In Exodus chapter 20, Moses is given the Ten Commandments from God. The first four discuss our relationship with God, while the remaining six focus on our relationship with each other. Appropriately the next commandment is, “Honor your father and mother“. And He adds, “that you may live long on the land“. Not only is this necessary for a society, but it is fundamental spiritually to learn obedience to our earthy parents before we can learn obedience to our heavenly Father. How many tragic lives began with disobedience at home. The sixth commandment is, “You shall not murder“. Many well-meaning Christians argue against capital punishment based on this, but in Numbers chapter 35, the difference between murder and being sentenced to death are clearly explained; even various degrees of homicide (accidental etc). Numbers 35:30 tells us, “Anyone that kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer…“. Jesus also explains that God judges our heart’s motive and raises the standard of murder to the impossible. He declares, “I say to you, anyone that is angry with his brother shall be guilty“. We sin in our heart long before we take action. The seventh commandment is, “You shall not commit adultery“. Notice He does not give exceptions. We often hear people make excuses like, “But my wife… or God brought us together”; we cannot explain away our sin. Again Jesus magnifies this for Christians, “anyone that looks upon a women with lust for her has committed adultery in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). It is important to remember that God is the only one that can see what is in another’s heart. We need to be careful not to play Holy Spirit.
The eighth commandment is, “You shall not steal“. Ephesians 4:28 adds, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need“. We are not just to avoid stealing, but to give instead! The ninth commandment is, “You shall not give false testimony“. The New Testament puts it simply: “do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and put on a new self who is being renewed to a new knowledge” (Colossians 3:9). Now that we have accepted God’s grace, we no longer need to make ourselves look better by trying to make others look worse. The tenth commandment is, “You shall not covet“. The advertising industry seems to be built on encouraging us to want more stuff because someone else has it. But Hebrews 13:5 reminds believers, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you“.
Sadly the reaction of the Hebrew people is much like people react today when they are shown God’s standard of righteousness; rather than repent, they distance themselves. “The people remained at a distance while Moses approached…speak to us yourself… but do not have God speak to us“. We can easily rationalize ignoring the words of man, but we know in our soul, God cannot be ignored. God even tell the people, “Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you“. Invite God to draw close now, honor God and receive the blessing He has for you today.