10th Commandment: Covet

 

"You must no cover your neighbors wife, male or female servant, ox, or donkey, or anything else that belongs your neighbors."  Exodus 20:17

    The 10th commandment is the last of the social boundaries commandments.  Do not covet works a lot like the do not steal.  They both come from a place of jealousy and greed in the heart.  God gives people what He wants.  It is your choice to complain, hold envy, be jealous, and basically covet what other people have or find contentment with what God has given you.  

    Read the commandment about lying amd gossip to define neighbor.  This commandment may be listed last, but it seems to influence all the other commandments in some way or another.  If it is not good, then it doesn't come from God.  This commandment more or less clarifies what is good and evil in your heart.  It defines what needs to be repented and strengthened.

    God set the boundary that makes it a sin to hold desire for what belongs to another person.  If you want more in your life, then go to Him in prayer.  He will either point out all you have, give you directions to earn more, or give it to you freely.  The only hope you have in fighting this human nature emotion is to turn to God and find contentment with all you have.  Make a list and go down it of all God has done and given to you in your life and thank Him every day.

    Coveting reveals a selfishness within you for craving things that you don't actually need in life.  Today we would call it keeping up with the Jones.  It doesn't benefit anyone.  It will drive you to misery and make you go broke along the way.  You relationship with God is far more important than things that can be taken, destroyed, or destroy relationships.

    Jesus explained what this commandment really meant.  To covet is to have an intense, inordinate, or unhealthy desire for something that does not belong to you.   Jealousy is a form of covetness when it comes from people.  God's jealousy is holy.  Human jealousy reveals evil in the heart.  It is rooted in envy and selfish ambition.  It is a destructive emotion if you feed it.  It reveals insecurity, discontentment, or fear of loss.  

    Coveting also reveals greed in the heart.  Greed is an insatiable, self-centered desire for more.  It doesn't matter how much you have, it is not enough.  You want it all.  You want everything.  It can be wealth, power, status, material objects, land, influence, and more.  It will turn you mind into a slave of making yourself your god.  The only chance you have is to turn to God, repent, and give over every selfish thought to Him as they come.  Do not feed evil.  Feed the good thoughts that bring joy into your life.

Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21, Matthew 6:19-24, Mark 7:20-23, Luke 12:14-21, Romans 7:7-8, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5, Hebrews 13:5, & James 1:14-15

9th Commandment: Lie & Gossip

 

"You must not testify falsely against your neighbors." Exodus 20:16

    The ninth commandments is a social commandment that reveal your heart attitude toward God.  At first sight it appears straight forward, but when people want to justify behavior or push boundaries they will want to redefine what God is saying.  God is saying to not bare false witness, lie, cheat, or verbally speak evil against anyone.  

    Your neighbor does not have to be a Christian.  It does not mean your next door neighbor.  It is not only the people in your neighborhood.  It is not only the people that are in your nationality.  It applies to every single living person in the world.  Lies and gossip have the power to destroy lives.  Even when the truth comes out, you have planted a seed of doubt in the minds of the people that listen to the lie or gossip.

    Now the part that may surprise you is that if you listen, even if you do not spread, and not address the gossip or lie for what it could be (because you probably don't know for sure), then you are just as guilty as the person who spoke it.  God created Words to have power.  He spoke the world into existence.  To act like lying or gossip is not power for evil is naive at best.

    Lets get into what a lie is.  A lie is saying or writing something with the intent of deception.  It is baring false witness.  It is stating assumptions, thoughts, ideas, and opinions as facts.  It is also leaving out key facts that omits parts of the truth from coming out.  It is destructive behavior that goes against God.  God hates lies because it spreads evil in the hearts of people that He designed to be innocent.  It reveals how much of your heart belongs to Satan or willingness to listen to Satan.

    Gossip is sharing information with the intent to harm.  It is divulging private information that will embarrass or harm another person.  In this case it could be true, but the motivation of how the truth comes out makes it evil.  Gossip is slander.  Nothing good ever comes from it.

    Talking about people behind their back is not Christian standard behavior.  To speak rumors to stir up conflict, drama, or damage the reputation of another person reveals hate in the heart.  Hate could be jealousy, envy, vindictiveness, or some other motivation.  It doesn't matter.  It is not right, good, or kind.

    Focus on your own life so you can identify your own sins to repent.  Allow God to deal with everyone else.  If a person speaks evil with you, give time for the truth to be revealed.  It makes them look bad and it allows God to do His job.  

    Returning evil with evil only destroys your innocence and purity of heart which pushes you further away from God.  Pray and forgive, so you can move closer to God.  It is wise to use your words as God instructed.  Work to become a peacemaker.

Exodus 20:16, Leviticus 19:11-16, Deuteronomy 5:20, Proverbs 6:16-19, 12:22, 17:4, John 8:42-47, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:8-9. & Revelations 21:8

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