8th Commandment: Stealing

 

"You must not steal."  Exodus 20:15

    We have covered how to acknowledge, address, and worship God.  I have covered social commandments on how to treat your parents, murder, and adultery.  Today is about stealing.  Thou shall not steal is straight forward commandment, but why is it a commandment?  God provided the commandment so that people would treat each other fairly and you take it upon yourself to have integrity to honor Him.  To seek to honor God reveals wisdom.

    Stealing is theft.  It is taking property, money, or items that do not belong to you.  Everyone understands the simple concept of this definition, but not everyone knows that it also applies to taking people.  Kidnapping, abduction, trafficking, and raping are all forms of stealing.  You are taking a person  without consent.  You take virtue without caring about what it will do to that other person.  Stealing is stealing, but the affects of stealing has different impacts.

    Society needed to be told not to steal to set up social structure.  Stealing is deceptive and it cheats people.  God has provided certain things to certain people.  To take that is to tell God that He was wrong and that you deserved it.  God is never wrong, so it is a sin.  

    You stole from someone, but you shorted yourself.  God may have been preparing you for something personalized.  It could have been bigger and better for you.  It reveals a dishonest heart which God detest.

    To steal shows a lack of integrity.  It reveals a lack of respect.  God demands His people to have character with honesty and integrity.  You should honor what belongs to other people because it ultimately belongs to God.  They are only the stewards of what was given to them.  If they do not do good with what they have, then they will seal with God.  At the same time if you do not honor God with what you have, then you will have to face God one day and tell Him why.

    Integrity is moral obedience to God.  It is an act of love toward your neighbors.  It reveals spiritual redemption which is offered to everyone. God's commandments set boundaries, but also reveal that you need redemption.  It is there for everyone, but only those that accept it will receive it.  

Genesis 44:8, Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:11, Deuteronomy 5:19, Proverbs 11:1, Matthew 19:16-24, Mark 7:20-23, Luke 19:8, 23:39-43, Romans 13:9-10, & Ephesians 4:28

7th Commandment: Adultery

 

"You must not commit adultery."  Exodus 20:14

    This is the 3rd social construct commandment.  Like the others it has layers.  God is very straight forward, but how you obey it matters.  Social commandments is how your conduct and way you live your life reflects your relationship with God and how you worship Him.  If you love Him, then you obey Him.  These are loving boundaries to help you live wisely and in an intimate relationship with God.

    Adultery is when a person voluntarily enters into sexual activity of any kind with someone who is not their spouse.  Seems pretty straight forward.  In Biblical times they took it very seriously.  Women especially caught in adultery were killed.  Men were to be killed too.  Even if people are not caught in adultery, God still knows.  If you commit adultery you will have to face God one day and account for it unless you repent and turn away from your sin.

    Adultery seems pretty straight forward: don't cheat on your spouse.  However, it is not that simple.  You have to look at adultery through God's perspective.  If you are single and have never been married, but have any sexual relationships, then you have committed adultery against your future spouse.  This only applies to what is consensual.  Anyone who is raped, molested, or anything else along those lines are not guilty.  You had something stolen from you and God will deal with that.

    In the new testament Jesus goes deeper with it.  He points out that if you look at anyone with lust in your heart, then you have committed adultery.  It may sound harsh, but he had a point to make.  It is in the heart where sin begins.  You have desire for something and then you think about it.  You may know it is wrong, but over time you justify it and eventually you act.  

    Jesus is saying cut it out where it starts in the heart.  Never allow it to become something that you remanence and focus on.  Keep your relationships holy to keep your relationship with God close.  Choose Him over every single relationship and potential relationship in your life.  The commandment comes down to do not commit spiritual adultery.  Do not turn away from God for something temporal that will destroy your life and your walk with God.

Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:18, Proverbs 6:32, Matthew 5:27-28, 19:9, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, & Hebrews 13:4

6th Commandment: Murder

 

"You must not murder"  Exodus 20:13

    The sixth commandment is a social commandment that affects the heart.  The root word for murder used is the Hebrew word ratsakh.  The basic meaning of ratsakh is to unjustly or unlawfully take a human life.  It is about having so much hate in your heart toward someone(s) that you want them dead.  

    God recognized that things happen in life where people are killed accidently.  That is not good, but it is something that happens living in the fallen world.  God is focusing in on the heart condition.  Do you allow rage and vengeance into your heart?  Or do you give it to God to take care of in His time and in His way?  

    God declared vengeance is mine.  Do not try to become God and control things on your own.  It will only destroy you from the inside out and lead you to facing judgment.  To take a life has serious consequences.  It should never be played down to protect the person who committed murder.

   I think the order of the social commandments are very intentional.  Adam and Eve allowed sin into the world.  They became parents after the fall, so the first social commandment was about respecting your parents.  It would be easy for the first kids to blame their parents for not having a perfect life when they themselves were not perfect.  The next social commandment addresses murder because one of those children killed their brother.  The first two children in the world grew up and were involved in murder.

    Life is a gift from God.  To take a life is you determining that God made a mistake allowing that person live.  God never makes a mistake, so you taking things into your own hands is a sin.  All life if precious.  God spoke directly about taking lives, but kept the commandment pretty simple and straight forward.  Do not do murder.  

    Jesus comes along and he expand the meaning.  He makes it personal.  Even if you never act on taking a life, if you allow rage and hate in your heart you are guilty of murder.  You don't have to act to desire someone dead.  In your heart you have already taken them out.  God wants to heal that place in your heart.  Admit your sin and repent to God.  He will forgive you.  

Genesis 9:5-6, Exodus 20:13, 21:12-14, Numbers 35:30-31, Deuteronomy 5:17, Matthew 5:17, 21-22, & 1 John 3:15

5th Commandment: Respect Parents

 

"Honor your father and your mother.  Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you."  Exodus 20:12

    The first commandment is about respecting your parents.  God is compared to a good father.  He is the original father.  He is the perfect father.  You honor your parents to honor God.  It doesn't matter if they are worthy of respect.  You do it to be obedient to God.  If your parents are not living like God commanded, then they will have to answer to Him.  You take responsibility for how you obey God.

    This is the first commandment that is not about who God is.  This one is the first one that goes over conduct in civilization.  Community and unity has always been important to God.  He wants the family to be strong and thrive, so they can show the world who He is.  Humanity and relationships are a part of God's plan.  

    If you choose to be obedient and respect your parents in your words, attitude, and behavior, then you will be blessed with a long and thriving life.  The reason is because you parents should be teaching you how to avoid danger.  It is their job in leading you to how to be a functional and beneficial person in society.  It is their responsibility to teach you how to honor and obey God.  

    This is the first command that come with a promise in return.  The promise is a full life where you belong.  Following God's commands leads to a less stressful life which is better on your body.  Your mind is not as tormented.  You have hope.  All these things are blessings on their own, but they also compound other blessings.  You learn how to respect, then you will earn respect. How you choose to conduct yourself in the world is a reflection of your relationship with God.   

Exodus 20:12, Leviticus 19:3, Deuteronomy 5:16, Proverbs 1:8, Ephesians 6:1-4, & Colossians 3:20-21

4th Commandment: Sabbath

 

"Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord you God.  On that day no one is your household may do any work.  This includes you, your sons and daughters, your make and female servants, your livestock , and any foreigners living among you.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but the seventh day he rested.  That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."  Exodus 20:8-11

    God gave you the fourth commandment so you have the time to honor and worship Him.  At the same time is a gift to you so that you have time to rest physically, mentally, and unwind emotionally.  A go, go, go lifestyle is never what God intended.  In this lifestyle you never really appreciate anything you may accomplish.  It is always about what comes next.  God wants you to enjoy life while investing into a relationship with Him.

    God did not need to rest on the seventh day.  He leads by example.  He did it because He knew one day He would provide guidelines for how everyone should live.  He rested to show you how to have the work life balance that you need.  Further down in the Bible you see where He instructs vacation and holidays for you to be able to rest and appreciate accomplishments.  

    What is it to keep the Sabbath holy?  God commanded that you, all in your household, and all the living things you are responsible for rest on the Sabbath.  Resting is only part of it.  You need the rest to be able to focus.  When you give yourself what you need to maintain life, then you have the time and energy to remember all God has done for you.  

    You keep the Sabbath holy by setting one day a week to really focus on your relationship with God and spend time with other believers that will help you become stronger.  On the Sabbath the focus should be on rest, worship, and honoring God in your spirit.  It is not all about you getting extra sleep or whatever hobby you may have.  It is ceasing labor or draining work to restore your mind and body while worshipping and devoting time to God.  

Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Mark 2:27-28, & Hebrews 4:9-10

3rd Commandment: God's Name

 

"You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.  The lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name."  

    God's commandments are boundaries.  If you break the boundary then you sin.  The first commandment is about understanding who God is.  The second commandment is about how to worship him.  The third commandment is about honoring Him.  His name is holy.  To degrade His name is to degrade your value.  It doesn't diminish who He is.  It only reveals how unworthy you are.

    God stated to misuse His name would lead to punishment.  He doesn't go into specifics, but if you know the Bible you have a general idea.  Adam and Eve broke His boundary with food and were kicked out of paradise forced to work for what had been given previously.  They still had jobs and purpose, but they also knew one day they would die.  

    Death has always been a mystery.  It can be scary, so knowing that they were sentence to death for their disobedience you can imagine what your punishment could be for insulting the one who created you.  Follow Jesus in obedience and you do not need to fear death.

    What is it to misuse or profane God's name?  It is to belittle, insult, or devalue who God is.  It leads to foul language, but ultimately reveals a lack of respect for the fundamentals of God's values.  It goes further than how you talk.  If you make false vows or accusations, then you are insulting God's creations which is insulting God.  

    Mishandling God's reputation in the world gives His people a bad name.  That is misusing His name.  Do not be careless with your words or actions.  Do not live a hypocritical life by living like the world, but claiming to be a Christian.  If you process faith, then your actions and behavior better back it up.  

    God's name is sacred and powerful.  Do not use it like it is worthless.  If you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, then you are a representation of God's name.  Honor God and He will protect you.  Dishonor God and deal with the consequences.

Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 19:12, Deuteronomy 5:11, Matthew 5:33-37, & James 5:12

2nd Commandment: No Idols

 

"You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the El Kanna, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.  I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected - even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.  But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands."  Exodus 20:4-6

    The second commandment is building on the first commandment.  It is about making objects and ideas into gods.  It is going beyond distraction or desire to putting what you have in your heart into a physical form.  It is a way to physically put something between you and God.

    The first commandment focuses on the only one you should ever worship.  God alone gets worship.  Not his angels, not the prophets, not spiritual leaders, and not anything in the world.  The second commandment is focused on how to worship by setting boundaries.  The boundaries allow you to build self-discipline to know that you are free to worship God.  He just makes it clear that actions (good or bad) have consequences.  

    When God provided the commandment he was talking about wooden, stone, or precious metals being formed in an image to be an idol.  Now it has expanded to technology, art forms, and more things that you may focus on instead of your relationship with God.  Materialism will never fulfill you.  God is the only one that can ever make you feel complete.

    The consequences can be confusing.  When God states that he is a jealous God, it is not saying that He is acting in vengeance or anger.  His jealousy is pure and holy.  It is about who He is and expecting you to keep the standard of honoring the one who gave you life.  The choice of not following Him affect your family because you are teaching them to rebel against God.  They in some way or another will follow your example.  You will lead them to life or to death.  That is the point of the consequences.  He wants you to know how serious it is and that it affects more than yourself.

Exodus 20:4-6 & Deuteronomy 5:8-10