Knowledge

Head Knowledge

Peter writes that we should add to our moral excellence, knowledge. What is knowledge? Webster’s defines knowledge as, “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association. This is a very good definition, but practically speaking I see knowledge as understanding the why to the what. In this case Peter writes to add knowledge to moral excellence. This means that we must understand the why to the commandments of God. I see two levels of understanding the why. The first is common sense. This is head knowledge.

10 Commandments

Exodus 20:3–17 NASB95

“You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. “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 of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the 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. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “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 belongs to your neighbor.”

With head knowledge a person can only understand the last 6 commandments and I will explain why in the next part of the sermon. So let’s look at the head knowledge of the last 6 commandments.

Honor your father and mother. We can understand this conceptually because our mom and dad gave us life, provided for us, protected us, and gave us a place to live. They were responsible for the necessities of life. Because they provided this for us, then we owe them honor. We can understand this through common sense. In head knowledge we would conclude the opposite if mom and dad did not provide for our necessities of life then we shouldn’t give them honor. This is head knowledge.

You shall not murder. Common sense would tell us that life has value and we should not take the life of another person. Besides if we do murder someone then we will go to jail for the rest of our life or lose our life through capital punishment.

You shall not commit adultery. One may surmise that if they have an affair on their spouse then it will lead to a divorce and cost them 1/2 of everything they make. They could also figure out that if they have kids, that it will affect the family dynamics and the relationship they have with their kids.

You shall not steal. We understand that we do not take something that does not belong to us. If we did not pay for it or earn it then it doesn’t belong to us. If we get caught stealing it is a crime and we will be punished for it.

You shall not bear false witness. This means don’t lie. When we tell a lie we know that will feel guilty for doing it. We may also realize that if we tell one lie we will have to tell another to cover it. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" (Sir Walter Scott, 1808)

You shall not covet. We should not desire something that belongs to someone else. If we have that desire then we may take action on that desire and take what we desire. This will cause friction or even end the relationship of the person that we coveted.

These are commandments that both unbelievers and believers can understand. However their is a level of knowledge that can be understood by believers only. This is the spiritual knowledge.

Spiritual Knowledge

Spiritual knowledge can only be attained by followers of Jesus Christ. Paul elaborates on this in 1 Corinthians 2: 12-16

1 Corinthians 2:12–16 NASB95

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The Spirit of God gives us the knowledge we need to understand His commandments spiritually. This is a deeper understanding because it reveals God to us and gives us understanding of the eternal benefits of His commandments. Let’s take a look at the spiritual understanding of the 10 commandments.

You shall have no other Gods before me. The spiritual understanding of this commandment is in the recognition of who God is. Only the Spirit of God can reveal this to you. The realization of who God is leaves no room for you to have any other God. He is your satisfaction and will not desire any other God. Matthew 4:8-10

Matthew 4:8–10 (NASB95)

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ”

2. You shall not make for yourself and idol. Spiritual understanding of this recognizes the abundant provision of God and the sustenance that he gives. Idols are meant to meet a persons need. For example, if a person desired wealth he would worship the idol of Baal. If a person desired fertility they would worship the goddess Diana. The spiritual understanding of this passage recognizes that God is the one who gives all things James 1:17

James 1:17 NASB95

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

3. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. Spiritual understanding of this leads one to understand the significance of the name of God. It is not to be misused, but is to be honored and worshipped. Anything less than this is unacceptable and should be considered sin! Phil. 2:9-11

Philippians 2:9–11 (NASB95)

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

4. Remember the Sabbath. God has set aside this day for two purposes. First is to worship and the second is to rest. As a matter of fact spiritual understanding of this passage will reveal that we are to work out of our rest rather than rest from our work. Time spent with the Lord in worship will reveal purpose in your life. The stillness of time with the Lord will give rest to the tired mind, body, and soul. Jesus explains this in Matt. 11:28-29

Matthew 11:28–29 (NASB95)

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

5. Honor your Father and Your Mother. This is a commandment with a promise. If you do this then you will have longevity of life. Matthew 15:4-6

Matthew 15:4–6 (NASB95)

“For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

The Pharisees put a condition on the honoring of their parents. They said if they had the resources to care for their parents they would honor them, but if they gave the resources to God then they were exempt. We must honor our parents. This is often best done in their aging years. It is requires time and resources.

6. You shall not commit murder. The spiritual implications of this are the effects of anger to the soul. Matt. 5:21-22

Matthew 5:21–22 (NASB95)

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Unrighteous anger is the catalyst for murder. Though we may not perform the act of murder, we can murder someone in our hearts. This happens when someone is as good as dead to us.

7. You shall not commit adultery. Spiritually understanding this will lead you to make a covenant with your eyes. Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28

Matthew 5:27–28 (NASB95)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

When we allow our selves to watch things on TV, internet, magazines, or any other platforms we open our hearts to lust. Sexual lusts damage the soul and have undesirable consequences in your marriage.

8. You shall not steal. The spiritual aspect of this commandment is the condition of the heart to give or take. Ephesians 4:28

Ephesians 4:28 NASB95

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

A person that steals does so for himself. A giver is one who works hard in order to give to those in need.Acts 20:35

Acts 20:35 NASB95

“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

9. You shall not bear false witness. Don’t lie. The spiritual aspect of this is a spirit of deceit. As believers we have the spirit of truth residing within us. When we lie we are demonstrating a characteristic of Satan. John 8:44

John 8:44 NASB95

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

10. You shall not covet. The spiritual knowledge of this commandment is one of contentment and gratitude. Phil. 4:11-13

Philippians 4:11–13 (NASB95)

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

When we are content and grateful for what God has given us, we will not covet that which our neighbor has. We will be thankful for what we have.

Though we may have head knowledge and spiritual knowledge, the supplementation is not complete until we put it into practice. This is when we gain experiential knowledge.

Experiential Knowledge

Experiential knowledge is simply putting your head knowledge and spiritual knowledge into practice. This is when you experience God!

Through obedience to His commandments you will see clearly the manifest hand of God in your life. It is this reality that builds your relationship with God.

In order to have a relationship with God, you must repent of your sins and make Jesus Lord of your life.

Acts 2:38 NASB95

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.