Good morning!
Greetings in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7
We find ourselves in the midst of the wilderness journey of the Israelites, the people of God, standing alongside them at the foot of Mount Sinai, the mountain of God
Welcome, brothers and sisters, as we gather once again before God, continuing our exploration of the deep narratives found in God’s Word. We find ourselves in the midst of the wilderness journey of the Israelites, the people of God, standing alongside them at the foot of Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. Our journey brings us into the heart of the law, the Ten Commandments. These commandments are God’s gift to His people, a sacred covenant, and a divine guide for a blessed life.
Today, we’ll delve into the next five commandments. These aren’t just laws; they are holy signposts, designed by God, directing us to a path of harmony, respect, and love within our communities. They are commandments that reach beyond the realm of the personal, extending their wisdom to our interactions with others in society. These laws, born from God’s heart, are not meant to constrict us, to impose burdensome barriers among us. No, far from that, they are given to us to construct bridges of understanding, empathy, and unity.
The world often views commandments as restrictions, as negations of freedom. But let’s shift our perspective today, shall we? Let’s view these commandments as God’s design for a liberated life, free from the shackles of hatred, deceit, and disharmony. God offers us these commandments as tools to carve a society sculpted with integrity, cemented with honor, and painted with the colors of love and respect.
So, as we delve into the Word today, let us open our hearts and minds to God’s transformative commandments, understanding their role in nurturing our relationships, and shaping our communities into havens of peace and love.
The Fifth Commandment – Honor Your Father and Mother
As we step into the sphere of the commandments that focus on our relationships with each other, the first commandment we encounter is the fifth one, etched in Exodus 20:12: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” This commandment forms a bridge between our duties towards God and our duties towards our fellow human beings.
In its essence, this commandment is a call to recognition, respect, and honor, directed towards our parents. But its implications ripple outwards, beyond the boundaries of our immediate families, to influence the fabric of society as a whole.
When the Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:1-3, exhorts children to obey their parents, he does so by invoking this very commandment, adding that it is the “first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Here, Paul is extending the scope of the commandment, indicating that it’s not just about respecting parents, but also about ensuring societal stability and longevity.
The term “honor” in Hebrew carries a weighty meaning. It’s not just about obedience, although that’s part of it, especially when we’re young. It’s about giving weight to, or considering heavily, our parents’ wisdom, their life experiences, their sacrifices, and their love. Even when we grow older and become parents or even grandparents ourselves, we are still called to respect and honor our own parents.
But what does it mean to honor our parents? It means to respect them, to be patient with them, to exhibit kindness and love towards them. But it also means to take care of them in their old age, as we see in 1 Timothy 5:4, where Paul instructs that children and grandchildren should learn “to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.”
We must recognize, however, that all parents are fallible human beings, and some situations are complex and painful. Honoring parents doesn’t mean that we enable toxic behavior or ignore wrongdoing. But we can still honor them by extending forgiveness, by showing them the love of Christ, and by praying for them.
In a broader sense, this commandment instills in us a respect for authority and wisdom. It is a blueprint for societal structure, where the younger respect the older, where wisdom is sought after, where the family unit is strong and loving. This creates a stable, respectful society that can prosper.
In conclusion, the fifth commandment teaches us about the importance of the family as the foundational building block of society, and it teaches us about respect for authority and wisdom. It is, therefore, a commandment with far-reaching implications. As followers of Jesus, we should seek to honor our parents and, by extension, honor all those in positions of rightful authority over us. Through doing so, we fulfill God’s command and reflect His love and respect for all His children.
The Sixth and Seventh Commandments – Life and Faithfulness
As we delve deeper into the Ten Commandments, we come upon two commandments that affirm the sacredness of life and the beauty of faithfulness: the sixth commandment “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) and the seventh, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). These commandments guide us on how to uphold the sanctity of life and relationships.
The sixth commandment, in its simplest form, is a clear and firm proclamation of the value God places on human life. Each life is a precious gift, imbued with the breath of God Himself, as Genesis 2:7 reminds us: “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” With this commandment, God places a divine boundary around every human life, protecting it from harm and violence. It’s not merely a prohibition of murder, but a call to respect, protect, and affirm life at every stage, in every condition.
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, deepens our understanding of this commandment. He extends it from our actions to our hearts and attitudes. In Matthew 5:21-22, He warns us: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” Here, Christ broadens the scope of the commandment to include anger, contempt, and malice. It reminds us that every act of unkindness or hate is an affront to the God who made us all in His image.
Moving to the seventh commandment, we are confronted with God’s high regard for the sanctity of marriage and His desire for faithfulness within it. This commandment goes beyond prohibiting the act of adultery; it emphasizes the importance of faithfulness, trust, and love. In Hebrews 13:4, we find an affirmation of this commandment: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
Again, Christ expands our understanding of this commandment, revealing that its spirit encompasses not just our physical actions, but our inner thoughts and desires. In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” With these words, Christ emphasizes the purity of heart that God desires from us.
These two commandments, then, call us to affirm the sanctity of life and the sanctity of relationships. They remind us that every life is sacred and that we must respect, protect, and cherish each one. They teach us to uphold faithfulness and love in our relationships, particularly within marriage, while guarding our hearts from harmful desires. As we strive to live out these commandments, let us remember that they are not burdensome rules but pathways to a life that reflects the love and holiness of God. They call us to be communities that celebrate life, uphold justice, love faithfully, and strive for purity of heart.
The Eighth and Ninth Commandments – Integrity and Truth
Navigating further into the intricacies of God’s laws, we encounter the eighth and ninth commandments, offering us divine wisdom about integrity and truth. The eighth commandment “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15), and the ninth, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16), are laws that fundamentally shape the moral fibers of our communities.
The eighth commandment is a divine decree against theft. It not only prohibits the act of stealing, but it speaks to the broader issues of respect for others’ property and the dignity of work. When God formed man in the Garden of Eden, He instructed him “to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). Work is a sacred duty, a means through which we participate in God’s creation. Respect for personal property and the fruits of one’s labor is woven into the fabric of God’s good creation.
This commandment invites us to live a life of contentment and generosity. As the Apostle Paul encourages us in Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” It’s a call to live with integrity, shunning the destructive desire for unearned possessions and encouraging us to be good stewards of what God has entrusted us with.
The ninth commandment, prohibiting false testimony, is a divine mandate advocating for truth, justice, and integrity in our interpersonal relations. It’s more than a prohibition against lying; it upholds the importance of truth in all aspects of life. The Bible, in Proverbs 12:22, clearly states, “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Jesus, in John 14:6, identifies Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life.” As His followers, we are called to be people of truth, reflecting the character of Jesus in our lives. Further, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus broadens the perspective on truth-telling. In Matthew 5:37, He instructs us, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more than this comes from the evil one.” Here, Christ is calling us to be people of integrity, honesty, and truth in our daily interactions, communications, and relationships.
The implications of these commandments are vast, stretching into all aspects of our social interactions and community life. They call us to respect others’ rights, to be truthful, and to live lives of integrity and honesty. These commandments shape us as individuals and mold our communities, creating environments where justice, respect, and truth reign.
In conclusion, the eighth and ninth commandments offer us God’s wisdom on living with integrity and truth. As followers of Christ, we are invited to reflect His character, living lives of honesty, contentment, and respect. As we commit to living out these commandments in our daily lives, we contribute to the creation of communities marked by trust, justice, and mutual respect, mirroring the kingdom of God on earth.
Life Application: Embodying God’s Commandments in the Modern World
As we continue our journey of faith in today’s complex and challenging world, what does it mean for us, as God’s people, to live by these commandments? It is a call to honor, respect, love, and integrity in our relationships, coupled with a challenge to oppose everything that devalues life, fractures relationships, encourages dishonesty, and nurtures an unjust society.
The Ten Commandments, while delivered to the people of Israel thousands of years ago, remain deeply relevant and profoundly needed in our world today. They are not outdated rules, but timeless principles that resonate with God’s heartbeat for His creation. They provide a divine blueprint for a just, peaceful, and loving society — a society that reflects God’s kingdom.
The fifth commandment calls us to honor our parents. In a world often marked by individualism and disregard for the older generations, this commandment reminds us of the value of family, respect, and gratitude. This isn’t merely about obeying parents but recognizing and appreciating their sacrifices, wisdom, and the role they play in our lives. It reminds us, as Paul writes in Ephesians 6:2-3, “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—”so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Commandments six and seven, protecting life and marital faithfulness, challenge us in a world where life is often devalued, and relationships are disposable. They call us to recognize the sanctity of every human life and the sacredness of marriage. They urge us to promote cultures of life, respect, and faithfulness in our communities.
The eighth and ninth commandments, against stealing and false testimony, are ever relevant in a world struggling with dishonesty, corruption, and disrespect for personal property. These commandments remind us that God values integrity, honesty, and respect for others’ rights. They call us to oppose corruption, to be advocates for truth, and to build societies marked by trust and respect.
Living by these commandments is not about a legalistic adherence to rules but a reflection of God’s character in our lives. It’s not about earning God’s love — that’s already ours through Christ — but about expressing our love for Him. As John writes in 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
In the face of our struggles to keep these commandments, we have the assurance of God’s grace and the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us. As we strive to live by these commandments, we do so in response to the love God has shown us in Christ. This is the heart of the Gospel message: love God, love your neighbors. May we, as God’s people today, seek to embody these commandments in our lives, transforming our communities and the world with God’s love.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2