"TEN" WORDS - Pt.2
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Introduction:
The passages read from Mark is where a Scribe heard all Jesus said to the Sadducees about the resurrection and which man will be a woman’s husband after she had been married to multiple brothers.
The Scribe (or lawyer as we read in Matthew 22), attempting to test Him asked Jesus: “what is the greatest commandment”?
To note: This is also the last question He was asked in order to be tested.
He also quieted them all by the question He asked them (recorded in Matt. 22:41-46) before this one.
Jesus rightly states what the correlation is between these 2 commandments and the “ten words” given to the Israelites.
The correlation is separated into 2 relationships to be cared for.
The first relationship was our relationship between us and God; which was the surface we scratched last week that fits under the umbrella of the “first greatest commandment”.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second relationship to maintain and grow is the relationship for today, which covers the “second greatest commandment”.
31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Our first section or first “five words” covered our relationship between us and God.
The next “five words” can be understood as God’s direction for maintaining our relationships:
Between Man and Man. (13-17)
Between Man and Man. (13-17)
In that relationship God provides Moses with the “Sixth Word”:
13 “You shall not murder.
6th commandment
Murder and Killing aren't the same.
Murder is:
The act of unlawfully killing a human being with premeditated malice, by a person of sound mind. To constitute murder in law, the person killing another must be of sound mind or in possession of his reason, and the act must be done with malice prepense, aforethought or premeditated; but malice may be implied, as well as express. - Noah Webster
Killing is to simply put something to death.
There are some differences between the translated words in our English translations which can be misleading for what the commandment is.
The ESV, NIV, Living Bible, and all others with exception to 4: translate the word Tirtsach into “Murder”.
The KJV, Scofield, RSV, and ASV, all translate the word into “Kill”.
We may believe that there isn’t any difference between the 2 seeing how our culture interchange them so much; but there is a difference between murder and kill.
One is the illegal taking of an innocent life.
The other is the taking of an life, not illegal.
Lets hear what some of the of the differences are?
Killing can be legal or illegal depending upon the circumstances. (Self Defense, War, etc...)
Murder is always illegal.
Killing may or may not involve the intent of death.
Murder always involves the intent to cause death.
Killing can be morally justified in certain situations (self-defense, war)
Murder is generally considered morally wrong.
Killing may or may not bring consequences depending on the circumstances.
Murder Can lead to severe legal consequences, including imprisonment or capital punishment.
These differences are worlds apart.
To the Israelites they understood what God was saying, seeing how throughout the Old testament we see God setting up the legal system that instituted capital punishment.
God’s people were delegated the right to take human life by His command.
Either in the form of His laws that resulted in capital punishment or through the calling of war.
Murdering would be when an Israelite acted on his own to decide that he had the right to end someone’s life.
This is where we can find that our American judicial system is very similar to the one God set up for the Israelites.
We have a system which allows the right of the judges to enact capital punishment.
The system which indicates differences between legal and illegal killing.
As we view this 6th word we can evaluate the differences between killing and murder.
Then we can rightly judge between the 2 when we are making a decision for our self or when we are asked to sit on a jury in court and decide it for someone else.
We at a minimum should understand and see war and self-defense isn’t against the sixth word.
It doesn’t mean you won’t have problems.
Illustration:
I asked a Sheriff friend of mine about these differences and he told me something that placed a perspective on the killing of another human.
You do have legal rights to take a life; but you still have to live afterwards knowing and reconciling the fact that you took a life.
If you don’t believe that you could: Don’t join the military and don’t carry a gun.
Pacifism isn’t supported by the sixth word.
Sometimes we allow our feelings to over rule our factual understanding or what God says.
The seventh word is:
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
On the basic level this isn’t misunderstood.
The command teaches that no one is allowed to have sex with any married person except his or her spouse, and no married person is allowed to have sex with anyone other than his or her spouse.
It is against what God deems perfect and right.
When we decide to disobey that facet of our marriage covenant we are doing something that impacts our connection.
The sexual relationship between husband and wife is a virtual seal to the marriage covenant and adultery betrays that.
It will impact the emotional and psychological intimacy.
Husbands and wives will find it difficult to function as one flesh if they don’t trust each other.
It strains that connection, which is vital to the relationship.
The word is speaking to the point that the marriage between a husband and wife needs to have this foundation for their connection.
This word doesn’t speak into the realm dealing with premarital sex, post marital sex, cohabitation without the covenantal marriage or any other types of physical pleasure outside of the marriage.
That is dealt with other places; but the implication is that none of those are holy or right before the Lord.
The giving of this word also creates the importance of the marriage covenant and is against divorce.
When one messes up God’s goal is always reconciliation.
Why do we have a divorce certificate then?
Jesus gives us the answer:
4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?”
8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
When we love someone and they mess up on this level we can rightly in God’s eyes be free from the covenant with them.
When we forgive their failure and pursue reconciliation it is because we love them!
God desires reconciliation and a closer relationship for the 2 that are 1 flesh.
He doesn’t desire separation.
The forgiveness and re-building of that trust is a bridge with a huge sign that states: God’s grace made it possible, love built it!
Some may ask: There’s no way! How can someone reconcile that?
They love the person unconditionally and understand what grace Christ extended to them.
Is it easy, No!
Is it possible? Yes!
Only possible through the strength and grace of Christ!
It can become a beautiful picture and testimony of Christ’s sanctification and what is possible through Him.
God allows the marriage to reflect the relationship between us and Him, if we let it!
The eighth word is addressing possessions a person has.
15 “You shall not steal.
This should be something every child at 4 years old understands.
You cannot take something that isn’t yours!
You don’t own it, you cannot have it even if you want it really bad.
This word also reveals ownership to an individual.
This shows that God has never intended the communal living or lifestyle for His people.
This would seem, to some, to be contrary to the N.T.
Did you know the church was perfect for a little while? It can be found in Acts 2:42-47
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
This was just after the Holy Spirit, or Culmination of the Spirit, came into the world and into man.
It didn’t last long, because we are in a world of sin and we give in to our desires and fail.
Even in this “perfect church” people owned things and they chose to give!
Why?
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
From the foundation of love for their brothers and sisters they gave!
It brings into perspective the responsibility that ownership brings.
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
This perspective is how we view the things God has given us or allowed us to have.
Do we view everything as “ours” because we earned it?
Or do we view everything as something that God has blessed us with to be able to help others who are in need?
A lot of times the only area people think of this is money; but God hasn’t blessed each one of us with a lot of money, He has blessed us in different ways.
Maybe He has blessed you with a knowledge of finances and it’s management.
Providing that wisdom to others is helping them with something you have been blessed with.
Maybe He has blessed you with construction or tools.
The point is that God has blessed each one of us with many talents and possessions and we can view them as tools to help our brothers and sisters.
Because we love them, not because God intended communal living.
If peoples needs were met, it should quiet or quench the desire to steal.
Typically speaking, I don’t think people are stealing because they need it, they steal because they believe the lie that they deserve it and others don’t.
Either way stealing is against what God says.
After seeing ownership and stealing it makes sense to hear the Ninth word:
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
This word is necessary, not just for individuals; but for a neighborly community to be possible.
Truth between neighbors builds trust.
I would love to say that adults don’t gossip or spread untruthful things to the community about a person; but we all know that isn’t true.
As adults we are better at disguising it and justifying it then when we were kids.
We tailor the information to the audience.
It can be a prayer request.
An informational exchange.
An “I’m concerned for so and so” moment.
Either way we aren’t much different than the elementary or middle school moments when we want people on our side instead of theirs.
Or making sure everyone knows exactly what they did wrong so they treat them accordingly.
This word from the Lord asks and expects us to portray each person in a truthful light when asked.
When it comes to offering up information: we shouldn’t say anything at all.
Imagine how much our society would change if we upheld this word.
Imagine the difference it would make in a court of law?
The ninth word reminds us to portray others how we would want to be portrayed.
In verse 17 we get the tenth and final word:
17 “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.”
This word teaches us about a motivation that would seem to dictate the 6th through 9th commandments.
It summarizes the driving force behind why some would murder, commit adultery, steal, and lie about others.
Coveting means:
“To desire or wish for, with eagerness; to desire earnestly to obtain or possess; in a good sense.” - Noah Webster
According to this kind of thinking no one would have any justification to kill, adulter, steal, or lie unless they desired things others own or possess.
The 10th word is given to rule over the sinful heart with truth.
Covetous people will break all the commandments to satisfy their desires, especially if they follow the worlds teaching to follow their hearts.
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Our heart leads to covetousness which dictates behavior and breaks God’s words.
If we don’t uphold God’s tenth word to keep our desires in check before the Lord we fail to live according to what He says is Holy.
Then we reap what James tells us:
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
This reveals that no one is sinless and all deserve judgment.
How are we supposed to fight against our unholy desires?
By adhering to the example that Israel left us to follow:
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
This phrase: The fear of Him can be categorized as a reverence; but also an respect due to His awesomeness.
When we are enamored with God as God we are less prone to fail, seeing how it upholds the first word.
When we don’t adhere to the first commandment and something else is on the throne of our heart, we will fail.
Keep a holy and healthy point of view of God, that will help you be Holy because He is.
The remaining verses are what begins the book of the covenant.
That starts with the proper building of an altar to the Lord.
He re-iterates the second word and to uphold it.
He highlights the proper way to offer sacrifices.
Also the order to service.
Conclusion:
The 10 words we have from the Lord are summarized by the 2 commandments Jesus said are the most important.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Our relationship between us and God has to be “right”.
That relationship is outlined with the first 5 words.
Our relationship between us and everyone else (man and man) has to be “right.
That relationship is outlined in the 6-9th words.
Each of the first 9 words outline our behavior and the 10th word addresses our heart and the actions that come from it.
Covetousness being the main motivation to be unholy before God.
Covetousness can be avoided by trembling in fear and reverence of the God who can shake the ground by His voice.
The one who is in control over your physical life and your spiritual one.
When you wake up do as Christ told us:
24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Follow Jesus!
-Pray!
