The Ten Commandments (wis)

Let us think for a bit about the Ten Commandments, for they provide for us a basic understanding of the eternal moral law of God. The purpose of the Ten Commandments is to tell us exactly what sin is under all covenants.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Romans 3:20—NIV)

Because we have interpreted the Scripture to mean the new covenant has obliterated the Ten Commandments we are not certain what sin is. The truth is, the moral law expressed in the Ten Commandments is eternal because it reflects God’s unchanging Character. To behave in a manner contrary to the law of God is sin.

It is true, as the Lord Jesus pointed out, that the eternal law of God is applied much more comprehensively under the new covenant. But the fundamental concepts are never done away.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:2,3—NIV)

The first commandment reminds us that God is the only One who releases us from slavery to the world, to lust, and to self-will. We are not to prefer any person, relationship, thing, or situation above the Lord. He alone is to have first place in our life

One—To put God above all else.

The realm of love and worship.

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6—NIV)

We are not to create an object, institution, or relationship and then worship it. The cathedrals of Europe and South America reveal the willingness of man to construct a building that he can see and then to worship it instead of the invisible God. We are overwhelmed with the sight of Yorkminster Cathedral or Westminster Abbey but for many of us the reverence stops with what we can see. It may be true that a Christian is far more apt to see Jesus when praying through a crisis than when gazing at the great vaulted ceiling of a cathedral.

Two—To refrain from worshiping the work of our hands.

The realm of idolatry.

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7—NIV)

We are never to use the name of Jesus or God unless there is a prayerful intention. How often we hear "Jesus Christ!" or "God damn you" as an emotional outburst when we neither are asking Christ for help or have the authority to bring the curse of God on someone.

We need to be careful even with saying such things as "God, wasn’t that awful!" when we are not really addressing the Father. God and His holy angels hear every such expression and make a judgment concerning it.

Three—To use God’s Name only when we have serious, prayerful intentions.

The realm of reverence.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11—NIV)

The fourth commandment is an abridged version of the rest of God into which we are to press. No longer do we cease from our own doings during one day of the seven. Our whole life becomes that of always doing God’s will; always seeking God’s pleasure.

Four—To turn away from our own work and attend to God’s desires.

The realm of service.

Honor your father and your mother, so you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12—NIV)

We are to honor not only those who are our natural parents but also all those whom God has placed in authority over us.

Five—To honor and submit to God-given authority.

The realm of respect and obedience.

You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13—NIV)

Thinking, speaking, or acting in violence against another person is sin

Six—To refrain from violence against another.

The realm of peaceful conduct.

You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14—NIV)

To commit adultery is to enter a relationship with a person, thing, or circumstance, clutching it to ourselves, when such union is not ordained of the Lord.

Seven—To not seek union with that which is not ordained.

The realm of relationships.

You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15—NIV)

To steal is to take from someone else that which does not rightfully belong to us.

Eight—To not touch that which is not rightfully ours.

The realm of honesty.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16—NIV)

This is the realm of gossip and slander. Speaking falsely of someone else is the only aspect of lying set forth in the Ten Commandments. This is because transgressing any of the Ten Commandments actually is a form of lying, of falseness, of lack of faithfulness.

Nine—To not speak evil of another person.

The realm of truthfulness and mercy concerning others.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:17—NIV)

We never are to be envious or covetous concerning the things or circumstances of another person. As someone said, God has dealt us our own hand of cards and we have to play them out. We have no way of knowing what another person is experiencing.

To not be content with what we have been given, or with what we can gain by following and obeying Christ, is sin. It is a breaking of the eternal moral law of God.

Ten—To be content with the provisions God has made for us.

The realm of contentment.

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