Tuesday, November 3, 2020

The Ten Commandments

The ten commandments are essentially a summary of the Mosaic Laws,
see the video What are the Ten Commandments? See also Jesus and the Law.

These ten commandments are all moral laws, with the exception
of the 4th commandment about the Sabbath day which is a ceremonial law.

God first spoke the ten commandments to the people of Israel 
(Exodus 20:1, 18–19, 22, Deuteronomy 5:22a, 23–27),
see time 11:02–16:16 in Exodus 20 - I AM The Lord Who Speaks. 

Later, God himself wrote down the Ten Commandments twice without using man 
on two stone tablets (Exodus 24:12, 31:18, 32:15–16, 19, 34:1, 4, 28–29,
Deuteronomy 5:22b, 9:9–11, 15–17, 10:1–5). This shows the importance 
of these commandments. Moses couldn't engrave the tablets of stone without proper instruments which he doesn't seem to have brought with him on the mountain.
It was God who wrote on these stone tablets according to the bible texts.

The ten commandments are mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 20:1–17, 34:6–7
and Deuteronomy 5:6–21, see Moses; Part 10: The Mosaic Laws.

The following translations of the ten commandments
are taken from Exodus 20:1–17 (ESV):

  1. "And God spoke all these words, saying: 'I am the LORD your God,
    who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 
    You shall have no other gods before me    .'    " (Exodus 20:1–3).

    Comment    : God first reminded the people of Israel what he already had done
    for them, see     Typology. Then he continued with the commandments.
    Not the other way around. First deliverance, then guidance and obedience.

    Idolatry can be the worship of idols, or extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone other than the Christian God:

    1. We shouldn't participate in pagan feasts or festivals (1 Cor 10:14–22),
      even though we may eat food that has been sacrificed to idols
      unless it causes our brothers in Christ to stumble, 
      see Disputable Matters in       The Book of Romans.
    2. A god can also be whatever we focus on as the driving force in our lives, something that dominates our thoughts and desires. Extreme forms
      of exaltation of idols or sports associations can lead to idolatry. Even 
      covetousness is a form of idolatry (Col 3:5b), see The Love of Money.

  2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them,
    for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers
    on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me
    and keep my commandment    s.    " (Exodus 20:4–6).

    Comment    : It doesn't prohibit creating images for artistic purposes, but worshiping these images, see time 4:12–5:16 in Bible Q&A • Episode 40.

    Our worship is a spiritual act only toward God, see 
    How should we worship God? in The Woman's Place in the Congregation.

    If we are a born again Christian, we aren't cursed even
    if we belong to the third or fourth generation (2 Cor 5:17, Rom 8:1, Gal 3:13),
    see the article What does the Bible say about generational curses?
    See also the videos:
  3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,
    for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain    .    "
    (Exodus 20:7).

    Comment    : God's name is much more than just a title. It's a declaration
    of his nature and character. To use his name is to speak of who he is.
    When we use God's name it should be for either prayer, praise,
    or personal sharing and it should always be spoken with respect and honor.
    We must not abuse God's name, or use it as some kind of formula.
    God's name is holy. See the article: 
    What does it mean to take God's name in vain?
    See also time 0:05–5:05 in the video Bible Q&A • Episode 24.

  4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep 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, you, or your son, or your daughter,
    your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.     For in six days the Lord made heaven and Earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
    (Exodus 20:8–11).

    Comment    : It's about rest (Heb 4:9–11). It's we who believe in Jesus
    in the New Covenant who have entered into it (Heb 4:3, Mat 11:28–30).
    Jesus has done all the work for our salvation so we can rest in it,
    see time 2:52–5:09 in Bible Q&A • Episode 64. See also Salvation.

    Jesus, the Son of Man, said: "The Sabbath was made for man,
    not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.    "
    (Mark 2:27–28, Mat 12:8, Luk 6:5). God knows that man needs a day of rest the seventh day. But Jesus also performed miracles on the Sabbath, see Miracles of Jesus. This is because mercy triumphs over the Law,
    see God's Attributes and the end part of The Book of Ruth. 
    Jesus is also the fulfillment of the Sabbath rest. We rest on the finished work
    of Jesus Christ on the cross, see The Crucifixion of Jesus. 
    God's rest for us who live in the New Covenant isn't limited to a literal day. 
    In Jesus, God has an eternal Sabbath rest for his people. See also the article:
    At what point in history did the Sabbath change from Saturday to Sunday?
    The Lord's Day refers to Sunday, the traditional day of communal worship.
    It's observed as the weekly memorial of The Resurrection of Jesus.

    We shouldn't follow this commandment as the Jews do with their
    man-made rules added to the Mosaic Laws of the Old Covenant (Col 2:16–17, 
    Rom 14:5–6a, Gal 4:10–11), see Legalism in     The Book of Colossians, 
    Disputable Matters in The Book of Romans, and To Heal on the Sabbath.

    This commandment also states that God created heaven and Earth in six days (Exodus 20:11a), see The Biblical Creation and the Fall of Man. It means that there were no long periods of time before, during, or after the creation week, see Evidence for a Young Earth.

    See the Sabbath day, Saturday, explained at these times in these videos:
  5. "Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long
    in the land that the Lord your God is giving you    .    " (Exodus 20:12).

    Comment    : This commandment has a promise (Eph 6:1–3, Col 3:20). 
    It presupposes that parents don't provoke their children to anger 
    (Eph 6:4, Col 3:21). The reason for that may be
    due to physical or verbal abuse of a child or to unrealistic expectations.
    On the last day people will disobey their parents (2 Tim 3:1–2). 
    See this explained at time:
    ० 13:45–16:23 in Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │ August 2023.
    ०   8:14–23:39 in Ephesians 6 (Part 1) :1-9 Christian Relationships.

    See how to do it as an adult in the article: As an adult, how should I properly understand and apply the command to honor my father and mother?

  6. "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13).

    Comment    : It's wrong to murder a human being, because the human being
    is made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). Abortion is also a form of murder,
    see Psalm 139: The Lord knows me and the video: 
    Thou Shalt NOT Kill a Child Conceived Conceived in the Mind of God. 

    Murder isn't the same as killing    . All killing isn't murder.
    Murder is taking a life unlawful, for vengeance, or for some other indiscriminate reason. It's not a prohibition on capital punishment
    (although I am personally against it), self-defense, or war, see time:
    ० 30:05–31:23 in Bible Q&A with Pastor Paul.
    ० 30:54–32:57 in Bible Q&A With Pastor Paul │March 2024.
    ० 6:48–8:47 in Bible Q&A • Episode 30.
    Then see also This World is Not Our Home in The Book of Roman.

    But it's more about this commandment according to Jesus,
    who gives a correct interpretation of the meaning of it:
    We shouldn't even be angry with a brother or sister in Christ
    (Mat 5:21–22, 1 John 3:11–15). By questioning the character
    of such a person, we are even in danger of ending up in the Lake of Fire 
    (Mat 5:22), see What Does the Bible Say about Hell? Apostle John wrote: "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
    and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.    " (1 John 3:15). It's more important to reconcile with a person who has something against you than to give a gift (Mat 5:23–26). See also Forgive and You will Be Forgiven.
    God's divine power has given us Christians everything we need to embrace this
    (2 Pet 1:3–4). However, it's not done automatically, I must choose to embrace it (Eph 4:30). See Jesus' teachings on anger in The Sermon on the Mount.

  7. "You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14).

    Comment    : Adultery is a sexual relationship with someone other 
    than my spouse (Heb 13:4). It also includes looking at a woman
    with lustful intent (Mat 5:27–28, James 1:14–15, Job 31:1 (NIV), 7, 9).
    As background, see these times in these videos:
    ० 2:22–15:37 in Why Did Jesus Say Divorcing Your Wife . . .?
    ० 14:37–30:25 in Jesus Our Lord - Hebrews 13:1-7.
    ० 17:27–21:01 in Bible Q&A • Episode 64.

    A wife may not divorce her husband and a husband may not divorce his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality 
    (Mat 5:32a, 19:9, Mark 10:11–12, Luk 16:18a), see this time in this video:
    ० 29:30–35:34 in 1 Corinthians 6 (Part 2) :12-20.
    However, it's OK to let an unbelieving partner divorce a believing partner,
    but only if the unbelieving partner wants to (1 Cor 7:12    –13, 15a). 

    See this further explained in practice at these times in these videos:
    ० 46:42–59:02 in Matthew 19:1-15 – Divorce, Marriage, and Children.
    ० 11:05–34:51 in Jesus on Divorce — Mark 10:10-12.
    ० 9:06–15:06 and 39:37–41:41 in Bible Q&A ∙ Episode 8.
    ० 2:15–23:59 in If Your Spouse Is Cheating or Abusive, . . .?

    It's permissible to divorce and remarry someone else if the spouse
    has been guilty of sexual immorality. A person may marry a divorced person only if the reason for their divorce was because of sexual immorality 
    by that person's spouse (Mat 5:32b, Luk 16:18b), 
    or because that person has been abandoned by an unbelieving spouse.

    If a divorce occurs because it's not possible for a couple to live together,
    they should remain unmarried or be reconciled to each other in re-marriage 
    (1 Cor 7:10b–11). An example of such a divorce is when a woman's life
    or her children have been threatened by her husband in some way,
    and she has to leave him because of her or her children's safety.
    However, it shouldn't be for the possibility of remarriage.
    It shouldn't be "a divorce of convenience", to find someone more suitable.
    See: What is the marital position of a couple divorced but still living together?

    It's permissible for a widow to remarry (Rom 7:2–3). It's better for the unmarried and the widows to marry than to burn with passion (1 Cor 7:9),
    see time 6:20–9:13 in Bible Q&A • Episode 42. But a believer
    should marry another believer (2 Cor 6:14, 1 Cor 7:39).

    God created marriage between one man and one woman 
    (Mat 19:4–6, Mark 10:6–8, Eph 5:31, 1 Cor 7:2, Genesis 2:24),
    see what the Bible says about Homosexuality.

    Regarding polygamy, see the article:
    Why were concubines allowed in Old Testament times? (Exodus 21:10–11).
    It was a difference between what God had designed and what he allowed. Just because the Bible records something, it doesn't mean that God recommends it. See these times in these videos:
    ० Why did God allow polygamy in the Bible?
    ० 10:33–14:47 in Why Did God Allow Polygamy in the Bible?
    ० Did God Allow Polygamy In The Bible? 

    See also what the Bible says about how to get married in Gods eyes at time: 
    ० 0:07–2:45 in Bible Q&A • Episode 25.
    ० 29:27–34:34 in September 2024 Bible Q&A.
    ० 15:54–19:40 in Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │ July 2023.
    ० 8:34–11:32 in Bible Q&A • Episode 39.
    ० 0:29–2:26 in Bible Q&A • Episode 45.

    See also these articles: 
    ० Living Together Outside of Marriage
    ० Is it wrong for a Christian couple to live together without being married?
    ० What should you do when you realize you're married to an unbeliever?
    ० How do I respond to my husband who is sinning and won't admit it?

  8. "You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15).

    Comment    : It establishes and confirms the right to personal property.
    We as individuals but also nations must respect the property of others.

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

    Comment    : It talks about some kind of legal investigation where false testimony can cause problems for innocent people. It can also be slander.

  10. "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house;
    you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant,
    or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, 
    or anything that is your neighbor’s    .    " (Exodus 20:17).

    Comment    : This talks about wanting something that belongs to someone else. 
    Desire can be expressed towards all sorts of things, based on dissatisfaction
    of what we have and an envy that people have something better.

    Jesus said: "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness,
    for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.    " 
    (Luk 12:15). See The Parable of the Rich Fool.
The Mosaic Laws also say that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves
(Mark 12:29–31, Leviticus 19:18). Jesus adds to this that we should also love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Mat 5:43–44, Luk 6:27–28, 32–36), see Love and not revenge in The Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus gave this new commandment:
"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." 
(John 13:34, 15:12 (NIV)). It's a new commandment in that sense
that it will distinguish the Christians from other people in the world,
in the love we have for one another as Christ loves us,
see The Book of Ephesians. See also time 22:38–28:14
in John 13 (Part 2) :21-38 • "A New Commandment I give to You".  
This is how the world will know that we are Christians (John 13:35),
see Unity and Forgive and You will Be Forgiven.

Jesus also said: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15).
See what it means at time 8:18–10:13 in September 2024 Bible Q&A.
The whole idea of obedience to Jesus is based on love. Jesus also said:
"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (Rom 5:6–8). You are my friends if you do what I command you.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know
what his master is doing; but I have called you friends,
for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
(John 15:10–17). See Jesus is the True Vine.

Love for Jesus is crucial to obedience to Jesus (John 14:15, 21, 23–24, 31).
The basis of obedience is love. This means that love for Jesus is a motivating factor behind spiritual obedience (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit).
Obedience is the visible evidence of our love for Jesus. Real love is shown
in willing obedience to him. It's not about perfect obedience or trying harder,
but that we are willing to obey Jesus’ commandments, see Jesus and the Law 
and Sanctification. Obedience is hearing/reading God’s Word and acting on it.
It leads to practical righteousness (Rom 6:16). (Positional righteousness
is the righteous standing we have before God through Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:21),
which is how God looks at us when we became a follower of Jesus Christ). 
Obedience brings freedom into our lives. It causes us to remain in his love 
so that his joy may be in us (John 15:9–11). Walking in obedience brings joy.
Obedience to Jesus is our spiritual worship (Rom 12:1). Presenting our bodies
as a living sacrifice to the Lord means surrendering ourselves to him
in obedience. We are created to worship God, see Jesus is God.

The laws are like our bathroom scales. It can't help us lose weight. All it can do
is to tell us how much weight we need to lose or gain. As Christians we need
the Holy Spirit within us to help us grow in this to become mature Christians
(Ezekiel 36:26–27, Jer 31:31–33, John 16:12–13), see Sanctification.

The world is a kingdom that is ruled for the time being by none other than Satan
(2 Cor 4:4, 1 John 5:19). We as Christians belong to the kingdom of God, see time 33:01–38:52 in John 15 (Part 2) :10–17 • The Dynamics of Friendship with God.

See also Some stories closely related to the Gospels 
at the end of The Four Gospels.

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