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The Ten Commandments
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Many expressed an interest in a study on the Ten Commandments. A few, however, warned me against becoming too legalistic and placing too much emphasis on anything in the Old Testament portion of the Bible. These people concern me a little. I am a New Testament Christian – but I believe the New Testament would have very little meaning if it was not prefaced by the Old Testament.

Thinking Out Loud…

I wish everyone (including myself) could start reading the Bible for the very first time with a completely open mind and no preconceived thoughts or ideas. I do not think God’s Word is as complicated or as difficult to understand as we have made it. Most of us have a some preconceived ideas that originated with man – NOT God. When we read God’s Word, we tend to interpret what we read to fit what we think. That makes true learning very difficult – if not impossible.

The Ten Commandments were first recorded in the book of Exodus. They were given by God soon after He led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The Ten Commandments are moral statutes given by God, through Moses, so that the Israelites could enjoy fruitful and holy lives. The Ten Commandments were significant in that they formed the basis of Jewish life, law and faith. Four of the commandments deal primarily with man's relationship with God, while the other six deal primarily with man's relationship with one another.

The Ten Commandments are also known as the Law. For ancient Israel, breaking the Law was a serious offense. To deviate by any degree from the Ten Commandments was to sin and fall short of God's standard of holiness. Knowing that it was impossible for any human being to perfectly follow the Law, a sacrificial system mediated by the Levitical priesthood was established. Through this system, God permitted the Jewish people to make reparations for the sins they had committed.

Although God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, they do not apply to Jews alone. The Ten Commandments reflect God's standard of holiness for everyone. Since God is the universal authority of moral conduct, all of humanity is subject to His standards. As far as I can tell no one is exempt from God's Law. Many, however, will argue that we are no longer under the Law. I agree, but that does NOT diminish the importance of God’s Law – and God’s standard of holiness.

Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

How significant are the Ten Commandments to Christians?

· 1 John 3:4 – The definition of sin is breaking the law (God’s law).

· Roman 3:20 – Christians are not under the law, but the law makes them aware of sin.

· Romans 7:7 – We know what sin is because of the law.

So, are Christians required to obey the Ten Commandments?

· Galatians 3:10-11 – We can no longer rely on observing the law to be saved.

· Ephesians 2:8-9 – We are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus.

Are the Ten Commandments opposed to God’s promises for the Christian believer?

· Galatians 3:21-25 – Absolutely not. The law leads people to Christ. Since the law points out and identifies the sin in our lives, it confirms our need for a Savior.

Folks, it is impossible to lead an unbeliever to Christ if he doesn’t believe he has sinned, and sees no need for a Savior. Without God’s Ten Commandments, we wouldn’t know what sin is. Therefore, we would not be able to share the good news about Jesus Christ with others.

The First Commandment –

I am the Lord your God… You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:2-3

Most of us read this and think, “No problem. There is only one god in my life.” Most of us, however, are trying to serve more than one god at the same time. How can that be?

What other gods might we be serving?

· Self

· Money and Things

· Job and/or Occupation

· Power, Fame and Glory

· Family, Friends and Relationships

· Country and Patriotism

· Religion and Denominationalism

I don’t know of anyone who is not trying to place some of the things listed above ahead of God. God forgive us for putting anything or anyone ahead of you. You, and you alone, are the Lord our God.

The Ten Commandments are a summary of God’s Moral Law. Many people today feel that God's Ten Commandments are no longer valid. They believe the Ten Commandments were done away with when Jesus established a new covenant between God and man through his death, burial and resurrection.

The problem in this thinking is that Jesus never claimed to have abolished the Ten Commandments. Instead, in Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

God's Ten Commandments are still valid because Jesus declared them to be. Even after you have been saved by God’s grace through your faith in Jesus Christ, you are still just as obligated to keep God’s Moral Law as you were before you were saved by grace through faith. In Romans 3:31, the Apostle Paul writes, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.”

The Ten Commandments will always reflect God's standard of holiness. Everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, are to use God’s Moral Law as a way or rule of life. The Law leads people to Christ (Galatians 3:21-25). Since the Law points out and identifies the sin in our lives, it confirms our need for a Savior.

We are to apply God’s Moral Law, the Ten Commandments, in all of our dealings with God and our fellow man. The first four commandments deal with man's relationship with God, while the other six deal with man's relationship with one another.

The Second Commandment –

“You should 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...” Exodus 20:4-5

The second commandment is very similar to the first commandment which says, “I am the Lord your God… You should have no other gods before me.” The first commands us to NEVER put anything or anyone ahead of God. The second commands us to NEVER make a god-like idol out of anything or anyone. We should NEVER worship anything or anyone other than the Lord our God.

Once again, most of us read this and think, “No problem. There is only one god in my life.” Unfortunately, that is seldom the case. Most of us are trying to serve more than one god at the same time. In addition to the one and only true God, we are serving and worshiping things like money, possessions, occupations, fame, religion, etc., etc. These can very easily become idols and objects of worship to us. May God forgive us.

What about television? I’ll bet most of you spend more time watching television than you spend in prayer and/or in reading God’s Word. Has your television become an object of worship? If you kept an hourly diary of the things you do every day, would you be able to prove that God is number one in your life? I don’t know about you – but I wouldn’t be able to prove it. May God forgive us.

Throughout history, mankind has been infatuated with symbols and symbolism. It is very difficult for us to worship, praise and/or adore something or someone that is unseen. I believe that is one of the reasons Christians were led to build elaborate buildings to worship in – and that is why they incorrectly refer to those buildings as “the church” or the “house of God.” May God forgive us.

What about symbols like the cross, the crucifix, the ichthus (Greek for fish), statues of dead saints, etc., etc.? I am not saying that these things are wrong – but they could be if they become objects of worship. Unfortunately, I have seen situations in which symbols like these had become objects of worship for people who considered themselves to be Christians. May God forgive us.

Thinking Out Loud…

It is a tragedy that man (NOT God) decided to divide God’s Word, the Bible, into two separate portions – the Old Testament and the New Testament. I think this has caused many people to incorrectly assume that everything in the Old Testament is old, out-dated and no longer applicable. Folks, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

One subscriber replied to last week’s SMI by saying, “If grace is all that matters, then why do I need the Ten Commandments? It is by God’s grace that we are saved.” Another subscriber said, “Kit, if you try and keep the Law you are gonna put yourself under a curse.”

God, in his infinite wisdom, knew that mankind would never be able to perfectly obey His moral laws. No one throughout the history of the world, other than Jesus Christ, has been able to perfectly keep God’s Ten Commandments. That is why God established a sacrificial system for the Old Testament Jewish people to make reparations for the sins they had committed. That is why God, before the creation of the world, made plans to send Jesus Christ as the ultimate and final sacrifice for all of the sins committed by all of mankind (1 John 2:2). Once Jesus provided the ultimate and final sacrifice, no other sacrifices are necessary.

Yes… we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. In the second chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he wrote, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so no one can boast.” In other words, it is impossible for anyone to be good enough to deserve God’s gift of salvation! It is impossible for anyone to earn God’s gift of salvation! It is only by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus Christ, that we can receive God’s gift of salvation.

Does that void God’s Ten Commandments? Absolutely not! In Romans 3:31, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.”

When was the last time you read the Ten Commandments? They can be found in Exodus 20: 1-17. As I have said several times, the Ten Commandments are a summary of God’s Moral Law. They represent God’s standard of holiness. Without the Ten Commandments we would not know what sin is (Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7, 1 John 3:4). Therefore, we would not recognize our need for a Savior (Galatians 3:23-24).

Folks, murder and adultery (commandments #6 and #7) are no more right now that you have been saved by God’s grace than they were before you were saved by God’s grace. Murder and adultery are just as morally wrong now as they ever were. Just because you have been saved by God’s grace does NOT give you the right to commit murder or adultery. God’s Moral Laws are just as applicable today as they were 3000 years ago.

I agree with my critics… that it is impossible to be saved by obeying the Ten Commandments. Why is that? Because it is impossible for us to perfectly obey the Ten Commandments. From God’s perspective (when He looks at our hearts and our minds), most of us have broken all of the Ten Commandments. We have sinned against the Lord our God. The only way we can possibly be saved is by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. Period! However, that in no way voids or nullifies God’s standard of holiness. That in no way gives us the right to break God’s Moral Laws.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 6:1-2, was writing to people who had already been saved by God’s grace. He said, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” Being saved by God’s grace, does NOT give us the right to break any of God’s commandments – including the Big Ten!

Unfortunately, as long as we are in this earthly body we will continue to sin – but that does not make it right to sin! In 1 John 1:8-9, the Apostle John was also writing to people who had been saved by God’s grace. He said, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Personal Notes…

I have asked God to speak through me in these SMI messages. I have asked God to open our hearts and our minds to His truth. I have asked God to forgive us for the times that we have misinterpreted what we read in His Word just to fit our preconceived, man-made ideas. I do NOT take this responsibility lightly. Once again, I will remind you that it does NOT matter what Kit says, or what some preacher says, or what anyone else says. What Does God Say?

The Third Commandment –

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…” Exodus 20:7

What does it mean to “misuse God’s name”? In most cases, it is nothing more than an attitude problem. Many people misuse God’s name on a daily basis simply because they do not have any respect for God. God is all-knowing and all-powerful. Nothing was brought into existence except by God. To misuse God’s name is to discount and/or to ignore God’s eternal position of authority.

The Third Commandment says that God’s name is not to be misused in any way. We should not misuse God’s name in cursing or swearing. We should not lie or deceive by God’s name. God’s name is not to be used in satanic or occultic practices. Personally, I believe that praying to other people, dead or alive, also dishonors the name of the Lord our God. God is the only one worthy of our prayers.

We can properly use God’s name by acknowledging Him as our creator, by praying to Him, by serving Him, by praising Him and by thanking Him (Psalm 105:1-3).

Now, we are going to deviate a little from our discussion of the Ten Commandments. We are going to briefly discuss the 613 religious/ceremonial laws and how they differ from the Ten Commandments.

I was hoping I could skirt around and/or avoid this discussion – but God, in his infinite wisdom, isn’t going to allow that to happen. Why did I want to avoid this discussion? Because it takes me outside of my comfort zone. Although I feel as though I have a good understanding, I do not feel qualified to discuss it with others.

Another reason I would like to avoid this discussion is because it is going to be somewhat controversial and quite possibly confrontational. I simply do not have the time right now to get involved in individual discussions or debates. Many Christians are going to have a tough time with this discussion because they have been fed the wrong information (in my opinion). I have some very good Christian friends who have graduated from Bible Colleges who will have trouble getting their heads around this concept. Ironically, those who have had little formal Bible training, no denominational upbringing and no preconceived ideas probably won’t have much trouble with this discussion.

The 613 Mitzvot –

According to Jewish scholars, there are 613 religious/ceremonial laws and precepts. They are referred to as “the 613 mitzvot.” In contrast, what we have come to know as the Ten Commandments are referred to as “Aseret ha-Dibrot.” The 613 mitzvot are statements and principles of law and ethics contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). They cover a multitude of things that the Jewish people should and should not do. If interested, you can click on the link below to see the entire list.

Judaism 101: A List of the 613 Mitzvot (Commandments)

Many of the mitzvot cannot be observed following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. For example, it is no longer lawful to sacrifice animals to the Lord because all sacrifices are supposed to be made at the Temple in Jerusalem. There has not been a Temple in Jerusalem since the days of the Apostles. There are 26 mitzvot that apply only within the Land of Israel.

The Aseret ha-Dibrot (Ten Commandments) are not thought of as individual mitzvot; rather, they are thought of as categories or classifications of the mitzvot. The way I understand it, each of the 613 mitzvot can be listed or categorized under one of these ten categories. Some, however, would be extremely difficult for me to categorize under any of the Ten Commandments.

As if the 613 mitzvot were not burdensome enough, many man-made traditions were added to them as time went on. That is why Jesus was so critical of Pharisees and other religious leaders of his day. In a way, the Jewish religious leaders were serving and worshiping their religion more than they were serving and worshiping the Lord our God. If you look close, you will discover that denominational Christianity is doing the exact same thing today.

Written by the Finger of God –

Exodus 19:19 and 20:1 tell us that God spoke the Ten Commandments to all of Israel. Other than the Ten Commandments there is no record that I know of where God spoke to the whole nation. In Exodus 31:18, we read that God wrote the Ten Commandments with his own finger on the tablets of stone that he gave Moses. In contrast, all of the 613 religious/ceremonial laws were not written with God’s own finger – and they were not verbally given by God to the entire nation of Israel.

In Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10, God says, "I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” I’m not 100% sure I know what this means – but I do not think it is referring to the 613 religious/ceremonial laws. Rather, I think it refers to the Aseret ha-Dibrot (Ten Commandments). From the very beginning, mankind seemed to know the difference between right and wrong. Consider, if you will, the first family – Adam and Eve’s. Their son Cain knew that it was wrong to kill his brother Abel. How did he know this was wrong? I believe God’s Sixth Commandment (You shall not murder) had been written on his heart.

There is a Difference –

Many people today feel that God's Ten Commandments are no longer valid. They believe the Ten Commandments were done away with when Jesus established a new covenant between God and man through his death, burial and resurrection. They believe the Ten Commandments were “nailed to the cross” (Colossians 2:14-17).

There is a difference between the 613 religious/ceremonial laws and the Ten Commandments – a BIG difference. The Ten Commandments always have and always will reflect God’s Standard of Holiness. Everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, are to use God’s Standard of Holiness as a way or rule of life. Because the Ten Commandments identify the sin in our lives, they lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:21-25). They confirm our need for a Savior.

Consider this… if there were no commandments or laws to break, there would be no sin. If there were no sin, there would be no need for a Savior. If there was no need for a Savior, then Jesus died for nothing.

Nailed to the Cross –

So what laws were nailed to the cross? The 613 religious/ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross. Many of these laws were created simply to point us to Jesus Christ who became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins – as well as for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2). When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, the veil of the great temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, to signify the entire ceremonial system was forever finished (see Matthew 27:50-51).

No longer will the priests need to offer sacrifices. The one great and perfect sacrifice had just been offered. When Jesus cried out, "It is finished", the old Ceremonial Law that pointed the people to his sacrificial death was nailed to the cross. But NOT SO with the Ten Commandments. There is nothing temporary about any of Gods Ten Commandments or Standard of Holiness. They are to last for as long as heaven and earth (Matthew 5:17-18).

Loving God and Jesus –

Do you love God and Jesus? In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Now… consider some strong words from the book of 1st John. In I John 2:3-4 we read, "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him." In I John 5:1-3, John writes, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome…"

What commands were Jesus and the Apostle John referring to? Do we get to pick and choose the commands that we want to obey? Do I get to pick the commands that I want to obey, while you pick the ones that you want to obey? I don’t think so. God provided the standard of holiness that he wants all of us to live up to.

The Commandment Keepers –

Turn with me to Revelation 14:12 to get a glimpse of things to come. Here we read, “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints (Christians) who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” If I read this right, God’s last people on earth will be commandment keepers. Are you a commandment keeper?

Saved by Grace –

We are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. In the second chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he wrote, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so no one can boast.” In other words, it is impossible for anyone to be good enough to deserve God’s gift of salvation! It is impossible for anyone to earn God’s gift of salvation! It is only by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus Christ, that we can receive God’s gift of salvation.

Does this void God’s Ten Commandments? Absolutely not! In Romans 3:31, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.”

It is impossible to be saved by obeying the Ten Commandments – because it is impossible for us to perfectly obey the Ten Commandments. From God’s perspective (when He looks at our hearts and our minds), most of us have broken all of the Ten Commandments. We have sinned against the Lord our God. The only way we can possibly be saved is by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. Period! However, that in no way voids or nullifies God’s Standard of Holiness.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 6:1-2, was writing to people who had already been saved by God’s grace. He said, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!”.

Folks, we are not saved because of our obedience to God’s Laws. Rather, we are obedient to God’s Laws because we have been saved by God’s Grace.

Thinking Out Loud…

It is impossible for God’s Word to contradict itself. If something appears to be a contradiction, then we simply do not have the correct understanding of what we are reading. I have always been greatly bothered by what appear to be blatant contradictions in the Bible – and there are several. Each one drives me into a very intense and prayerful study of God’s Word. These studies will go nowhere, however, until I can clear my head of all the preconceived ideas and teachings that originated with man. Many times I have frustrated, upset and offended religious leaders who felt as though I was challenging their preconceived ideas. I encourage you to always seek to know the truth (God’s truth) – no matter how much it might challenge your preconceived ideas. Remember… it does NOT matter what Kit says, or what some preacher says, or what anyone else says. What Does God Say?

Well… it looks as though I have succeeded in backing myself into a corner – and I’m not sure I am going to find a way out.

You may or may not agree… but in my mind, I am convinced that God’s Ten Commandments represent his standard of holiness. They always have and they always will – at least until heaven and earth disappear (Matthew 5:17-18). The Ten Commandments led me to Christ because they identified the sin in my life (Galatians 3:21-25). They, therefore, confirmed my need for a Savior. As I said last week, “If there were no commandments or laws to break, there would be no sin. If there was no sin, there would be no need for a Savior. If there was no need for a Savior, then Jesus died for nothing.”

I have no trouble acknowledging the fact that I can only be saved by God’s grace through my faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is impossible for me to be good enough to deserve God’s gift of salvation. It is impossible for me to earn God’s gift of salvation. I cannot be saved by obeying the Ten Commandments, because it is impossible for me to obey them. From God’s perspective (when he looks at my heart and my mind), I have broken all of his Ten Commandments.

Even though I cannot be saved by obeying God’s Ten Commandments, I firmly believe I should do my best to obey them. Why? Because they represent God’s standard of holiness. Disobeying them would be wrong. If I love God and if I love Jesus, I will obey their commandments (John 14:15, I John 2:3-4 and I John 5:1-3).

Most (but not all) Christians have no trouble agreeing with me up to this point. However, dissension among the ranks increases very rapidly when Christians discuss God’s Fourth Commandment.

The Fourth Commandment –

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy…” Exodus 20:8

Let me say right up front… that I have never obeyed God’s Fourth Commandment. I have never been a Sabbath keeper. I have never thought or worried much about this until ten or twelve years ago when I started questioning the origin of many church traditions. As most of you know, I am very concerned about church traditions that are not supported by God’s Word.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

Let me also say… that I am troubled by the fact that most Christians believe only nine of God’s Ten Commandments are still valid. Why have most Christians chosen to reject and/or ignore the Fourth Commandment? Did God tell us that it was no longer important?

What day is the Sabbath?

Ever since God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites (Jews), they have recognized Saturday (the seventh day of the week) as the Sabbath. Jews, throughout history, have recognized Saturday as the Sabbath. Jews, today, continue to recognize Saturday as the Sabbath. There is much biblical evidence that Saturday is the Sabbath. Biblical scholars from all Christian denominations recognize that God established the weekly Sabbath to fall on Saturday, the seventh day of the week.

Can there be such a thing as a Sunday Sabbath?

It’s impossible for us to consider Sunday as the Sabbath. There is absolutely no scriptural basis to do so. Saturday is the Sabbath! However, many Christians and Christian denominations do consider Sunday as the Sabbath.

Who made Sunday the official day of rest and worship?

The observance of Sunday as the official day of rest and worship was by decree of the Roman Emperor Constantine in 321 AD. He decreed the Christian religion to be the religion of the state to settle all religious controversy. He issued the following edict on March 7, 321 AD.

"Let all the judges and towns people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the Venerable Day of the Sun: but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture: because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines: lest, the critical moment let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by heaven may be lost.”

Given on the Nones [seventh] of March, Crispus and Constantine being consuls, each of them, for the second time. — The Code of Justinian, Book 3, title 12, law 3.

In the fourth century, the Roman Emperor, Constantine, mandated that Sunday would be the official day of assembly and rest – not only for the Christians, but also for the entire Roman Empire. Five additional Sunday laws were later issued by Constantine to strengthen this, his first, Sunday edict. Many historians believe that prior to this time the Gentile Christians did not have a special day for rest and worship. They believe Christians came together before or after work on various days of the week.

Some claim the Roman Catholic Church officially changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Consider the following quotes – all of which originated within the Roman Catholic Church.

"Protestants accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change. But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that in accepting the Bible, in observing the Sunday, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the church, the Pope." — Our Sunday Visitor, February 5, 1950.

"God simply gave His [Catholic] Church the power to set aside whatever day or days she would deem suitable as Holy Days. The Church chose Sunday, the first day of the week, and in the course of time added other days, as holy days." — Vincent J. Kelly, Forbidden Sunday and Feast-Day Occupations, p. 2.

"If Protestants would follow the Bible, they should worship God on the Sabbath Day. In keeping the Sunday they are following a law of the Catholic Church." — Albert Smith, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, replying for the Cardinal, in a letter dated February 10, 1920.

"Protestantism, in discarding the authority of the [Roman Catholic] Church, has no good reason for its Sunday theory, and ought logically to keep Saturday as the Sabbath." — John Gilmary Shea, in the American Catholic Quarterly Review, January 1883.

"It was the Catholic Church which, by the authority of Jesus Christ, has transferred this rest [from the Bible Sabbath] to the Sunday. Thus the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic] Church." — Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213.

So, what about the Fourth Commandment?

I have not yet come to a solid conclusion or decision about the Fourth Commandment. Suffice it to say that I may have more questions than I have answers. In closing this week’s Sunday Morning Inspiration, I am going to share the Fourth Commandment in its entirety.

“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

I ended last week’s SMI by saying, “I have not yet come to a solid conclusion or decision about the Fourth Commandment.” I must admit that I was not being 100% honest when I made that statement. Through many years of prayerful studying, I have come to a solid conclusion about the Fourth Commandment. Unfortunately, I have not yet decided what I should do about it.

I have been happily surprised to discover that many of our subscribers seem to agree wholeheartedly with my conclusion. Most of them came to this conclusion long before I did. However, I do not expect all of our subscribers to agree with my conclusion. In fact, I suspect most of our subscribers will continue to hang on to the traditions they have grown accustomed to – without asking any questions.

My Conclusion –

· I believe all ten of God’s Ten Commandments are just as important and valid today as they were 3500 years ago when God gave them to Moses. They always have and always will reflect God’s Standard of Holiness.

· I believe the reason most Christians (including me) struggle with the Fourth Commandment is because we have been ignoring it for several centuries. We have bought into the notion that the Sabbath has been changed from Saturday to Sunday (or any day we want it to be), or that the Ten Commandments are no longer valid.

· The fact that we have ignored the Fourth Commandment for several centuries does NOT make it right to continue to do so.

· I believe that we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot be saved by obeying the Law. However, just because we cannot be saved by obeying the Law does NOT void the Ten Commandments. They still reflect God’s Standard of Holiness.

· I believe that God will surely bless us if we attempt to keep all of his Ten Commandments – including the fourth one. I know many of our subscribers can readily confirm this belief.

I could probably spend another three or four weeks sharing what I have learned about the Fourth Commandment – but I don’t know what purpose it would serve. Although many of our subscribers (more than I expected) are Sabbath Keepers, most of our subscribers will continue to ignore God’s Fourth Commandment no matter how compelling my argument is. Traditions and habits are extremely difficult to break.

As far as I am concerned, this is NOT a matter of salvation. In other words, no one will lose their salvation over the Fourth Commandment. They may lose or gain blessings – but they will not lose their salvation. For this reason, I don’t want to spend much more time discussing this commandment.

On top of that… many of the subscribers I have heard from have completely ignored many of the points I made in my earlier discussions of the Ten Commandments (parts 1-5). Apparently they can only hear what they want to hear. An in-depth discussion of the Fourth Commandment would probably be a waste of time.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of thoughts that I would like to share in today’s SMI before we move on. I am doing this in an attempt to respond to many of the emails I received last week. Those who have an open mind may gain some insight from today’s discussion.

Church Meetings –

After reading and rereading the book of Acts as well as the New Testament letters, I’m convinced that the early Christians met together as “the church” whenever it was convenient. There is evidence that some met every day – at least for a while.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts... And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

I’m quite sure there was not a specific day or a set time for the church to meet. The early church meetings were MUCH, MUCH different than most of us are familiar with. Much of what modern-day churches and church goers practice and teach is based on man-made traditions and worldly principles – and some of those actually contradict what Jesus and the apostles taught. That is what the Apostle Paul warns about in the verse below.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

For the most part, the early church met in homes. They met in relatively small groups that were very intimate. Instead of following the agenda posted in a church bulletin, the early church was led by the Holy Spirit. There were no paid preachers or staff members. There was no distinction between clergy and laity. There was no church board or church treasurer. In the early church, the breaking of bread (what many of us refer to as communion) was much more than a tiny piece of cracker and a thimble-full of grape juice. It was part of a meal that the church ate together.

In my opinion, most of us (myself included) have allowed man-made traditions to supersede God’s divine and perfect plan for the church. We are, therefore, no different than the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus criticized in the first century. It’s funny how our traditions will eventually seem “biblical” – if we practice them long enough. Actually, that’s not one bit funny!

First Day of the Week –

I have often been told that we meet on Sunday because that is the day our Lord arose from the grave. That’s a nice thought, but I can’t find any scriptural support for it. There are, however, two scripture references that many people try to use to provide some evidence that the early church met on Sunday (the first day of the week).

In Acts 20:7, Luke records, "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread..." Please read Acts 20:7-12.

In biblical times, the Jewish day started at sundown of the previous day. Concerning these particular verses, most Bible scholars believe these believers came together after observing the Sabbath (Saturday). Shortly after sundown (the beginning of Sunday), the Apostle Paul began to talk. Since he was leaving the next day, Paul kept on talking until midnight when one of the listeners fell asleep and fell out of a third story window. The time of this meeting would have been the equivalent of our Saturday night.

You can read as much into this as you want to. Personally, I do NOT think these verses insinuate that every church group met on the first day of every week. All it says is that this particular group of believers happened to meet at this time to listen to Paul because he was leaving the next day. If you are using these verses to support your belief that the church should meet on the first day of every week, then you should start your meetings Saturday night – instead of Sunday morning.

In 1 Corinthians 16: 2, the Apostle Paul said, "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." Please read 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

Paul instructed the Corinthian believers to set aside money for the impoverished Christians in Jerusalem. Note that these verses say nothing about Christians coming together with other Christians on the first day of the week. They also say nothing about bringing money to a church meeting or a church building (there were no church buildings). The Corinthian Christians were simply instructed to set aside some money on the first day of the week. They were told to save it up “so that when I (Paul) come no collections will have to be made.”

Most of us try to interpret scriptures to fit our preconceived thoughts and ideas. Most of us have been going to a church building at a specific time every Sunday morning. Part of our weekly agenda is to pass the collection plate. The money that is collected is handed over to the church treasurer to manage for the church. Therefore, when we read these two verses, we automatically visualize what we experience every Sunday morning. We forget that there were NO church buildings, NO collection plates and NO church treasurers when the Apostle Paul wrote these instructions.

Once again, you can read as much into these two verses as you want to. Personally, I believe the Apostle Paul was simply instructing each Christian in Corinth to set aside some money that could be shared with the Christians in Jerusalem. Each person or family was “saving it up” so that it would be ready when Paul came. They did NOT take their money to some church building and hand it over to a church treasurer for safe keeping.

These are the only two places in the New Testament that even come close to talking about believers coming together on Sunday. I am still under the impression that the early Christians met as often as possible. They did NOT have a specific day or set time for worship.

Does this mean it is wrong for modern-day Christians to always meet on Sunday? No, not necessarily. I think we need to realize, though, that God was NOT the one who made Sunday the official day of worship for Christians. Unfortunately, many of the Christians I have had fellowship with over the years seemed to be worshipping Sunday more than they worshiped the Lord our God. I’m sure the same could be said of many Sabbath Keepers about Saturday.

Keeping the Sabbath –

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy…” Exodus 20:8

The weekly Sabbath was established as a holy day and a day of rest in the very beginning (Genesis 2:1-3) – and it has been reestablished all the way through the Bible. The Sabbath is NOT just for the Jews. The original Sabbath concept was introduced 2000 years before there were any Jews.

God established a specific day of each week for us to honor him. To my knowledge, God has never authorized any changes. Man is the one who decided to change and/or ignore God’s Fourth Commandment. As I said earlier, our traditions will eventually seem “biblical” – if we practice them long enough. I have been guilty of this several times. God forgive me.

“Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11

The Lord our God blessed the Sabbath and made it holy. I believe we show honor and reverence to Him when we keep it holy.

In addition to honoring God by keeping the Sabbath, we are doing ourselves a favor. God created us, and he knows we need one day of rest every week. There are a few things that absolutely must be tended to every day (Mt 12:11 and Luke 13:15) – but beyond that, it is good for our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing to rest one day every week.

Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man (Jesus) is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28

Jesus was with God when God blessed the Sabbath and made it holy. Jesus has always been and will continue to be Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man – NOT the other way around. Therefore, we need to be careful that we do not put so much emphasis on the Sabbath that it becomes more important to us than the Lord our God. The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day had reached that point.

Folks, I still have not decided what I should do about the conclusion I have come to concerning God’s Fourth Commandment. I’m sure God will lead me as soon as I am willing to be led.

For the past six weeks, we have been discussing the Ten Commandments – as recorded in Exodus 20:1-17. Ironically, it has taken six weeks to cover only four commandments. We probably could have spent another two or three weeks before moving on, but I don’t think we would have accomplished much more. Please note that the first four commandments tell us how to recognize, worship and obey the Lord our God – while the last six commandments deal primarily with our relationships with one another.

Although I have repeated a few things nearly every week, some of our subscribers still have not heard what I said. Therefore, I will continue to repeat some of my basic beliefs concerning salvation and the Ten Commandments.

I can only be saved by God’s grace through my faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is impossible for me to be good enough to deserve God’s gift of salvation. It is impossible for me to earn God’s gift of salvation. I cannot be saved by obeying the Ten Commandments, because it is impossible for me to obey them. From God’s perspective (when he looks at my heart and my mind), I have broken all of his Ten Commandments.

The Fifth Commandment –

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

Before Jesus Christ ushered in the church dispensation, violation of the Fifth Commandment could be a capital offense. In other words, stubborn and rebellious kids could be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21 and Exodus 21:15-17). Can you imagine how that would affect childhood behavior? I guarantee I would have been much more respectful toward my parents if I knew there was a chance that I might be stoned to death for any rebellious behavior.

I would never advocate death as a punishment for rebellious behavior. However, I have seen a lot of kids who desperately need some guidelines and consequences. Many of today’s families seem to be controlled by the kids. Mom and Dad mistakenly believe they need to give in to all of their kid’s desires and requests. They don’t want to do anything that might alienate their kids. Truth be known, most kids crave a life with boundaries and consequences.

What does it mean to honor your father and mother? Honoring your father and mother is being respectful in word as well as in action, while having an inward attitude of esteem for their position. The Greek word for honor means “to revere, prize, and value.” Honor is giving respect not only for merit but also for rank. Parents are (or should be) in a position of responsibility and authority that deserves honor and respect.

In my mind, however, honoring parents is not a one way street. I believe parents have a responsibility to conduct themselves in such a way as to be worthy of honor. Unfortunately, some parents aren’t worthy of much honor or respect. Nevertheless, children still have a Godly responsibility to obey the Fifth Commandment. Since we are all children, we all have the responsibility to honor our fathers and mothers.

As the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:1-3, the Fifth Commandment is the first (and only) commandment with a promise. The other nine commandments simply tell us what we should or should not do. In contrast, the Fifth Commandment says we can expect to enjoy a long life on this earth if we honor our father and mother.

The Ten Commandments were first recorded in the book of Exodus. They were given by God soon after he led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The Ten Commandments are moral statutes given by God, through Moses, so that the Israelites could enjoy fruitful and holy lives. The Ten Commandments were significant in that they formed the basis of Jewish life, law and faith. The first four commandments tell us how to recognize, worship and obey the Lord our God – while the last six commandments deal with our relationship with one another.

Although God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, they do not apply to Jews alone. The Ten Commandments reflect God's standard of holiness for everyone. Since God is the universal authority of moral conduct, all of humanity is subject to his standards. As far as I can tell no one is exempt from God's Law. Many, however, will argue that we are no longer under the Law. I agree, but that does NOT diminish the importance of God’s Law – and God’s standard of holiness.

Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

The Sixth Commandment –

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13

Well, that’s sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? This commandment is very short and to the point. There isn’t much to discuss here, is there? Leave it to me to complicate something that seems simple. What is your definition of “murder”? Some Bible translations say, “You shall not kill.” Does this commandment prohibit all killing? Does it prohibit capital punishment? Does it prohibit killing in war or in self defense?

Does the Sixth Commandment prohibit capital punishment? You do not have to look very hard to find that God and God’s Word support capital punishment. You will find several offenses listed that deserve the death penalty in chapters 21 and 22 of Exodus, as well as in chapter 20 of Leviticus. Although I would never want to be the one who actually executes a death penalty, I believe capital punishment serves a purpose and is exempt from God’s Sixth Commandment.

Does the Sixth Commandment prohibit killing in war? I must admit that I have often struggled with this question. I don’t think there has ever been a “good” war. However, I believe there are a few things that are worth going to war over. Unfortunately, where there is war, there is killing. This almost always includes the killing of innocent civilians. You don’t have to do much searching, however, to discover that God’s Old Testament people, the Israelites, were involved in many wars. It seems as though God actually sent his people off to war every now and then.

In Deuteronomy 7:1-2, we read, “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drive out before you many nations – the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you – and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.”

I believe that the nation of Israel often served as God’s instrument of punishment. For example, the heathen people listed in the above two verses were thoroughly depraved. They practiced every sort of vice and sin one could imagine – sexual corruption of all kinds, child sacrifice, bestiality. They had completely polluted the land that they inhabited. God forbade his people to mix with these heathen. It seems to me that God’s command to destroy them was his sentence upon their wickedness.

I am quite sure that God has not endorsed most of the wars that have taken place throughout the history of the world – including most of our modern-day wars. In James 4:1-2, we are told that most fighting is a result of our desire (as an individual or as a nation) to acquire something that doesn’t belong to us. We will address this problem in more detail when we discuss God’s Tenth Commandment.

As I said earlier, there are a few things that are worth going to war over – but probably very few. I’m not sure I am qualified to tell you exactly what those things are. I would say, though, that we would more than likely be justified for going to war to defend and/or to protect that which belongs to us. It seems to me that there is a BIG difference between going to war to take something away from someone else and in going to war to protect and/or defend the things someone else is trying to take away from us. When we go beyond protecting and defending that which belongs to us, there is a good chance that we are no longer justified in what we are doing.

As Christians, we should never take war lightly – and we should never go to war without looking for better alternatives.

Does the Sixth Commandment prohibit killing in self defense? It’s not easy to find the answer to this question in the Bible. In fact, one can find scriptural support for both sides of this debate.

In Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Is Jesus telling us that we shouldn’t defend ourselves or our family? Personally, I think Jesus is talking more about our attitude toward revenge and retaliation than he is talking about self defense.

The Old Testament Law seemed to recognized our legitimate human need to defend self, family and possessions (Exodus 22:2). I am also reminded of the time Moses killed the Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:11-12). Nowhere do we find that God was displeased with Moses over this killing. Are some killings justified? I believe they are.

In Luke 22:36, Jesus told his followers (just before he was arrested and crucified), “…if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” I don’t know for sure what Jesus had in mind, but it appears that he was telling his followers that they would need a way to defend themselves and/or others.

Does the Sixth Commandment prohibit abortion? It most definitely does. Abortion takes the lives of the most innocent and helpless of human beings – the unborn. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, approximately 1.37 million babies are murdered each year in the United States alone. The same source says that approximately 126,000 abortions take place each day worldwide. If that is true, then there is an abortion (murder of an unborn child) every 1.5 seconds!

Does the Sixth Commandment prohibit anger? In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Jesus seems to be saying that anger toward someone is just as bad as the act of murder. I suspect that most killings are preceded by anger.

In 1 John 3:15, we read, “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know no murderer has eternal life in him.” Contrary to what some believe, Jesus did NOT do away with the Ten Commandments. Rather, he added to them and made them even more difficult to obey. Jesus expects us to control our thoughts and our feelings, as well as our actions.

In Conclusion… I believe that when the nation of Israel first heard the Sixth Commandment, they understood that not all killing was wrong. They understood that killing unjustly was wrong, killing without divine sanction was wrong, killing without good reason was wrong, and killing on one's own initiative was wrong. They understood that some killing was justifiable.

As Christians, we need to be very careful that we don’t cross any lines that God does not want us to cross. We must be very careful that we don’t try to justify something that goes against God’s will and God’s word.

I am fully convinced that the Ten Commandments represent God’s standard of holiness. They always have and they always will – at least until heaven and earth disappear (see Matthew 5:17-18). The Ten Commandments led me to Christ because they identified the sin in my life (see Galatians 3:21-25). The Ten Commandments, therefore, confirmed my need for a Savior. As I said earlier in this series, “If there were no commandments or laws to break, there would be no sin. If there was no sin, there would be no need for a Savior. If there was no need for a Savior, then Jesus died for nothing.”

The Seventh Commandment –

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

Men and women were designed by God to desire an intimate relationship with someone of the opposite sex. Marriage was divinely ordained by God in the very beginning. In Genesis 2:24, God’s Word says, “…a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” It seems to me that the Seventh Commandment was established to protect and guard the sanctity of marriage.

What is adultery? Technically, adultery is illicit sex after marriage. In other words, married people who have sexual relationships with people other than their spouse are committing adultery.

What about sexual relationships prior to marriage? Technically, that is referred to as fornication. The Holy Scriptures consider all sexual activities that do not take place between husband and wife as “sexual immorality.” Many contemporary Christians believe that all forms of sexual immorality violate the Seventh Commandment.

After some in-depth studying, I have concluded that adultery is the only form of sexual immorality specifically covered by the Seventh Commandment. That, however, does NOT mean that other forms of sexual immorality are permissible. They aren’t! God’s Word considers all forms of sexual immorality as sin (Mt. 15:19, Mk. 7:21, Rm. 13:13, 1 Co. 6:13 & 18, 1 Co. 10:8, Gal. 5:19, Eph. 5:3, Col. 3:5, 1 Thes. 4:3).

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her already in his heart.“ Matthew 5:27-28

If you thought you were doing okay with the Seventh Commandment, you need to consider what Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28 (above). Very few people can honestly say they have never had lustful thoughts when looking at a member of the opposite sex. With the clothing (or lack there of) that some people choose to wear, it is nearly impossible to not have lustful thoughts. I suspect that adultery almost always begins in the mind. Therefore, we must do our best to control our thoughts, as well as our actions.

As stated in Romans 3:23, “We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Isn’t it GREAT that the Lord our God is full of love, mercy and forgiveness? God loves us even when we are far from lovable. He has mercy on us and withholds the punishment we really deserve. If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God will forgive us of all our sins. Please keep this in mind as we continue to discuss the Seventh Commandment from a little different perspective.

The Seventh Commandment (continued) –

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

Last Sunday afternoon, my brother Brett sent me an email that said, “You could have really sent the natives into revolt if you had included Matt 19:9, Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18.”

I admitted to wimping out. I had not discussed everything that I should have discussed in reference to the Seventh Commandment. My excuse was that I did not have enough time or patience for any more confrontation. However, after receiving several similar emails from other subscribers, I decided that I needed to finish this discussion – even though it might cause the natives (whoever they are) to revolt.

What constitutes marriage in the eyes of God?

There are three commonly held beliefs about what constitutes marriage in the eyes of God:

1. The couple is married in the eyes of God when the couple is legally married.

2. The couple is married in the eyes of God after they have participated in a formal religious wedding ceremony.

3. The couple is married in the eyes of God when the physical union is consummated through sexual intercourse.

The only one of these three viewpoints that I can substantiate with God’s Word (with any degree of satisfaction) is the third one. In the promiscuous society and world we live in, this is not a popular way of thinking. So be it; we are not at liberty to rewrite God’s Word just to make us feel better about ourselves.

The first and second viewpoints seem to hinge on man-made concepts and traditions that have vastly different meanings and interpretations in different cultures, as well as in different time periods. The Bible talks about marriage and weddings in several places – but it does NOT give specific details or directions about what is involved in a marriage ceremony. Most (if not all) of the things we consider to make up a marriage ceremony came from man – NOT God. That, however, does not make them wrong or inappropriate.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

Marriage is the union of a man and a woman. This union creates a new entity (one flesh). God considers a couple to be married at the moment the marriage is consummated with sexual intercourse. I realize many people in today’s world will have a difficult time accepting this viewpoint – for obvious reasons. Isn’t it GREAT that the Lord our God is full of love, mercy and forgiveness?

Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 1 Corinthians 6:16

What about divorce and remarriage?

I’m quite sure many of you think I am taking this too far – and that I am starting to meddle. Rest assured, I’m not enjoying this any more than you are. Therefore, I am going to let God’s Word speak for itself.

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” Matthew 19:8-9

Jesus answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” Mark 10:11-12

Jesus said, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Luke 16:18

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

I know that these teachings are extremely difficult for some to accept – but they came directly from God’s Word. Isn’t it GREAT that the Lord our God is full of love, mercy and forgiveness? Please understand that I am NOT pointing my finger at anyone. We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Unfortunately…

We live in a society and a world that seems to adhere to the philosophy that “if it feels good, do it.” We live in a society and a world that seems to think marriage relationships are temporary and disposable. We live in a society and a world that is full of children who are growing up without a father. Some don’t even know who their father is.

We live in a society and a world that spends billions of dollars on pornography. We live in a society and a world that seems to think same-sex marriage is acceptable. We live in a society and a world in which the so-called “church” is often guilty of following the ways of the world – instead of the ways God.

Folks, we live in a society and a world that needs to get right with the Lord our God! God gave us the Ten Commandments for our own good. Contrary to popular opinion, he did not give them to us to restrict the fun that we might have. Rather, he gave us the Ten Commandments to increase our long-term happiness and enjoyment. God, our Father, always knows best!

Ten or eleven weeks ago, I decided to do a Sunday Morning Inspiration (SMI) series on the Ten Commandments. I mistakenly thought that this would be an easy task. Thus far, this series has been everything but easy for me. It has challenged some of my preconceived thoughts and ideas. It has pushed me to do some serious and prayerful studying. It has prompted much confrontation – and buried me in emails on several occasions.

I’m glad God put it in my heart to study and discuss his Ten Commandments. It hasn’t been easy – but it has been very enjoyable and worthwhile. I hope it has been good for you. When I get through with this series, I plan to go back to some simple “warm and fuzzy” type inspirations for a few weeks. I realize, though, that God may have a different plan for me. I will do my best to go where he leads me.

The Eighth Commandment –

“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

Like most of the other commandments, this one appears to be very straightforward and easy to understand. As we have already discovered, though, looks can be deceiving.

With the Eighth Commandment, God seems to be advocating and protecting the right of all human beings to own property. If there were no private ownership, there could be no stealing. The proper attitude, however, toward material possessions is that everything belongs to God and that we are his stewards for a short period of time. During that period of time, some of God’s things – by extension – become our things.

The Eighth Commandment states very simply and plainly that we should not take anything that does not belong to us. When we take something that does not belong to us – no matter how big or how small – we are stealing. And… stealing is a sin.

How many people have never ever violated this commandment? I would guess very, very few – if any! Stealing can become a lifestyle and/or a way to make a living for some people. For most of us, though, stealing is just something that we slip up and do every now and then. Sometimes we knowingly or unknowingly steal – without even recognizing it as stealing.

Other Forms of Stealing –

· Withholding the good that we ought to be doing (James 4:17 and 1 John 3:17)

· Not paying decent and appropriate wages

· Cheating on our income taxes

· Using company items for personal use

· Copying copyrighted material

· Writing a check when there aren’t sufficient funds to cover it

· Not paying our debts on time

· Spending money for personal pleasures when we owe creditors

· Changing measurements (not giving people what they paid for)

· It would not be difficult to view filing for bankruptcy as a form of stealing

“He 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.” Ephesians 4:28

The Ninth Commandment –

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

To better understand this commandment it might help if we took a quick look at the law and order system of the ancient Hebrew culture. This culture was largely without a central government because God was their King. Therefore, law and order was entrusted to the people. The courts were made up of several judges and the accused party, along with eye witnesses to the crime. Trials often took place out in the open near the city gates.

When someone was accused of committing a crime, eye witnesses would give personal testimony against the accused. Witnesses were always in an accusatory role. No circumstantial evidence was allowed. There had to be at least two eye witnesses for the testimony to be valid. Every benefit of doubt was given to the accused in an attempt to prevent a false conviction. The witnesses were central to the trial. If a guilty verdict was rendered, then the witnesses themselves would be the ones to enact the punishment. In matters of capital punishment, the witnesses had to be the ones to cast the first stones.

Since law and order hinged on the validity of testimony from the witnesses, it was extremely important that the testimonies be true. As a precaution, if someone was found to be a false witness, he or she would receive the punishment the person they were testifying against was to receive.

To a certain extent, the Ninth Commandment is about honoring and protecting the reputation of our neighbor. It prohibits testifying against another person falsely. It is essentially a commandment against lying. If you would not be willing to falsely accuse a person in a court of law, then you better not make similar accusations on the street or in meeting places.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor…”

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…” Ephesians 4:25 and 29

I remember my mom telling me, “If you haven’t got anything good to say about someone, don’t say anything at all!” That’s good, biblical advice. The world would be a much better place if everyone would follow this advice.

We know the Ninth Commandment forbids lying and giving false testimony against others. Could it cover more than these two things? I believe so. What about slander and gossip? Most slander and gossip is not 100% truthful. Even if it was 100% truthful, it is never beneficial. It always does more harm than good.

Unfortunately, most people enjoy hearing gossip. Most people, unfortunately, also like to share the gossip they hear. After gossip has passed from one person to another several times, it is seldom (if ever) the same as it was in the beginning. If someone is not a first-hand eye witness to something, DO NOT listen to him or her! If you are not a first-hand eye witness to something, DO NOT talk about it! If you do, you are more than likely “giving false testimony against your neighbor” – and you are breaking the Ninth Commandment.

It has taken thirteen weeks to discuss all ten of the Ten Commandments. As I look back, I’m a little surprised that it didn’t take longer.

I am even more convinced now than ever that the Ten Commandments represent God’s standard of holiness. They always have and they always will – at least until heaven and earth disappear (see Matthew 5:17-18). The Ten Commandments led me to Christ because they identified the sin in my life (see Galatians 3:21-25). The Ten Commandments, therefore, confirmed my need for a Savior.

The Tenth Commandment –

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or his maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

This commandment simply says that we should not covet anything that belongs to someone else. What does it mean “to covet”? To covet is to desire, yearn for and/or long for something.

I seriously doubt if anyone can honestly say he or she has never broken this commandment. It is human nature to want things that don’t belong to us. It starts when we are very young. Little children are always wanting something that someone else has. Unfortunately, most of us continue to have feelings of covetousness when we become adults. Some people’s lives are completely controlled by these feelings.

I once heard a story about a father walking down the street with two small boys – each crying very loudly. A neighbor asked the man what was wrong. “The same thing that is wrong with the entire world,” the man replied. “I’ve got three pieces of candy and they both want two.”

I believe this commandment deals with much more than just covetousness. It also deals with greed, envy and idolatry. People tend to be greedy. We never seem to have enough. This causes us to envy people who appear to have more than we do. Our envy will bring on feelings of covetousness. We desire to have the things that others have. It’s possible for our desire and longing to bring about idolatry. When the things we desire become the center of our attention, they become like idols to us.

If left unchecked… all of this will eventually lead to other sins. To get what they want people might steal, they might murder and/or they might commit adultery.

Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

The Finale:

We've spent the past 14 weeks examining and discussing the Ten Commandments and how they apply to our lives today. This week we will finish up that series by summarizing the Ten Commandments. Actually, Jesus summed them up the best when asked by a Jewish Pharisee which is the greatest commandment: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

If you think about it, the two commandments that Jesus gave encompass and summarize the original Ten Commandments.

· First, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The first four of the original Ten Commandments are encompassed in this one. Let’s look:

1. “You shall have no other gods before me.” If you are truly loving God with all your heart, soul and mind, you will certainly have no other gods before Him.

2. “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.” Again, it would be impossible to make an idol out of anything else if you are loving God the way He wants you to.

3. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” How could you misuse the name of someone that you love with all your heart, soul and mind?

4. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” I believe that God commanded us to observe the Sabbath day for two reasons, because He knew we would need a day of rest; and, more importantly, because He wanted to ensure that we would take time from our busy schedules to honor and glorify and worship Him. If we are loving God the way He wants us to, it is only natural for us to take time to honor Him in the middle of our busy schedules. Just as we take time to invest in all of our other important relationships, if we truly love God we will take time to invest in our relationship with Him.

· Secondly, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It is easy to see how all six of the remaining commandments are encompassed in this one.

5. “Honor your father and your mother.” Who is a closer “neighbor” than our own parents? If we love them as we love ourselves, it will only be natural to honor them the way that God desires us to.

6. “You shall not murder.” How could you murder (or even think of harming) someone whom you love the way you love your own self?

7. “You shall not commit adultery.” Again, if you truly love your spouse (and other people’s spouses) and desire what is best for them, it will be impossible to commit adultery.

8. “You shall not steal.” How could you take something that doesn’t belong to you if you love others the way you love yourself?

9. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Giving false testimony against someone is sometimes one of the most harmful things you can do to them. It’s certainly not something you would do out of love.

10. “You shall not covet.” Again, if you truly love someone, you want what’s best for them. You don’t wish you had what they have.

As you can see, all ten of the commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai are summed up in the two that Jesus gave the Pharisee centuries later. It really is quite simple, and yet not so easy to do!

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