What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?
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· 2 viewsThis week, we take a look at question nine from the New City Catechism: What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?
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Q: What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?
A: Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love. Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them. Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
THE KING’S COMMANDS
THE KING’S COMMANDS
Do not take life.
Do not take life.
17 “ ‘You shall not murder.
“That we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love.”
God’s people are called to be life-giving and not life-taking. We are called to promote the image of God and not destroy the image of God.
Do not be unfaithful in marriage.
Do not be unfaithful in marriage.
18 “ ‘And you shall not commit adultery.
“That we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them.”
God’s parameters for the gift of sexual intimacy are the only rules that lead to the flourishing and safety of the individual and the community physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Do not steal.
Do not steal.
19 “ ‘And you shall not steal.
“That we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.”
When we take what doesn’t belong to us, we are rejecting God’s pathways of provision for our own at the expense of the good of those around us.
Of all the commands, these would seem on the surface to need the least commentary. Yet, Jesus speaks past the “letter of the law” to the depths of our hearts.
THE KING’S COMMENTARY
THE KING’S COMMENTARY
Let’s survey Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and meditate on the commentary he gives us on these commands.
Jesus emphasizes the requirement of the law.
Jesus emphasizes the requirement of the law.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is not “relaxing” or “untying” the requirements of the law. The kingdom way is not a rejection of the need for righteousness but a re-ordering of the source of righteousness. (See v. 20)
Jesus elevates the requirement of the law.
Jesus elevates the requirement of the law.
On Murder and Anger:
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
On Adultery and Lust:
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
On Trusting God not Money:
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
You might not be a murderer, but is your heart poisoned toward hate and a lack of forgiveness? You might not be an adulterer but are your eyes roaming and is your mind dreaming? You might not be a thief, but is your heart focused more on what you don’t have or what you do have?
Jesus’ commentary summarized:
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus diagnoses our failure to live up to the law.
Jesus diagnoses our failure to live up to the law.
A misplaced heart/desire.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
A lack of healthy spiritual vision.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
What about you? We have made it to command 8/10 and have yet to find a command that our hearts can’t find a way to get around. What is our hope?
THE KING’S CROSS
THE KING’S CROSS
Let’s talk about how the gospel of Jesus and his work on the cross accomplishes what we can’t by our own effort.
The cross creates a path to spiritual healing.
The cross creates a path to spiritual healing.
Unlocking the sermon on the mount with the context of Matthew.
1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
The leper hears Jesus say, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (7:7-8) And he responds with “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
Jesus says “I will. Be clean.”
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
The only spiritually healthy person ever became unhealthy so that the spiritually sick could be forever cleansed.
The cross frees us from the dominion and power of sin.
The cross frees us from the dominion and power of sin.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
Though we experience the presence of sin, we are no longer slaves to the power/dominion of sin.
“There is a total difference between surviving sin and reigning sin, the regenerate in conflict with sin and the unregenerate complacent to sin. It is one thing for sin to live in us: it is another for us to live in sin.” John Murray
The cross teaches us the path to a kingdom lifestyle.
The cross teaches us the path to a kingdom lifestyle.
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
On the cross, Jesus:
(1) glorifies the Father in his obedience and sacrifice.
(2) displays God’s will and inaugurates God’s kingdom.
(3) provides for us the spiritual bread of life.
(4) makes forgiveness with God possible.
(5) frees us from the dominion of evil forever.
The gospel shows us what Jesus has done for us and invites us to follow the pattern and prayer each day.
CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION
CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION
Only the gospel will show you the truth and depth of your sin AND only the gospel will offer you a solution to the problem you see.
Where do you need to pray, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean” this week?
“‘Run, man, run’ the Law commands
but gives neither feet nor hands.
Better news the gospel brings;
It bids me fly and gives me wings.” John Bunyan
