Let’s take a moment to consider God’s standard of righteousness – His Ten Commandments, in greater detail.
Ten Commandments – God’s Law
My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.- Psalm 119:172
Exodus 20 – The 1st and 2nd Commandments
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
| | This first two commandments appear easy at first glance. After all, just go to church on Sunday, right? (more on the 4th commandment later…) However, history and experience has shown – time and again, that it is VERY easy to place another “god” before Him and not even realize it. In Jeremiah we read:
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| | 4 “Because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents(children) 5 they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind, 6 therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that this place shall no more be called Tophet or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.” – Jeremiah 19:4-6 |
| | We now know from biblical AND secular history that the people sacrificed to idols – even their children, from the time of the Babylon empire even unto today. God found this to be particularly offensive – to worship images of stone, wood and metals, instead of the God who created us in the first place. At the time Jeremiah wrote of these things, the nations of Israel and Judah were sacrificing to the false Canaanite god Baal [and Asherah, queen of heaven – consort of El] (Βάαλ Greek, Baal LT,BʿL Phoenician or “son of Dagon”, Hada Sumerian, Bel Babylonian or Marduk or Son of El). |
| | “One may question that those ancient enemies of Israel were as evil as the Bible claims that they were, but even a superficial glance at Canaanite religion alone aptly demonstrates their iniquity. Base sex worship was prevalent, and religious prostitution even commanded; human sacrifice was common; and it was a frequent practice–in an effort to placate their gods–to kill young children and bury them in the foundations of a house or public building at the time of construction: Joshua 6:26 “In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn…” – Howard E. Vos, “An Introduction To Bible Archaeology” Revised ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1953) pp. 17-19. |
| | Entire groves of trees on high hills were carved into phallic symbols and shapes. The peoples would have great orgies in front of these images and sacrifice their infants to deal with the resulting births. Children were literally placed into the hands of a statue – Baal, and were burned unto death. Thousands of children and sacrifices occurred.
Most people would read of such history and think, “Thank God we don’t do that today…” |
| | However, we covet our lustful lifestyles and think nothing of a simple trip to the clinic when the birth is inconvenient. Today, there are 3,500+ births aborted each and every DAY in the United States alone. When we abort a child because we don’t want to change our lifestyle, we have stopped loving the God who created us and started worshiping the lifestyle which brings fleeting pleasure. The Israelis were doing this by the hundreds and thousands. Today in the U.S., we think nothing of doing so – by the millions. Over 33% of nations have currently legalized abortion. Most countries do not permit abortions. |
| | Every time we choose things which bring us fleeting pleasure – food, money, sex, entertainment, and avoid; God’s word, repentance, love and sacrifice, we are choosing those things over Him who loves and created us in the first place. God commanded that we rest on the 7th day just as He did. Let me say that again to make a point, God commanded us to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Yet we go boating, lust after the next best movie at the theater, shop for things to temporarily satiate a desire to possess, and on it goes. Rather than read God’s word, we tend to zone out watching TV shows filled with violence, sex, foul language and the list goes on. Rather than helping our neighbor, we go out and buy the next best TV screen available, the next best car, the next best amazing outfit – all while others around us are struggling. Instead of learning to be content with what we have – rich or poor, we strive for more. One more car, one more gun, one more TV, and the list is endless. Each time we do, we don’t realize that we’ve actually forsaken the God who loves and created us only to worship things of wood, gold, material, etc. |
| | And yes, some of us even worship other “gods” literally. Buddhist statues, Mecca, Kali, Baal, Astarte, Isis, the Pope. All of such things have their beginning in the pagan worship in Babylon. Yet they are worshiped even today after being “repackaged” under other names. Read a chapter in Jeremiah 10 and see if you can find a hint of truth in this. |
| | Any time you place “things” as more important than your relationship with your Creator, you are placing an idol between you and Him. |
| | One of the many lies perpetrated against God is the lie that we need anything created more than we need Him. And that is offensive to the God who created you and me. |
| | So tell the truth – to yourself and God if not to others. Have you ever placed a false god or image ahead of the Creator – the One who gave you life in the first place? You don’t have to convince anyone of the truth to this question except yourself and God. After all, it is God who knows the truth even if we lie to ourselves and break the 9th commandment – “Thou shall not lie”. |
| | Dictionary definitions of idolatry speak of “…religious worship of physical idols or excessive reverence or devotion to something.” In biblical terms, idolatry is worship of anything other than God. Colossians 3:5 links idolatry with covetousness; when we want something so much that we covet it, the thing has become an idol. And when we go after something ahead of or in place of God, we are breaking this commandment to love Him first and only. |
| | What do you call someone who places false gods – even material things, before God? An idolator… |
Exodus 20:7 – The 3rd Commandment
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
| | This commandment has been interpreted in two ways I know of. First, there are many of us – most of us, who have used God’s name as a cuss word to express contempt or anger. Think for a second. How often do you hear someone say, “Hitler d*mn it!”? Or, “Buddha d*mn it!”? How often do you hear someone swear by the president of the United States – “I swear to Truman it’s true!” Yet none of us thinks twice about using God’s name as a cuss word. It might even be true that the most common phrase I’ve ever heard used while cussing is “Jesus Christ”. But I’ve never heard anyone smash their finger and cuss aloud, “Buddha!” or “Muhammad!” In fact, I venture to guess that if you used Muhammad like that, you could start an intense fist fight or even a holy war! Yet, for no explainable reason I’ve ever heard, Christians are expected to tolerate people using God or Jesus Christ as a cuss word – even from other Christians! Have you ever considered why? To do such a thing is called blasphemy. And it offends not only the Jews but any christian. Can you imagine using your mother’s name in such a fashion…as a cuss word? I’m betting any woman who did all these things: gave you birth, decided not to abort you, raised you, cared for you, would be pretty offended. Can you imagine how offensive it is to the God who created you? “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” – Jeremiah 1:5 |
| | For me, there is a second way that we blaspheme God’s name. We go about our day claiming to represent God – as Christians, church leaders and so on, yet we live as hypocrites who bring a negative stain to His name. We either do so out of ignorance or we do it by claiming we know and understand His Will and make promises – in His name, as though we are speaking for Him. The fact is, we have no right to claim to speak for God. We can claim His Word. We can speak His Word. And we can certainly share God’s Word – as it affects us. Yet we cannot create or save a single hair on our own head. We cannot attend a church service one day and then reveal to the world how shallow and uncaring we are the next day or all week and then claim we are doing God’s work – without breaking this commandment. |
| | To blaspheme His name, is to speak of Him irreverently – as though He were not God. Or to speak as if we were God and thus speaking for Him. |
| | In truth, have you ever taken the Lord’s name in vain? Have you ever used his name as a cuss word? Have you ever presumed to speak for God? Most folks have no problem admitting they have. I personally know of no one person who hasn’t. |
| | What do you call someone who presumes to speak for God – in place of Him, and/or uses His name as a profane cuss word? A blasphemer…a blasphemous person |
Exodus 20:8 – The 4th Commandment
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 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 male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 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.”
| | This commandment is by far the least honored commandment I know. Even the jews – who made every effort to obey God, failed miserably at this. So much so, they were exiled from their own nation for 70 years. And all because they failed to honor the Sabbath for the land in Judah. This commandment is a sign between God and man. To me, it is how God knows who I am, because I will honor the 7th day of the week and keep it holy. I will seek after Him on that day and love my neighbor as myself. I will do this because of my love for God and my neighbor – not as a sacrifice. It is my heart that God seeks, not my sacrifice. |
| | Glynnis Whitwer once wrote, |
| | “The more I’ve deliberately chosen to rest on the Sabbath, the more my enslavement to overwork has lessened. No amount of my trying to shake off those chains made a difference. As I’ve declared my trust in God through honoring the Sabbath, the chains to being overly busy have fallen off. The Sabbath is a gift we should accept gratefully, not try to do perfectly. Honoring the Sabbath seems to be more of a heart-issue than about the rules. When I tried to find that loophole, my heart was in the wrong place. But when I humbly admit I need the Holy Spirit to confirm or refine my choices, I can honor the Sabbath guilt-free. What a beautiful gift our Father gives us in the Sabbath. A chance to rest. An opportunity to trust. An invitation to experience His faithfulness. The Sabbath is a gift I want to open every week. ‘Lord, thank You for the gift of the Sabbath. Show me the areas of my life I haven’t fully submitted to You, and help me learn how to accept Your gift of rest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.'” |
| | In addition to this wonderful gift that God gave, there is every reason to believe that this command – that God signified His people, is how we are marked as His children in the days to come. This is how we are identified as His. |
| | So, have you ever worked a Saturday – the 7th day of the week? Have you ever chased after material things instead of seeking rest in Him on that day? Or – like the rest of us, have you chased after movies, entertainment, food, drinks, parties, sexual fulfillment? What about your Saturdays – all of them, have you set aside to honor God and His creation? Again, I know of no one person who has ever honored this commandment without fail. |
| | What do you call someone who breaks this commandment? An idolatrous rebel – against God. To break this commandment is a breach of God’s covenant. In essence, I am no longer in agreement that He is my God and I follow Him. To remember the Sabbath and keep holy is to remain covent – in contract, that He is my God. A seal or sign that I am His child because I worship Him – in faith, even in this. By honoring Him on this day and setting it aside as a day of rest, I am placing Him as my God and not the things of this world. So I suppose, to break this commandment is to be an idolator or a rebel – since it would mean placing the things that He created ahead of Him. And if I am an idolator, then I’ve declared that I do not belong to the God I created. |
Exodus 20:12 – The 5th Commandment
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
| | Usually we think this means “doing anything they say or command”. This isn’t the case at all. Although God gave parents authority within the family, all human authority has limits. For example, it never overrules God’s authority. For instance, when a high court ordered Jesus’ disciples to disobey God, they replied: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” – Acts 5:27-29 Likewise, children obey their parents “in union with the Lord,” —Ephesians 6:1 that is, in all things that do not conflict with God’s laws. |
| | There is good reason for honoring our parents. If nothing else, they have almost always been through before what you are now discovering for the first time. To entirely ignore your parents advice is simply foolish. After all, what father would give his son a stone when he asks for bread? (Matt 7:9-10, Luke 11:11) Even a bad example IS an example of right and wrong after all. But there is a big difference between following your parents blindly as we do as children – when we need it most, and as we grow into adults. |
| | Here are a few examples of honoring you mother and father that easily make sense – even in the worst situations: |
| | Appreciate them. You honor your father and mother when you are thankful for all they have done for you. You can show your appreciation by valuing their guidance. (Proverbs 7:1, 2; 23:26) The Bible encourages you to view your parents as your “glory,” that is, to be proud of them.—Proverbs 17:6. It doesn’t mean following them blindly as you grow into an adult. It means that as you grow, you consider their advice and guidance sincerely. Thank them for the things they have sacrificed – to grow you as an adult and teach you in God’s Way. Then take it a step further by forgiving them as much as you have been forgiven during your life. By doing this, you show your appreciation for their efforts – no matter how small or large they may be. You will ONLY benefit from a relationship with your parents if you make every attempt to honor them – even and especially when they deserve it least. |
| | Accept their authority. Especially while you are young, you honor your father and mother when you recognize the authority God has given them. Colossians 3:20 tells young ones: “Be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.” Even young Jesus willingly obeyed his parents. —Luke 2:51. You can disagree while still accepting authority – perhaps more so. The point is, while they are making the best decisions they know how to make, accept it. If their decisions seem to contradict scripture, sit down and discuss it with them. Ask them to teach you how their authority is in line with God’s Word. Either you are they – or both, are likely to learn from it! On the other hand, flagrant disobedience serves only to make every situation worse. Seek counseling if need be. But honor God by first making every attempt to honor your parents. |
| | Treat them with respect. (Leviticus 19:3; Hebrews 12:9) This often involves what you say and how you say it. True, some parents at times act in ways that make it hard to respect them. After all, the bible warns parents as well, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” – Eph 6:4 Even then, children can honor their parents by avoiding disrespectful speech and actions. (Proverbs 30:17) The Bible teaches that speaking abusively of one’s father or mother is a serious offense. (Matthew 15:4) |
| | Provide for them. When your parents get on in years, they may need practical support. You can honor them by trying your best to make sure that they have what they need. (1 Timothy 5:4,8) For instance, shortly before he died, Jesus arranged for the care of his mother. (John 19:25-27) |
| | What do you call a person who fails to honor their father and mother? An insolent rebel… If you cannot find a way to honor your own father and mother, what hope do you have in honoring your Creator? Even when parents deserve less, God will honor every effort you make to honor your parents. It is a direct reflection on how you honor God. When my own children show honor and respect, it makes me want to be a better dad! |
Exodus 20:13 – The 6th Commandment
“You shall not murder.”
| | Of this commandment, Jesus taught, |
| | 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. – Matt 5:21-22 |
| | Here, Jesus is teaching that our own definition of murder is far less stringent than His. Yet, it is God who will judge us. If we harbor resentment or hate toward another in our heart, we are already in danger of being judged as a murderer. |
| | So have you ever held hate and/or spite and anger in your heart for someone else? You don’t have to convince anyone of the truth to this question except yourself and God. After all, it is God who knows the truth even if we lie to ourselves and break the 9th commandment. |
| | What do you call someone who commits murder – even in their heart and mind? A murderer… |
Exodus 20:14 – The 7th Commandment
“You shall not commit adultery.”
| | Of this commandment, Jesus taught |
| | 27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. – Matt 5:27-28 |
| | And he went on to illustrate just how serious this is, |
| | 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. – Matt 5:29-30 |
| | Clearly, our own definition of adultery tends to be far below God’s standard of righteousness. And yet, how many women would turn a blind eye if their husbands choose pornography over their own marriage bed? How many men would “turn the other cheek” if their wife chose to spend time with another man instead of with him? I rather doubt that it would be “Okay” if a husband ignored his wife to spend time with another woman – even if they hadn’t gone to bed with the other woman…yet. Clearly, Jesus more than implied that such things are not acceptable. Nevertheless, our desires tend to stray at a moments notice – even if we “don’t get caught”. |
| | So, have you ever looked at another person – other than your spouse, with lust in mind? You don’t have to convince anyone of the truth to this question except yourself and God. After all, it is God who knows the truth even if we lie to ourselves and break the 9th commandment. |
| | What do you call someone who cheats on their spouse – even in their heart and mind? An adulterer… |
Exodus 20:15 – The 8th Commandment
“You shall not steal.”
| | This one is interesting because most everyone would – when asked if they have ever stolen, almost always say “No, not really”. Their first reaction is something like, “well, nothing substantial…” But it’s kind of like stealing $500 from the bank and walking out. Then, telling the judge you’re innocent because it wasn’t $50,000. The Hebrews have a word for such “ironic audacity”. They call it chutzpah. And while I’m told there is no direct English word for this, Missler has a great explanation. It’s like “…killing your own parents and then throwing yourself on the mercy of the court because you’re an orphan.” No reasonable person would accept the justification. It doesn’t matter what your excuse, stealing is stealing. And doing so doesn’t become theft just because you cross an imaginary amount of worth. If it belongs to someone else and you take it, you’re stealing. If you steal food because you’re hungry, it’s stolen food – especially with so many government handouts and churches willing to help! If you’re at work and decided to goof off and not perform work, is that not stealing from your employer? Are they not paying you after all? If you “borrow” a tool from work or a neighbor without their knowledge or permission- even if you return it, is that not stealing? If I borrow $500 from the bank without their knowledge and return it, won’t I still expect to be punished for stealing it in the first place if I get caught? The word “caught” itself actually implies the truth doesn’t it? |
| | So, have you ever stolen anything – taken that which belonged to someone else? No matter how small? You don’t have to convince anyone of the truth to this question except yourself and God. After all, it is God who knows the truth even if we lie to ourselves and break the 9th commandment. |
| | What do you call someone who steals? A thief… |
Exodus 20:16 – The 9th Commandment
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
| | Plain and simple, this commandment means “You shall not lie to harm your neighbor”. A false testimony literally means “a lie”. Some argue, “Well, I’ve never lied to my neighbor.” However, Jesus taught about the “Good Samaritan” in order to reveal “Who is my neighbor?” And the short of it is, EVERYONE is your neighbor! We are not supposed to “lie” to ANYONE. A lying tongue is an abomination to the Lord. Consider Proverbs: |
| | 16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look (pride), A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” – Prov 6:16-19 |
And,
| | “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.” – Prov 25:18 |
| | This commandment forbids us from bearing false witness or giving false testimony against one another. To bear false witness against others is to lie about them, especially for personal gain. The Hebrew word translated “neighbor” in this commandment can mean an associate, a brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, or neighbor. In other words, we are commanded to be truthful in ALL THINGS, but especially when speaking about another person. People are not to lie publicly – as in a court of law, by laying at another’s feet any false charge that could injure them, nor are we to lie privately by whispering, talebearing, backbiting, slandering, or destroying another’s character by innuendos, sly insinuations, and evil suggestions. |
| | The reasons for God’s prohibiting lying and testifying falsely against one’s neighbor appear to be three-fold: |
| | First, God’s people are to reflect God’s character. The Lord is a truthful God who does not and cannot lie. |
| | “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” – Num 23:19 |
| | The people who are called by God’s name and who represent Him in the world are expected to accurately reflect His character. Lying to or about one another brings reproach upon His holy name, and this He will not tolerate. |
| | Second, bearing false witness against another is destructive to the individual who is the victim of the lie, and he suffers by it in his credibility and reputation, as well as in his trade and business. Leviticus 19:18 makes it clear that the Israelis were to love their neighbors as themselves, a command reiterated by both Jesus and Paul (Matthew 22:39; Romans 13:9). Loving our neighbors precludes lying about them. |
| | Third, false witness is seen as so destructive to society that courts of law, both in the days of the Israelis and today, could function only if the witnesses – who were called to testify, could be trusted to tell the truth. Without a trustworthy judicial system based on eyewitness testimony from reliable, truthful witnesses, societies are at risk for the breakdown of law and order. When this happens, chaos ensues and the innocent suffer. |
| | The New Testament is equally condemning of false witness. |
| | 9 “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” – Col 3:9–10 |
| | Christians are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and, as such, we reflect His nature. We have been released from our “old self” with its evil practices such as lying and bearing false witness. As the Israelis were to reflect the character of the Lord God, Christians are to reflect to the world the character of Christ that identifies us as His own. |
| | So, have you ever told a lie to someone – especially about someone else? You don’t have to convince anyone of the truth to this question except yourself and God. After all, it is God who knows the truth even if we lie to ourselves and break this very commandment. |
| | What do you call someone who lies? A liar… |
Exodus 20:17 – The 10th Commandment
“You shall not covet your neighbor”’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
| | How many of us have looked upon our neighbor and thought, “I wish I had that…” and perhaps went out and even gotten it? There is an entire industry dedicated to marketing commercial products and their main objective is to make you wish you had whatever it is they are selling. TV commercials are entirely predicated on this approach. To me however, longing after something that belongs to your neighbor or pining away for something you don’t have lies at the heart of this commandment. Our children learn this quickly, “Mom, can I please, please have those shoes?! Everyone else is wearing them!” As adults, we go about our lives as though we are immune to such child like desires. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Ask any fisherman how much more tackle he needs. Or, ask a hunter how many more guns is sufficient. Most will answer, “One more…” Your neighbor puts in a sprinkler system and suddenly your spouse is after you to add one too. We covet what we see all day long everywhere we look. It is so common in our society that it is unlikely any one person is even aware of it at any given moment. To covet that which does not belong to you invites a person to steal and even to do harm in doing so. It is the beginning of sin – to steal or desire things instead of God. And based upon what Jesus actually taught regarding murder and adultery, to covet in one’s heart – desire, is the same as committing the act of theft or harm directly. One cannot offend a single part of God’s law without corrupting the entire law. Righteousness is abandoned not only with our deeds but in our heart and mind. |
| | God – the Father, spoke directly when Cain was angry that his sacrifice was found unacceptable: 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” – Gen 4:6-7 |
| | To covet immediately sets our mind and heart to sin before sin has even taken place. And unless we master it – take it captive, and hand it over to God, it will consume us. Sin will enter in and destroy us. |
| | What do you call someone who covets? A thief at heart… |
Hijo de Dios 