their Father in heaven.
Mick Jagger the pop star once said, “l owe nothing to my parents.” They may have been very bad to him, I don’t know, but I think I get the gist of what he was saying – I’ve got where I am without any help from them. Whatever he meant, it shows both ingratitude and ignorance, as well as a disregard for this commandment.
However poor at parenting they are, we are commanded to honour them. That is God’s word. Maybe they will become better parents if we, their children, honour them as we should, just as our children may be better children if we, parents, follow God’s Word in bringing them up. Children need parental guidance more than they know and impoverish themselves by rejecting it.
Jesus set the example in his youth as a boy of twelve when they found Him in the temple with the Doctors of the Law – in their anxiety they asked Him why He caused them this worry by being absent from them. After His answer about being on His Father’s business in His Father’s (that is God’s) house. We read that He went home with them and was obedient to them (Luke 2:51) And much later even while hanging on the cross, dying, He made sure that his mother was looked after by John. (John 19:26,27) In life and in death He was obedient to his parents.
Not only was He obedient to His earthly parents, but throughout His life He was obedient to the Will of His Father (God). “l have come to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 6:38).
If He was obedient to His parents, how much more should we be to ours? Remember, He humbled Himself to become a man, He was God in the flesh. It was understandable that He should do the will of His Father in heaven, for He said, “I and my Father are one.” Understandable, but mind-blowing, considering the price He was willing to pay for us lost sinners. But it is even more amazing that He should be obedient to His earthly parents considering Who He was.
God cares about families enormously. Family life is part of God’s purpose as to how we behave. Love and respect are needed urgently today if we are going to see any improvement in the life and world we are living in.
How the family has disintegrated – divorce and separations, sometimes, we must recognise, inevitably; l think the latest figures are that nearly half of marriages end in divorce. This shows a slight decrease but there are more people living together, having children, without being married. The statistics of the number of children born out of wedlock is very high, around 50%. Many children don’t know who their father is. Confusion abounds.
I used to deal with cases in court where it is little wonder the children are confused, when they don’t have the same surname as their parents, don’t know for certain who their father is. Sadly, they have to cope with living double lives – with one parent all week, the other at weekends. Since attending prisons to do Bible studies the situation is eye-opening. From Dorothy’s time working in courts, she will tell you the same. How our hearts should go out to those in this situation.
We have the term ‘nuclear family’ which sounds quite explosive, but it basically means one consisting of Father, Mother and children. It has come to include ‘same-sex parents.’ Life is complicated enough but we also have ‘extended families’, children in the same household, not related to each other causing jealousy where one parent treats them differently, the list could go on…. For children, particularly, it has become very complicated when the family should be the most stable unit one could have. I repeat, that in many cases there is an innocent party to a divorce, and our hearts should go out to those unwillingly landed in such a situation. Some later regret it, and we need to show love and care towards them.
There are some very pointed words in Malachi 2 v 16 “l hate divorce says The Lord God of Israel.The Question is Why? Because it breaks up the family unit and makes it much harder for all the family members to work together. Life is complicated enough, God knows that. But He does not say that He hates those caught up in divorce. God hates sin, but His love goes out to those who are lost in sin. If He didn’t, none of us would be here, there would be no hope for any of us!
What about the families where both parents consider their careers more important and leave their children to be brought up by someone else? Now I know that financial restraints often force parents into this, as well as the job situation today. It is sad but often basically down to greed from many angles. I’m not talking about those with no choice, but there are many who simply put themselves first before their children’s needs. Sometimes parents are ‘too busy to give time to their children; you can’t give of your best to your children when you have both come in from a busy day’s work; and more and more children are prone to write off their parents as fuddy-duddies and old fashioned, clueless and out of touch.
If you have failed either as a parent or a child and which of us have not? It is not too late, for with God’s help it can be put right, there may still be a lot of heartache and difficult decisions to make, with God nothing is impossible!
Whilst ALL sin can be forgiven, sometimes we are left with the scars, which, often take a long time to heal, and sadly, may never heal. But I do firmly believe that God is able to make up for our past failures and, to use a phrase from Joel 2:25 “Restore the years that the locusts have eaten.” It must be noted that for that to happen we must recognize that God is The LORD and there is no other (v27) which takes us back to the first four commandments.
Never forget that God is very merciful and gracious to those who come to Him in repentance and faith.
Ephesians chapters 5 & 6 give us God’s pattern for families, parents and children. In Ephesians 6:1 Paul says, “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.” So even if there was no other reason for it, surely that is enough to know that it is right.
Colossians 3:18 -21 instruction for ‘Wives, Husbands, children, and particularly fathers. v20 says “Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to The Lord” – another very good reason!
Home is the testing ground for the nation. If the home is in a mess, so will be the nation. You don’t need me to remind you that our nation is in a mess.
Parents are often failures. There are few if any good courses for parenting. We learn often by mistakes. But the Bible points out to us the mistakes others made to help us; we must read it.
Sixth Commandment – YOU SHALL NOT KILL (OR MURDER)
The word signifies malicious and unlawful killing, so “murder” is the more accurate. As opposed to killing, murder is the taking of life without legal justification (execution after due process) or moral justification (killing in defence).
God deals with judicial execution and killing in war elsewhere in His book, The Bible.
The principle is that human life is holy. It is God’s gift, and it bears God’s image. It is, therefore, the most precious and sacred thing in the world and life is totally in the hands of God. By preserving life, we thus honour God.
This commandment rules out abortion as it is abundantly clear from God’s Word that life begins at conception – “For You created my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
Suicide and euthanasia are also ruled out. Putting people out of their misery is out. Letting the body die when there is no hope of recovery of consciousness is not the same, although the difficulty is to judge when the point at which consciousness cannot return has been reached.
Euthanasia can be an emotive term. It is true that as the medical profession has become more expert in its medical research and quest for healing, they have stumbled upon the ability, by medicine or machines, to keep people alive more than in years gone by. Whereas years ago, a person with particular illnesses would have died very quickly, now may be kept alive for some considerable time by medication or machines.
This causes problems, because when the injury or illness is first diagnosed, the person or more particularly the family, want their loved-one to be kept alive for as long as possible. However, in later months, years even, when the person is no better but still existing by means of the medication or the machine, a great problem arises as to whether it is better to cease treatment and let the person die. This also invokes the law – as to whether it is tantamount to murder to cut off the lifeline.
There have been cases and one such – was Diane Pretty (who had motor neurone disease – whilst her mind was active her body wasn’t) who went to the High Court for the judges to give her permission to die – saying it was her Human Right to die with dignity (a fancy term for it today). She would have taken her own life but that was illegal, and she couldn’t physically do that because of her condition and so campaigned for her husband to be allowed to assist her without risk of prosecution. All levels of the Courts in our land refused, as well as European Court of Human Rights, quite rightly, in my opinion. She died naturally in 2002 after her condition deteriorated.
It was said “It would be a slippery slope and many people who did not want to die could be affected”. This would be particularly so with people with disabilities. Who is to decide whether a person is ‘normal’ or worth living?
A more recent case was Debby Purdy. In 2009, She won a legal victory in the House of Lords which lawyers described as a turning point for the law on assisted suicide. She succeeded in arguing that it was a breach of her human rights not to know whether Puente, a Cuban jazz violinist, would be prosecuted if he accompanied her to the Swiss clinic Dignitas if her condition worsened.
The decision went further than expected in Purdy’s favour, lawyers said. Ordering the director of public prosecutions to issue a policy setting out when those in Puente’s position could expect to face prosecution, the court ruled that the current lack of clarity was a violation of the right to a private and family life. The DPP said it still remains an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt in England and Wales.
I believe that there is another case being aired in parliament as we speak. In July 2022 a man convicted of the manslaughter of his wife who had stage 4 cancer and failed to kill himself in a ‘suicide pact’, is calling for the Government to pass law legalising euthanasia.
Man’s cleverness has created a problem! However, simply putting someone out of their misery; avoiding the worries of old age even where the person concerned consents to it, is wrong. It seems that we want to save people we love from pain. Think of the ‘pain and suffering’ we face when we die without Christ!
Our government are debating and voting in November 2024 about Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide.
I believe that our lives are in the hands of God. Some have therefore tried to argue that we should never go to the doctor and leave everything to God. But I think that is rather stupid, and certainly not in accordance with God’s Will, that we treat our bodies with total disregard. The Bible makes it clear that we should take care of our bodies (Romans 6:13 “Do not offer parts of your body to sin….” 1 Cor 6:19,20 “…. Your body is a temple of The Holy Spirit…. Therefore, honour God with your body…”). I also firmly believe that God has created medicine.
The whole problem shows to me the vital importance of placing our life into the Hands of God. He never makes a mistake. I cannot entrust it to myself.
When Jesus said in The Sermon on the Mount that to be angry with someone was tantamount to murder, He obviously had in mind the words of Genesis 4. Abel’s offering was accepted and not Cain’s, and as a result (v5) says “Cain was very angry and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain (v6) “Why are you angry and why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you but you must master it.” God was giving Cain the chance to repent of his evil anger but as we see in the next verse (v8) he did not repent, and he killed his brother Abel. It all started with anger and jealousy; it ended in murder. Anger unconfessed is therefore dangerous as it can lead to more serious consequences.
Romans 13:10 “Love does not harm his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.”
Genesis 9 – After the flood. v1 “So God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. “ v3 “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you, I have given you all things even as the green herbs, but (v4) you shall not eat flesh with its life.” (i.e. its blood – in other words, it must be dead). (So much for those who say we should be vegetarians – God has given us all things.) In the Garden of Eden there is good argument for vegetarianism but after the Flood there is not. v5 “Surely for your life blood I will demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellowman. (v6) Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man.” Leviticus 24:17 “Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. (v19) If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbour so shall it be done to him break for break; eye for eye; tooth for tooth” (v20).
This is not permission for revenge – I am not entitled to give back what I get. It is a judicial guideline for punishment by God-ordained Judges. Only the judges were permitted to impose the sentence after proper diligent enquiry on the evidence of witnesses. Today people wrongly use “Eye for an eye etc. ” as their entitlement to get their own back in revenge, this is not so.
In Exodus 21 and verse 12 we have the laws concerning violence – “He who strike a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death” But NOTE that it must be premeditated (v14) v18 ” If two fight and one strikes the other but he does not die he shall pay compensation for the loss of his time and provide complete healing” And v23 gives us the penalty or compensation for serious injuries ‘Eye for eye etc.’ Knock for knock.
v13 “If killing is accidental – God provided cities of refuge” See Numbers 35:11; Deuteronomy 19:3; Joshua 20:2.
Numbers 35:30 says, “Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death but only on the evidence of at least two witnesses.” Note v31 – The death penalty is the only penalty for murder and the essential need for witnesses.
Deuteronomy 19:11 states “if anyone hates his neighbour, lies in wait and kills him and he flees to a city of refuge, he will still be put to death. Your eye shall not pity him ” (v13) even though he has reached a city of refuge”.
You say, “But it is very difficult with all these miscarriages of justice (so called) today.” I agree. And that is why God stresses the vital importance of at least two witnesses and TRUTH (an almost outmoded commodity these days). It all depends on truth. But verses 15-21 not only stress the importance of witnesses and truth, but on the judges making diligent enquiry. I suppose you could say that it all depends on the fact that it is God that we are dealing with, and every God-fearing person would be afraid of lying. And God makes special point of that by including that as the ninth Commandment.
We are living in a day which the Bible describes “There is no fear of God before their eyes”. In the early chapters of his prophecy, Jeremiah mourns the depravity of his people, how far they had gone from God and the evil that resulted. And in ch.8:12 he says, “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. “
I suggest that we, Christians (and non-Christians alike), have also no shame, and have forgotten how to blush at sin. Rather, we laugh at it and often treat it as a joke.
Remember God takes sin seriously, so seriously, that it cost Jesus His life to save us from it.
Deuteronomy 20 gives instructions on war, and killing being justified in such circumstances, but it clearly states that wherever possible peace talks must take place first.
SEVENTH COMMANDMENT – (Exodus 20:14). “You shall not commit adultery”
The question is “What is adultery?” One writer says, “It is a voluntary sexual encounter of a married person with anyone other than his/her lawfully wedded spouse.”
But I believe that this commandment goes further than that. It teaches that all sex should be avoided apart from that ordained by God between a man and woman within the marriage bond.
So, if your think about it carefully it is not a requisite that one of the parties is married to commit this sin. Leviticus Ch. 18 and 20 make this clear.
Billy Graham said, “The Bible condemns sex outside the bonds of matrimony. The fact that immorality is rampant throughout the nation doesn’t make it right.”
“In God’s design for sexuality, key principles cannot be violated without causing great harm.” (Tom Eisenman). “Sex has been trivialised by the modern society in which we live. The powerful illusion that has cast its spell over the entire secular culture today, is that sex is a magical experience which will bring into our lives the true intimacy we desire – IT IS A LIE!”
Sex which ignores God will only increase our loneliness.
True intimacy and irresponsible sex are a contradiction. The media in all its forms promote the notion that extramarital sex is a diversion that can add interest and entertainment to our present dull existence, assuming of course that marriage is dull. But marriage need not be dull!
It carries responsibilities which may at times be onerous but dull it need never be. If there is tension in the marriage it is easy to see an outside person has the answer to all life’s problems. (Tom Eisenman says) ‘Whenever the home begins to represent tension in the minds of married couples and outside friendships with the opposite sex promise relationship without the hassle, there is potential danger’
It can happen with young couples who have children and the demands of being a mother keep the wife busied in the home – a task which is essential and vital, in fact Paul writing to Titus ch.2 v 5 says that “Sound doctrine (v1) that young mothers should be, amongst other things, ‘homemakers’ (AV ‘Keepers at home)” The idea is ‘A Guard’ These tasks usually take up the whole of her time, whereas the husband is beginning to take off in his career, his job may even take him away from home for periods. The husband may find someone at work who shares his interests; the wife may find someone in the neighbourhood, or even at church who shows care and an interest in her.
Young couples need to find ways of continuing to grow in their relationship together. Dr. James Dobson says, – “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but it still has to mowed”
The lying propaganda says that we can have everything we want simply by changing partners in midstream, the quick fix, the easy road to the real thing. Sadly, it is A TRAGEDY, men and women change partners again and again, chasing the illusion. Many die lonely, empty people, lacking love.
“If the grass IS greener on the other side of the fence, you should try watering your own” says another writer.
There is no easy road to a good marriage relationship, it takes hard work. There’s no other way. Marriage is under fire today, perhaps as never before.
“A good marriage (Eisenman) is worth any amount of work you may need to invest in it. No other investment pays such rich dividends. Please do not be duped. Resist the lie that another woman/man might be the answer to all your problems.”
Jesus said (Matthew 5:27) when asked about this commandment “l say to you, whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (v28)
This not only includes physical actions with humans but also looking at pornographic pictures of nude women/men. The sex magazines may (in theory) supposed to be on the top shelf of the newsagents, sadly that is rarely the case today. It is paraded and thrown at us from numerous angles, on our mobile phones, tablets, television. They are freely to be seen. Most devices have an On/Off button or Delete, and these days we can work it from our armchair with the remote control.
Sex outside of God’s design, cheap sex, is never really cheap. Those who buy into it do so at great price, the destruction of human personality.
God’s purpose in creation is clear – Genesis 2:24 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be united (glued) to his wife, the two shall be ONE FLESH.” God joined a man and a woman, not 2 men or 2 women.
Through the bonding of their physical and spiritual selves in a loving marriage, a man and a woman share the most intimate human relationship possible, which the Bible describes as “ONE FLESH” Yes, we were meant for each other!
It is time to take a stand; it is not too late to demand a return to the purposes and practices for life defined and commanded by The Word of God. It will not be easy; it may be one of the most difficult fights we will face.
Sexual temptation is present in us all, but God’s peace is too great a blessing to sacrifice for a moment of self-indulgence. We should persist in prayer and seek the freedom only God can give to gain power over the power of sin.
There is no point arguing that sex based upon feelings of love makes it a possible option for ANY 2 people, other than marriage partners. It won’t wash with God! We haven’t got such freedom because the long-term potential for pain and harm is immense.
Did you know that statistics show that divorce is more likely between two persons who lived together prior to marriage, than those who did not? So much for trial marriage’ (so called).
Make no mistake – when our behaviour and attitude toward sex are founded upon the wise teaching of God’s Word – we will have the potential for joy, freedom and blessing.
2 Corinthians 10:5 states, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Paul again, this time to Timothy, a young man, (2 Timothy 2:22) states, “Flee evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on The Lord out of a pure heart.”
The price in guilt, shame and low self-esteem is very great if we go against God’s teaching. If we really love God and love those He has created, sexual sin will become increasingly impossible for us. You say that’s a bold statement’ True, it is, but one which I believe is true – if I didn’t, then I am doubting the power of God to change my life from top to bottom.
‘Our love for God will carry us out of bondage’ (writes Eisenman) And how do the Ten Commandments begin? “I am The Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “
That was the very PURPOSE of God’s Law!
We must pray for our marriage relationship – to build our love for our husband/wife. The more we concentrate on our marriage exclusively, the stronger our relationship will become.
Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.” This verse challenges husbands to love sacrificially, our single aim should be to give ourselves fully to our marriage, consistently acting in love towards our wives, caring about their happiness and loving them as they are, lifting them at every opportunity to the highest level of appreciation in our thoughts and as we speak about them to others. It is a very tall order but if it could not be achieved, God wouldn’t have told us to do it.
If we will choose to love our wives (husbands) selflessly even as we live in this real world of imperfect bodies, imperfect personalities, imperfect sexual experiences, we will enter into and enjoy – beyond what we might have ever imagined – that which God blessed, mysterious unity biblically described as ‘One flesh under God in Christ’.
A fantasy world will never deliver this kind of real and lasting blessing! Growing in love over a lifetime requires intention; it takes a dedicated refusal to be duped by the world’s sexual lies. It takes consistent prayer and a willing desire to be a one-woman-man (and vice versa).
Are there any Biblical examples of the tragic consequences of this sin of adultery? YES, many – I’ll mention one – DAVID, a man after God’s own heart, even. Can I suggest that you read 2 Samuel 11. Few extramarital affairs end in murder as David’s did, but all produce extraordinary pain for those involved as well as for those who are innocent but relationally connected.
And WHAT PAIN DAVID SUFFERED! It is all recorded for us in 2 Samuel 12 – 24; 1 Kings 1 & 2; and 1 Chronicles. His children were rebellious. If anyone had family trouble, David did. And why? Undoubtedly because of his sin. David was always ready to confess his sin to God, and God forgave him, but like all sexual sins – which Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body…” Sexual sins are different, they are not unforgivable but – They often leave indelible scars.
It is indeed interesting to note some words of his son Solomon recorded for us in Proverbs 5,6 and 7. In ch.5:3-5 he says “For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lay hold of hell.”
v8-11 “Remove your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house lest you give your honour to others and your years to the cruel one. Lest aliens be filled with your wealth and your labours go to the house of a foreigner. And you mourn at last when your flesh and body are consumed. “
He states that he was on the verge of total ruin and that it was known to all the people (v14) We might think that we can do this in secret, but sooner or later it becomes known. And from vv15-19 he urges his reader to remain faithful to his own wife… ” Let her fountain be blessed and rejoice with the wife of your youth…… let her breasts satisfy you at all times and always be enraptured with her love.”
In Ch 6:23-29 he says “For the commandment is a lamp and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress (the wife of another man) will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom and
his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbour’s wife. Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.”
And vv32-35 “Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding. He who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonour he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away. For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore, he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will accept no recompense; nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.”
He continues with his pleadings in chapter 7. How he pours out his heart in an effort to dissuade men from going on this downward path. It is evident that he speaks from bitter experience.
Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honourable and the bed undefiled for God will judge the adulterer and the sexual immoral” NOTE THAT – God will judge even if man doesn’t. God treats this very seriously and there will be no escape. For God is THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, His justice is ABSOLUTE.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers …. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were, but you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of The Lord Jesus Christ and by The Spirit of our God.”
Words of DOOM! but then, I love the tense of that phrase “some of you WERE“- words of incredible HOPE. The person who commits such sins can be forgiven and changed.
It may be that a person having been guilty of such sins cannot be used in particular roles in the church for a while, but there is no question of God’s forgiveness. David was prevented by God from building the temple, a thing which he yearned to do, (read 1 Chronicles 28:3) but David accepted that. He didn’t quibble with God, rather he urged the people to rally around and give their full support to his son Solomon who was to build the temple. (1 Chronicles 29:19) and he gave thanks and praise to God and commanded the people to do the same. No sulking, no complaining, he accepted God’s sovereignty and judgment upon him.
Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 6 (and I quote again v18-20) “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually, sins against HIS OWN BODY…. which is the temple of The Holy Spirit. You are not your own, you were bought with a price. Therefore, honour God with your body.”
Life changes when adultery occurs – there is ALWAYS the cover-up, the lies, pretences, suspicion, and trust is often irreparably damaged.
For a Christian, the affair destroys credibility and their witness. It also leaves deep wounds – Psalm 38 (A Psalm of David, this very same David) “……My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering. Because of my foolishness I am troubled. I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long….. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin…. “
This is the only way out – to recognize it for what it is, SIN, and to confess it. Proverbs 28:13. “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
It is clear, therefore, that Adultery in whatever form can be forgiven, so don’t despair! No need to carry the burden of guilt any longer Whilst the Bible is pertinent, vital and relevant; it is also challenging, and whilst it makes one uncomfortable, it does offer a solution. And what better solution?
“But you are washed… sanctified…. justified in the Name of The Lord Jesus and by The Spirit of our God. “ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
The Ten Commandments do set high standards, the highest, for they show the character of God. That’s why they ARE so high! God is always faithful, NEVER UNFAITHFUL. And in our own strength we could never keep them all. But it is possible – when we are born again, when The Lord Jesus Christ by the power of The Holy Spirit of God comes into our very lives, He gives us the power to keep His Commandments.
But thank God, there is forgiveness should we fall. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL sin, not just some. Jesus said that He had come to give us life, and a more abundant life.
We need to recall the Scriptural view of sexual purity, and its context of a beautiful relationship with the one to whom I am joined, it will be truly fulfilling, and no substitutes or extras will be necessary.
8th Commandment – “You shall not steal”
On the face of it this is quite straight forward. I must not take anything that doesn’t belong to me.
Next to myself and wife and my children (if any), my worldly goods stand closest. And God means them to be secured to me and commands that no-one shall steal them from me.
Martin Luther said, “Love to our neighbour (for remember that is what this is part of) requires us to hold sacred not only his person (6th Comm.- Not kill), and his marriage (7th Comm.- no adultery) but also his property and his due.”
Stealing is taking from someone something, which may not even be theirs but, what is not mine. Often the temptation comes that I want what someone else has. We must have scrupulous respect for the property of others. If God wants me to have something He will make it possible for me to have it legitimately otherwise, don’t bother.
There are many ways of stealing –
· Robbery, Burglary, theft, borrowing with no intention of returning, adopting a finders-keepers approach.
· Employees not giving a fair day’s work. not being punctual (although flexitime has all but removed this, except that one must be honest about one’s time sheet where there is no time clock).
· Employers steal from their employees by not paying them a fair wage.
· Tax-evasion is stealing. Overcharging, inflated expense claims, false measures. Refusing or neglecting to pay bills, or taxes.
Remember also that we can steal a person’s reputation by malicious gossip. Shakespeare said, ‘Who steals my purse, steals trash, but he who filches from me my good name… makes me poor indeed.’
Exodus 22 tells us of the charges for theft and the amounts of compensation to be paid. If a thief is unable to make restitution, He was to be sold to pay for his theft. If a man gives his neighbour silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from him, the thief must repay double; but if the thief is not found, the neighbour must be tried before the judges to determine if he has misappropriated the property. The guilty one to repay double. An interesting one is in verse 2 there have been several instances of this in the news recently – “If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender (of his property) is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed.”
So, God’s Word allows you to defend your property, which in my opinion is perfectly logical, (Tony Martin who shot burglars) but it does draw a line, that you can do so in the dark, but not in daylight, thus indicating it may be accidental in the dark.
Leviticus 6 contains instruction to the Israelites regarding guilt offerings to be made for crimes, including theft and deception – restitution must be made in full, plus one fifth and the prescribed offering for a sacrifice. It does make clear that forgiveness is promised.
In Hosea 4:1,2,3 shows the consequences of this type of behaviour “…There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery, they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed Because of this the land mourns and all who live in it waste away… ” – Sounds like Britain today!
Is there an example in the Bible? Yes. In Joshua 7 Joshua sent men to spy out Ai, it was so small a place that they thought they only needed to send out a very small army, but they were defeated. They were totally embarrassed by this unexpected defeat.
In devastation and desperation Joshua and the elders spent all day flat on their faces before God. In v10 – we read “The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! what are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant they have taken some of the devoted things, they have stolen, they have lied……. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. ‘”‘
Joshua had all the tribes come before him, and eventually Achan admitted his guilt. v20 “Achan replied, “It is true I have sinned against The Lord I saw…… I coveted and I took them, they are hidden in the ground inside my tent.”” Achan was stoned to death, and in ch.8 the Israelites proceed to conquer Ai.
You remember Zacchaeus (Luke 19) when he was converted to Christ? He showed his true repentance by repaying those whom he had defrauded – plus interest. And in 1922/3 In the Belfast revival, converted shipyard workers brought back tools and equipment which they had previously stolen in such quantities that in one place an additional store shed had to be provided to hold them all. That showed spiritual reality. How much reality is there around today?
How important it is that we are honest. Isaiah 1:23 says that thieves are degenerate; and Proverbs 29:24 that whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life. And in John 12 we are told about Judas who complained about Mary taking the precious costly ointment and pouring it on Jesus’ feet, and he said that it should have been sold and given to the poor. The narrative says that he was a thief and cared not for the poor. It is true that thieves often speak hypocrisy when they give the impression that they care for the poor.
Titus 2:9-15 In Paul’s discourse about what constitutes sound doctrine, he says “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything…. and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘NO’ to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. “
Thus, stealing affects our witness for Christ. Ephesians 4 instructs us to ‘Live as children of the light’ We who are Christians are to show that God truly lives in us, and amongst other things – “Him who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands that he may have something to share with those in need ….and be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. ” (v28,32)
Thus, forgiveness is available upon our repentance and confession.
Finally Peter points out in 1 Peter 4:15 that as Christians we can expect to suffer for the cause of Christ, and that we should even ‘rejoice’ if we do; But “if we do suffer, it should not be as a murderer or a thief or any other criminal, or even as a meddler. “ And goes to point out that judgement begins with the family of God, who cannot lose our salvation, so if, we shall be judged, what about those who do not belong to the family of God. Eternal damnation is theirs.
How vital it is therefore, that you come into the good of the forgiveness of God, and that is only through being born again of God’s Holy Spirit by His grace, through faith.
9th Commandment – Thou shalt not bear false witness”. (No lying)
When we sin, we offend God, we hurt others, and we hurt ourselves. All sin is against God He cannot abide sin, for it is contrary to His nature, person, character and life. We must remind ourselves that the Ten Commandments show the character of God. And ask the question again. Why did God give us a set of rules which He knew we could never keep?’ Again, the answer is plain – that without the power of God in us there is no hope of us keeping the ten commandments for they are what God is like.
This is the purpose of God in sending His Son to die for our sin and providing salvation for a fallen mankind, so that by repentance and faith He comes to live in us by His Holy Spirit and we are changed and given the power to live new lives. Although to keep the ten perfectly we would be God, and this side of heaven we shall never be perfect
because sin is present.
Sin is also against others – If I kill – I take another’s life. If I commit adultery – I take another’s spouse. If I steal – I take another’s property. If I bear false witness – I steal another’s reputation. If I covet – I want what is theirs.
This Commandment is all to do with TRUTH. Jesus said, “I am THE truth.’ (John 14:6)
In Numbers 23:19 we read “God is not a man that He should lie”. Samuel utters the same words in 1 Sam. 15:29 “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind. ” Paul writing to Titus 1:2 says, “…. faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time. “ And the writer to the {Hebrews goes even further in Ch. 6:18, when he says that “It is impossible for God to lie. “
So, just as God IS love, so He IS truth. Thus, we can see the likeness of God in this command – not to lie.
It has the ring of the law courts without the truth there can be no justice. Every witness and defendant take the oath to tell the truth. I only wish they all told the truth. If they did my job, and certainly that of the police, magistrates and judges and all others involved in the judicial system, would have been made much easier. Sadly, lying abounds in our society. Children are encouraged to tell ‘white lies’(so called). Adults are even worse. I heard every day, defendants young and old, plead ‘Not Guilty’ when I put the charge to them, often on the advice of their Solicitor or Counsel, knowing full well that they are guilty. The law has even recognised that this is a grave problem because nowadays courts were instructed that in all but few cases where it is totally unwarranted, credit should be given when passing sentence for a prompt plea of guilty.
How ridiculous! that a person should have a lesser sentence for being guilty simply because he is ‘honest enough’ to admit his guilt. How low we have stooped that we must dangle carrots to persuade people to be honest. In my opinion it should be the other way around — A person who is NOT honest enough to admit guilt, should on conviction get a longer sentence than the norm.
But of course, the trend is play for time, drag it out as long as you can, put the judicial system to as much trouble and expense as you can before you face the music. Let’s not forget the coffers of the defence lawyers. How tragic it is that honesty and truth are not natural traits even when faced with indisputable evidence.
I have often said that to be convicted of murder requires the accused to be a very bad liar, because the main prosecution witness is absent, dead.
Justice is to punish the wrongdoer and discharge the innocent, thus truth is a vital, but sadly diminishing commodity.
The R. Hon Lord Denning, former Master of the Rolls, in his booklet ‘The Influence of Religion on Law’ written for The Lawyers Christian Fellowship says that “No-one reading this doubts, I hope, that it is his duty to tell the truth. Nevertheless, if your actions were governed by expediency alone without regard to the precepts of the law, religion or morals, you would soon find that there is as much to be said for lying as there is for telling the truth. You would soon discard the old saying that ‘honesty is the best policy’ as a maxim fit for fools but not for clever people like yourself. If it were necessary, in order to attain your ends, that you should tell a lie, then tell it you would, for the end would justify the means. The reason why that reasoning is not acceptable to most, I believe, is because we have been taught the contrary from our mothers’ knee. (Or have we?) The Christian religion has always stressed the importance of truth in all our dealings. Just as the Psalmist commends – “The man that speaketh the truth from his heart” (Psalm 15:2) Paul enjoins early Christians – “Wherefore, putting away lying, speak the truth every man with his neighbour, for we are members of one another.” (Ephesians 4:25). If there is anything that gives rise to more resentment than anything else, it is to be deceived, to be told a lie. It is an affront to thewhole personality. Just as we do not wish others to deceive us, so we should not deceive them.’ He even refers to The Pious Fraud – telling a lie for a just cause, and concludes that ‘I am not sure that it is ever permissible for to tell a lie to his neighbour.”
On the subject of taking the oath (which I have referred to earlier) exaggerations, half-truths and misleading silences can all, in effect, be lies. Lord Denning said, “Courts have to rely on people telling the truth, absolute truth. Ever since there has been a system of law in this Country it has proceeded on the footing that each man believes in God. When he takes the oath, he is not merely making a solemn affirmation to the judge or magistrates; he is binding himself to God that he will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Some of the more emphatic have been known to protest 
too much the truth of their answer by adding, May God strike me dead if I have told a lie” It is recorded – one such did and fell down dead – a stone is set up in the Market Place in Devises to note the fact.”
But of course, lying goes beyond our law courts, it permeates all our living. It is seen right back in the Garden of Eden where Satan lied to Eve: Jesus said, in John 8:44 that ‘Satan is a liar and the father of lies ‘. Where does lying come from then? From Satan, himself. Satan lied to Eve and suggested that God wasn’t telling the truth when He, that is God, had said that if they touched the tree they would surely die. If we look at Genesis 2, God simply said that they must not eat of it, He didn’t say they could not touch it. Satan was twisting God’s words. He wasn’t simply saying that God didn’t mean it, but that God was LYING. When Eve took the fruit, and shared some with Adam, they found 
out that God was NOT LYING. He meant precisely what He said.
Many years later, the writer of Proverbs 6:16 states that there are six, even seven things which The Lord hates, one is “The Lord hates a lying tongue” (v17) and as if to make it doubly hated, another is ‘a false witness who pours out lies (v 19).
We have thought about lies in the form of perjury, but there are also lies in the form of slander; or to give it its posh name – calumny. This often takes the form of gossip, spreading rumours, trying to damage another person’s character. A man lay dying – a ‘friend’who had many years before spread untrue rumours about him—which had ruined his character, came to see him. His conscience playing havoc, he went into the sick man’s room and said “I am so sorry for what I said about you years ago, will you forgive me? ” The dying man promptly said “Yes”, but then he asked, ” Will you do something for, me “Yes, anything” was the reply, thinking he could appease his conscience. “Take my pillow and cut it open, let the feathers blow out of the window This he did, though curious as to why he should request such a thing. “Now'” go outside and gather them all up again.” “That’s impossible,” said the man.’ — So, it is if we spread untrue gossip and rumours. Thou shalt NOT bear false witness.
We must bear in mind that to repeat a story which brings discredit and dishonour to another person without making sure of the facts, is breaking this commandment. Also, to keep quiet and say nothing to correct a false story about another is covered by this commandment.
The damage done is often impossible to repair however sorry we may be, however much we plead forgiveness of that person, and however much they forgive.
We teach our children not to lie, for we know that to tell a lie, requires another to cover that one and another, and so on. To be a successful liar, you need an exceptional memory. But to be a liar at all is contrary to God’s nature, and therefore, it is quite clear why God states categorically, thou shalt not bear false witness.
Lies are prompted by such motives as, pride, malice, fear, contempt, revenge, boastful conceit, fraud and the desire to shine by telling a good story. (Jim Packer says) ‘Lying, insults not only your neighbour, whom you may manage to fool, but also God whom you can never fool. Lying is part of Satan’s image; not God’s and we should not wonder “that everyone who practises falsehood” should thereby exclude himself from God’s city (Revelation 22:15). There is no godliness without truthfulness.
Here is a difficult one – Is it ever right to withhold the truth from anyone? An example is Rahab (Joshua 2) who hid the spies and kept the truth from the enemy; another in our day, Corrie Ten Boom who did likewise when hiding the Jews from the Nazis; keeping the whole truth from those with serious illnesses or disabilities. etc. Is this permissible? Is it bearing false witness’? It is a difficult one.
Jim Packer says, “Yet, a lie, even when prompted by love, loyalty and an inescapable recognition that if telling it is bad, not telling it would be worse, remains an evil thing. To bear false witness for one’s neighbour is not as bad as bearing false witness against him: but the lie as such, however necessary it appears, is bad, not good and the right-minded man knows this. Rightly will he feel defiled: rightly will he seek fresh cleansing in the blood of Christ and-settle for living the only way anyone can live with our Holy God – by the forgiveness of sins. We say, ‘Lord have mercy and lead us not into this particular type of temptation, where only a choice of sins seems open to us, but deliver us from evil.’”
Paul urges the (Colossians) “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and
have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
A lie is a lie; it cannot be categorised by size or colour.
10th Commandment – “Thou shalt not covet”
The word for covet’ conveys the thought of seeking dishonest and dishonourable gain. This command seems to be the safeguard against temptation to break other commandments, particularly those regarding ‘my neighbour ‘ – his person, his property, his wife, etc.
The Bible clearly states that we should be content with what we have, and covetousness is seeing what someone else has and wanting it for oneself. It doesn’t usually end with the desire but often goes on to get it.
Paul has much to say about Christians being content – writing to the Philippians 4:11; “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, (v12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (v13) I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” and to Timothy he writes 1 Timothy 6:6-10 “Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. and in v11 he continues “But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
How often do we hear “Oh if only I could win the lottery things would be so different, I would have no more worries, etc. etc.” Well don’t be too sure, many have won their fortunes but whilst things have been ‘different’ it certainly hasn’t removed their worries; in fact, it has created more. A man named Ken Pattison won over a million (1.4 to be exact) it was reported in the Daily Telegraph 28th Oct 1995, that ‘he is bored he wants to go back to work. “There are times when I wish I had never seen the money, Life is such a drag now that I can afford anything I want. Now I don’t have to scrimp and save, everything is too easy. Life has lost its buzz and to be honest it’s all a bit boring.” In a relatively short time, his delight has turned to despair.
Many others have been reported that the winning has caused immense problems, there was the Muslim (I think) who won, then it transpired that his religion prevented him from gambling, thus he then had the problem what to do about it as his religious leaders condemned him.
There was a programme on T. V. some time ago interviewing people who were ‘hooked on the lottery’ and hooked on scratch cards ‘One lady, drawing Social Security, said, ‘It is too hard to stop, I’m hooked, I spend £ 90/100 per week on them’. One M.P. said that there should be a warning on the cards that this could be addictive, a brief note on the back of each card, with a telephone number of a ‘Lifeline. Another has said the warning should read “Can you afford the money you have spent on this?”
Really, it is a bit late when you’ve already spent your hard-earned money on it, but maybe better late than never. Surely there’s a better way? We shall see.
Winners spoke of aggravation and grief.
A family was interviewed who spent most of their income on the lottery and told how on Saturday evenings they were glued to their T. V. screen to watch the draw. A deadly hush came on the household as the numbers were drawn and flashed up on the screen; and when they realized that they had not won, it was though they had all gone into a coma – silence and despair which you could cut with a knife. Their whole lives revolved around this ritual, how sad!
The late Marjorie Proops MBE, (Journalist and former Agony Aunt) who was a member of the Royal Commission which looked into the lottery and recommended it in 1978, is reported to have said “Lord forgive us, If I knew what I know now I would never have recommended it.”
I could go on. These are the tip of the iceberg. There have been many who have been converted, and many who have not, who quite truthfully say that they were, and some still are, addicted to gambling of all types. Too often the experience of the gambler is similar to that of the alcoholic, or the drug taker. He becomes addicted to the practice, and he cannot break the habit.
Gambling is one of the modern indications of covetousness. By the flip of a coin, the roll of a dice, a flutter on a horse or a dog, a one-armed bandit, a raffle or a game of cards, or bingo, people try to get something for nothing, or a lot for a little. Petty gambling is no different in principle to big gambling its only in the amount involved. It is wrong for many reasons.
First it encourages faith in chance and luck rather than in the care and provision of God. Second, it encourages profiting from another’s loss. Third, it promotes greed, emphasising getting instead of giving, selfish interest rather than self-sacrifice, and so erodes the moral fibre of society.
An old friend of mine Trevor Knight pointed out, ‘The Bible teaches that there are three ways to make money – by hard work (Genesis 3:19, 2 Thessalonians 3:10); by wise investment (Luke 19:1-27) and through inheritance (2 Corinthians 12:14). ‘
Keeping up with the Jones’, envy, jealousy, selfishness, prestige, image and greed are all part of the symptoms of breaking this commandment.
Proverbs 6:6-13 tell us about a lazy person, the text uses the word sluggard a slow or lazy person. These verses warn against being such a person. Now usually, the people who want to have riches without doing anything for it, they will often say like the rich farmer in the story told by Jesus in Luke 12:16-21) Who having a bumper crop, and not enough room to store it, “I will pull down my barns and build greater, and will say to my soul ‘you have much goods laid up for many years take your ease, eat drink and be merry’ but God said, “You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you and whose shall these things be?”
They usually look to the future and say I won’t have to go out and work etc. etc. I can take it easy and use all my money for whatever I want. Well, the writer of Proverbs says that to such people – “…. poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man”. It doesn’t work – God knew what we were like, He knew that when He made us, He made us with a built-in requirement to work for us to function properly.
Wisdom’s call in Proverbs 8 says “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (v10,11)
And in several places in the book of ‘Proverbs we are told that “The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Again in Ch. 10 “Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry but He thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
There are many examples in The Scriptures perhaps the most striking was King David. Coveting is a root of all social evil: Desires that burst the bounds beget actions to match. David took Bathsheba (theft), had sexual intercourse with her (adultery); to avoid scandal had Uriah her husband killed (murder) and it all began with David coveting (fancying) his neighbour’s wife.
It is interesting to note that Paul refers to this commandment in connection with his conversion. In Romans 7:7 “…. he says, I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what it was to covet if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet’. But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.”
James 3:16 says ‘Where envy and strife (selfish ambition) is, there you will find confusion (disorder) and every evil work (practice)’ v17-18 “But wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” Doesn’t God know us so well and want what is best for us? And yet how often men and women want their own way! James goes on in 4:2 to say “You want something but don’t get It, you kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
Jeremiah 6:13 puts it succinctly “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.” The Bible seems to indicate that to covet is to defraud (Micah 2:2) is unjust gain (Ezekiel 33:31) (Habakkuk 2:9) Jesus said in Luke 12:15 “Watch out, be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And Paul in Colossians 3:5 “Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry”. And the writer to the Hebrews 13:5 sums it up “Keep yourselves free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you”. Do we really need any more than that? I think not.
Knowing the love of Christ is the one and only source from which true contentment ever flows. Isn’t this a much more satisfying answer?
Thus, we see from the Ten Commandments the type of people God wants us to be. But not only that – by faith and trust in Him He gives us the power to live as we ought, for that is how He is. We said at the beginning that these commandments show us the character of God.
Let me say again, we do not attain salvation by keeping the Ten Commandments, rather we keep them because we have been saved and we love God and The Spirit of God lives in us, thus enabling us to live like Him, and to reflect His Glory in an evil world.
Do you want to be different? Do you want the life of Christ as your life? Come in repentance and confess ALL your sin and He will abundantly pardon and give us His new Life, and you will never be the same again!
The Israelites were probably shell-shocked with all that. Don’t forget the thunder, the lightning, the sound of the trumpet and the mountain filled with smoke, let alone the voice of God! What a scene this must have been. No wonder the people trembled and stood far off (v18). One might have thought that this wondrous, amazing revelation would have filled them with joy and wonder at this display of their mighty God, but the opposite, they were afraid. As a result, they asked Moses to speak to them rather than God Himself (v19). They were afraid of the voice of God. Others experienced the same awe and fear – Isaiah felt totally unworthy for God to speak directly to him, in Isaiah 6:1-5 he fell before God and admitted he was unclean, “Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips”; and John in Revelation 1:17 who fell down as one dead before the voice of The Lord.
They said they would listen to Moses’ voice when he gave them God’s words for they were afraid that they would die if God spoke directly to them. Moses told them not to fear (v20) because God was testing them, and it was for their good. It was better for them to have the presence of God however much uncomfortable it made them. God often tests us to bring us closer to Him. On the face of it seems a contradiction not to be afraid, but to fear. It is not. The apostle John said that there is no fear in love, perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. We are to fear God in the sense that we revere Him, not that we are in terror of Him. Those who do not love God should be in terror of what God can do to them, but we, who love Him, do not need to be in terror and yet we should fear Him, fear to let him down, a holy fear. Godly fear should keep us from sin.
The people stood afar off (v21) but Moses drew near to God, not through his own merit but through God’s grace. He was a sinner who had been forgiven, and he knew that God was gracious. Moses had murdered an Egyptian, but he was forgiven by God and God wanted to use him.
We are all sinners and do not deserve the love, grace and mercy of God but we can draw near in faith and listen to God and serve Him.
God reminded them through Moses that they were to have no other gods (v22,23). Moses had spoken to God, not an idol or image, He had spoken personally, they had heard the voice of God.
God began to expand on the Ten Commandments and commenced with sacrifice and burnt and peace offerings (v24-26). It was clear that God knew that they would not keep the commandments thus He made provision for sacrifice for sin. God was not asking for ornate altars, but simple ones made of earth. They were not to carve them but to use rough stone or mounds of earth. These were to be simple, stark things which would show the glory of God and not attribute any honour to man.
When speaking to the woman of Samaria in John 4, Jesus said that we were to worship God in spirit and truth. The place was relatively unimportant. What was important was the state of our hearts, our genuine love for God.
