TEN COMMANDMENTS

Review the Ten Commandments with Dr. James Christensen:

Before God gave Moses the Ten Commandments or "ten words", they were what one would call "codes" for living and pleasing God. The difference is the Ten Commandments given to Moses (on stone) were the first written codes. They were a "foundational" list of God's laws with the Nation of Israel, Deuteronomy 5:1-3

The Bible introduces us to the Nation of Israel, being freed from their captivity in Egypt and on their way to the "Promised Land." About three months after crossing the Jordan River God ordered Moses to climb Mount Sinai, Exodus 19:24. God had written the words of the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone Exodus 31:18. It was here on Mount Sinai that God handed over the Ten Commandments to Moses, Israel's leader. These written laws and covenants given by God were to be the foundational laws and covenants by which the Nation of Israel and indeed all mankind were to live by to please God.

Exodus 20:3-17:

1. "You shall have no other gods before Me"
2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image."
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."
4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
5. "Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land."
6. "You shall not murder."
7. "You shall not commit adultery."
8. "You shall not steal."
9. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
10. "You shall not covet."

Commandment Number One:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3

Give yourself some time to ponder the first commandment. It is the foundational commandment of all ten. It is the magnificently brilliant light of all true religion. “For who is God, beside the Lord?” II Samuel 22:32

If the Triune God is to be God for and in our lives we must acknowledge Him as the Bible describes Him to be. Consider the many idols mankind has made since the beginning of time. These cannot save or help us. Consider the destruction of Babylon’s idols. “They could not rescue the burden, but they themselves have gone into captivity.” Isaiah 46:2.

We must take serious note of the fact that God declares Himself to be Lord many times throughout Scripture. One significant one is found in Exodus 6:7, “I am the Lord your God.” It is amazing that God should reveal to us just who He is with one simple pronoun, “I.” Whether it is Pantheism, Polytheism, New-Age Religion, or you name it, they are all ruled out by God’s simple yet profound statement about Himself.

America was definitely founded on Christian principles. One would think that after 200 years we would have built upon those principles and idolatry would not be a problem within our country. However, idolatry is one of our leading sins today, in fact for peoples of all countries. The Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:5 outlines our move away from God:
“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” Consider traditional marriage vows which call upon a man and a woman to commit themselves to each other, having no other person ever come between them. We must beware, for Satan uses idolatry to tempt, torment, and destroy our walk with the only true and living God.

We must ask ourselves, “Who, what is my God?” Is it self, career, money, friends, fame, or pleasure? Our Christian lives can never be what God designed them to be if we have “other gods” before Him. A personal “checkup” today will go far in making sure your relationship with God is strong tomorrow.

Commandment Number Two:

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” Exodus 20:4

Can man actually make a true image of almighty God? Of course not! However, God knows the heart of mankind and warns him about making any attempt to create an image of God. Because God means what He says, it is extremely dangerous for man to even think about trying, but trying he does.

For centuries both individuals and churches have made idols of one kind or another. Many have said they either feel closer to God or can communicate better with Him if they have some sort of statue (another word for idol) in their home or automobile. “What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it, an image, a teacher of falsehood? For its maker trusts in his own handiwork when he fashions speech idols. Woe to him......” Habakkuk 2:18-19

We must conceive of God the Father as He is in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures tell us that God is spirit. They also tell us that Christ is in the “Image of the invisible God.” Jesus made it clear in John 14:9 when He said, “He that has seen me, has seen the Father.”

God’s commandments are designed for His glory and for our good. They prevent us from evil and keep us from sinning. We should be thankful to God for giving us these commandments for living. Had He kept silent and not given us the commandments we might have (as one theologian said), " …run to hell and never stopped.”

The second commandment beckons us to come and worship the Lord spiritually. The Bible never speaks of worship in any other fashion. When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well He made it absolutely clear, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” John 4:24.

We must stop and ask ourselves, “Is the God I worship today, the true and living God of the Bible?” One day we shall see Him as He is, in all His amazing holiness and glory. Until that day we are to trust His word, obey His commandments, and be listening for the shout!

Commandment Number Three:

“You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

In just one concrete statement the Third Commandment forbids the abuse of God’s Name. While we may not always take another person’s name too seriously, it is different when it comes to the name of God. He has named Himself and these names go beyond the “Great Unknown” for His names reveal His being and essence. In short: all that God is, all that He says, does, and bids, is comprehended in His name.

Without giving it a second thought people today take God’s name in “vain” as if it meant nothing but just another word. Clearly, many of our English words used today have left their original meanings far behind. Example: “Oh, my God! Oh, my gosh!” “Gee Whiz”
“Gee” “Jeez.” “Gosh.” Every one of these, and many more point to the “casual” relationship the person using the word has with God. As one writer notes, Using these words simply “trivializes” God’s name. Do we really want that said of us? Also, it is simply mispronouncing something, a means of slipping it past God?

Indeed, the swearing by God’s name as seen in Exodus 20:7 is made more precise in Leviticus 19:12: “And you shall not swear by my name falsely and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.”

While what we have said so far is absolutely serious and important, the Third Commandment takes “in vain” farther. In the Hebrew text “in vain” means “in falsehood”; therefore, once a person becomes a Christian he/she takes on a new name and new responsibility to someone, namely the Lord God. So, we have thus become a part of the “bride of Christ” and if we do not live as such we take the Lord’s name in vain and will not be considered guiltless. Friend, this is a sobering Commandment. May we live a life of purity, being careful of how we speak, but more important how we live for the Lord.

Commandment Number Four:

“Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it Holy” Exodus 20:8-11

Remember the Sabbath-day: The word “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew “Shabbat” which means quite simply, “rest”. Notice also that the Scriptures say to “remember” the Sabbath. God wants us to know He places importance on this matter.

The first time the Sabbath is found in Scripture is in Genesis 2:2. It tells us that on the seventh day God had finished the “work” he had been doing. It also tells us that God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because He “rested” from His work. Therefore, it represented the perfect creation. Today believers enter into that Sabbath rest spiritually (Hebrews 4:8-10). At this point nothing is said about any creature entering into the enjoyment of this rest until we come to the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8-11. It is not until God gave the commandments through Moses that He said, “…Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy “to you”. From this we can see that it was for the people of God.

God so loved His own that He provided the Sabbath for a day of rest each week. The human body is evidence that this makes total sense. God makes no mistakes. So, the next question is, “Which day do we worship God; Saturday or Sunday?” There is much debate about this question. Since the word Sabbath means “rest” the point is that every seventh day should be taken as a Sabbath day of rest. In Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2 the early Christians worshipped on the “first day of the week.” They did it in commemoration of Christ’s resurrection on that day (Luke 24:1); (John 20:19, 26). It also brings in His completion of His work of redemption on Sunday.

From the many reasons to keep the Sabbath and be in church worshipping the Lord and giving our tithes and offerings, we are also pleasing God and being a witness to the world.

Commandment Number Five:

“Honor thy Father and Thy Mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” Exodus 20:12

In this monthly series we have noted that in the first four we are to love God above all others. The remaining six tell us that we must love other people just as we love ourselves.

Our parents are the first to show their love for us. It is done in a variety of ways, both in speech and in action. A home where love is a two way street is a home that prospers in a multitude of ways. Once a child knows that he or she is truly loved by his/her parents the child is bound to show honor and love in return.

It is God’s will that children honor their parents. Therefore, His will must be the reason for our obedience in honoring them. Parents often take better care of their children than they do of themselves. Someone once said; “Children can never equal a parent’s love, because parents are the instruments of life to their children.”

To honor our parents is an act that pleases God (Colossians 3:20). It is also beneficial to children as we see in our text: Exodus 20:12. This point is likely overlooked more than most of us realize.

We who are parents are also reminded of our responsibilities such as is found in Ephesians 6:4: We are to “Bring them up in the admonition of the Lord.” A key to this is that we as parents must also honor the Lord our God. As we show honor and faithfulness to Him, love our children and teach them to love and respect the Lord, the entire family benefits. Joseph had learned to obey his Father. His brothers hated him for this relationship. As we trace Joseph’s life we see the hand of God at every turn.

God tested David when he was taken away into captivity and had no father. Therefore, he honored God and God prospered him. In families where the parents exhibit weakness in character and conduct, must children still honor their parents? Yes! This is a test of their love and patience, which, if carried out will be rewarded by our Heavenly Father.

As we commit our children to God and raise them up in the fear and admonition of Him, it will lead our children to love, obey, and honor we as parents. It’s God’s will, and it will surely bring rewards to both parent and child.

Commandment Number Six:

“Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13

As we continue our studies in the Ten Commandments we arrive at number six. It’s “title” and content are brief but powerful. We are not to take the life of any other person, or our self. Take note of Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.” Another connecting verse may be found in the New Testament; I John 3:15, “Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” From this brief analysis we clearly see God’s deep concern for murder.

One does not have to live long in this world to take note of the fact that mankind possesses anger within himself. It takes but a small “spark” to ignite it. If anger is allowed to continue to boil it can lead to murder. “In their anger they slew a man” Genesis 49:6.

The Beatitudes stated by Jesus and contained in Matthew chapter five points us back to the Sixth Commandment and what it teaches. Notice how the Lord connects anger and murder as He cautions mankind against them. We also see Jesus being quite direct and even personal in these verses as he uses words such as: “you” “yours” “your” and “me”. So rather than commit murder, His alternative action is to work out the differences you have with someone before you go too far and have committed a terrible sin.

The “flip side” of murder is to be found in love, forgiveness, charity, and grace. James 2:18 presents a strong reminder, “I will show you my faith by my works”. “Our body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit,” I Corinthians 6:19. Therefore we must always remember we bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit when we go against the laws of Almighty God. Much more can be said of the Sixth Commandment. May it always remind us: “So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” Romans 14:19.

Commandment Number Seven:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery,” Exodus 20:14

Our world runs wild today with immoral sex. Lives are tormented, marriages broken, and families broken, all because of this evil “disease” that has been with mankind since the dawn of creation. Sadly, it happens’ both prior to and during marriages.

It is clear to see that the open floodgate of this sin is lust. Ever since the fall, holy love has continued to falter through the lust of human beings. Men and women lust after their opposite sex as well as their same sex. One theologian stated that, “Lust is the fever of the soul.”

What is it that makes adultery so sinful? The answer is brief, “it is needless.” God has provided His own remedy for it. Take note of I Corinthians 7:2 which says, “To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife.” This would make fornication become inexcusable. Again we turn to I Corinthians 7:9 which reads: “It is better to marry than to burn.”

Adultery can take away the good reputation of a man or woman in a mere moment of time. Consider those who are given the opportunity of leading our country. Men and women we trust to be upstanding and excellent role models while they serve us. Frequently, we read of yet another who has “fallen”. The same is true of many Pastors. As the old saying goes; “It takes a lifetime to obtain it and only a second to lose it!”

God is pure and holy. He expects His creation to be the same, especially those who have been saved by His grace. It is God’s desire to maintain the purity of His people by clearly warning us through His Word. If our souls are pure it will be readily noticeable.
May our daily desire be to remain pure before God that we might please Him in both our thoughts and our deeds.

Commandment Number Eight:

“Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15

The Eighth Commandment aims right at the heart of one of man’s common desires. Mainly, wanting what rightfully belongs to someone else. We call it “stealing”! It is committed every day.

Every generation must be made aware of and taught that this is a sin and contrary to the Law of both God and man. New ways of violating this commandment seem to be appearing every day in a rather “common” way. Formerly not thought of, are now committed frequently with no remorse.

Most of the reasons for our current generation not paying the attention to theft as it formerly did, is they are not being taught God’s Word while still children. Therefore, they grow up making decisions on their own and answering to no one.

Though recorded in Old Testament times and in the Ten Commandments, it also comes into our “cultural spotlight” in the New Testament: “He who steals must steal no longer, but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” Another illustration is found in Joshua 7:19-24 as Achan came upon a pile of silver and gold bars which did not belong to him. However, he took the bars away and hid them near his tent. When he was found out Joshua had him stoned to death. Would our current culture and laws do the same?

There are at least three ways of stealing: by seizure, by fraud and by interference. All of these are practiced in these current times. Beyond this, many steal from God. The prophet Malachi asked, “Will a man rob God?Yet you rob me.” How many rob God of time? Millions spend the Lord’s Day in selfish pleasures rather than in the worship of God and service to their fellow men. Some always have money to spend for self and sin but have none for God and His service.

Much more could be said about this important commandment. It should be discussed in every home where there are young children, and by parents who display honesty before their little ones. Adults who stop to think of how they conduct themselves according to this commandment; and who see that they are caught in this trap need to repent and turn to God.

Commandment Number Nine:

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16

Throughout the Bible we find one of the many “written pictures” of God. One that is appropriate to the Ninth Commandment. “God is not a man, that He should lie” Numbers 23:19. Once again Deuteronomy 32:4 states God is a “God of truth”.

We might ask ourselves, “How important is the truth?” The Ninth Commandment answers that question. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to establish His rule, He will make truth a way of life. Zechariah 8:3 gives a vivid description; Thus says the Lord, “I will return unto Zion, and will dwell in the mist of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth…”

It seems that lying is nearly taken for granted these days. Both men and women run for a governmental office promising their supporters they absolutely will do this or that once they are voted into office. Yet, the promises never materialize and no apology is made.
The prophet Isaiah took note of lying and said, “None calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth; they trust in vanity, and speak lies.” Isaiah 59:4

Anyone who is not walking close to God every day falls into the trap of lying mainly, because it is quick and effortless. Plus, Satan is always there to “help us” take advantage of a quick lie to gain an advantage of some sort. Beginning with Eve he deceived her and it was the start of his deception of the world.

To overcome lying, it is necessary that we seek God’s help, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16. God can, and will bring help to those who come to and rely on Him. The next time you are tempted take a moment to stop and think before you speak.

Commandment Number Ten:

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbors’ wife, nor his man-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s." Exodus 20:17

To “covet” some one or some thing means to lust for another person’s property. It is different than the previous nine commandments because it does not actually deal with a specific act. It could be described as an emotional, psychological sin.

Saint Augustine defined covetousness as, “to desire more than enough”. It is when a person is entirely taken up with the world and all it offers. A God fearing person focuses his or her thoughts on heaven. An example of this is found in the New Testament when Jesus spoke to the young man and said, “Sell all, and come and follow me.” Scripture says, “He went away sorrowful”. Matthew 19:22. We could say he would rather part from Christ than to no longer have his earthly possessions.

Covetousness is seen throughout the world today. Television programs are filled with wife swapping, adultery, taking from others through whatever means seems to work. We never seem to get enough!

In Luke 12:15 Jesus presents a stern and very clear warning: “Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed, for not even when one has and abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” Following this, the Lord continues with yet other warnings about this matter of coveting worldly goods: Luke 12:16-21.

When we live by faith in God we realize the Lord is our Great Provider, and He will give us all we need to exist and enjoy a happy fulfilling life. May we all stand strong against coveting that which does not belong to us, that Christ might be honored and our lives blessed. When we one day stand with our Savior in heaven we will truly see the wealth of glory promised by our loving Lord.