ETHICS

Ethics, personal

Synopsis

Scripture teaches that individuals have a responsibility before God for their conduct.

Ethical principles in relationships generally

Mt 7:12

Matthew 7:12 (NKJV) — 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

See also Ex 20:13–17; Le 19:18; Lk 6:31; Ro 12:9–10; Ga 6:10; 1 Ti 5:10; 1 Pe 3:8

Exodus 20:13–17 (NKJV) — 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV) — 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Luke 6:31 (NKJV) — 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Romans 12:9–10 (NKJV) — 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) — 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1 Timothy 5:10 (NKJV) — 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

1 Peter 3:8 (NKJV) — 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

The importance of thoughts and motives

Mt 6:1–4

Matthew 6:1–4 (NKJV) — 1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

See also Ex 21:13–14; Mt 5:22; Mt 5:28; Php 4:8; Jas 1:15

Exodus 21:13–14 (NKJV) — 13 However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. 14 “But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.

Matthew 5:22 (NKJV) — 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:28 (NKJV) — 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) — 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

James 1:15 (NKJV) — 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Personal ethics in relation to God

Idolatry prohibited

Ex 20:4

Exodus 20:4 (NKJV) — 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

See also Le 26:1; Jos 24:14; Ac 14:15; 1 Jn 5:21; Re 22:9

Leviticus 26:1 (NKJV) — 1 ‘You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God.

Joshua 24:14 (NKJV) — 14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!

Acts 14:15 (NKJV) — 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

1 John 5:21 (NKJV) — 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Revelation 22:9 (NKJV) — 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

God’s name to be honoured

Ex 20:7

Exodus 20:7 (NKJV) — 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

See also Le 19:12; Dt 28:58; Mt 5:34; Mt 6:9; Jas 5:12

Leviticus 19:12 (NKJV) — 12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

Deuteronomy 28:58 (NKJV) — 58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD,

Matthew 5:34 (NKJV) — 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

Matthew 6:9 (NKJV) — 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

James 5:12 (NKJV) — 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

Sabbath observance

Ex 20:8

Exodus 20:8 (NKJV) — 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

See also Ex 31:15; Ex 34:21; Le 26:2; Ne 10:31; Is 56:2

Exodus 31:15 (NKJV) — 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 34:21 (NKJV) — 21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

Leviticus 26:2 (NKJV) — 2 You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.

Nehemiah 10:31 (NKJV) — 31 if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and we would forego the seventh year’s produce and the exacting of every debt.

Isaiah 56:2 (NKJV) — 2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Obedience to God’s commands

Ac 5:29

Acts 5:29 (NKJV) — 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

See also Dt 26:16; Mt 7:21

Deuteronomy 26:16 (NKJV) — 16 “This day the Lord your God commands you to observe these statutes and judgments; therefore you shall be careful to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Personal ethics and human relationships

Wives and husbands

Eph 5:22; Eph 5:25

Ephesians 5:22 (NKJV) — 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) — 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

See also Ge 2:24; Dt 24:5; Mt 19:6; 1 Co 7:10–11; Col 3:18–19; 1 Pe 3:1; 1 Pe 3:7

Genesis 2:24 (NKJV) — 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Deuteronomy 24:5 (NKJV) — 5 “When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.

Matthew 19:6 (NKJV) — 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

1 Corinthians 7:10–11 (NKJV) — 10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Colossians 3:18–19 (NKJV) — 18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

1 Peter 3:1 (NKJV) — 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) — 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Children and parents

Eph 6:1–4

Ephesians 6:1–4 (NKJV) — 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

See also Ex 20:12; Ex 21:15; Le 20:9; Dt 6:7; Pr 19:18; Pr 22:6; Pr 23:22; Col 3:20–21; 1 Ti 3:4; 1 Ti 5:4

Exodus 20:12 (NKJV) — 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 21:15 (NKJV) — 15 “And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Leviticus 20:9 (NKJV) — 9 ‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.

Deuteronomy 6:7 (NKJV) — 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Proverbs 19:18 (NKJV) — 18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) — 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 23:22 (NKJV) — 22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.

Colossians 3:20–21 (NKJV) — 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

1 Timothy 3:4 (NKJV) — 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

1 Timothy 5:4 (NKJV) — 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.

The extended family

1 Ti 5:8

1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV) — 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

See also Le 25:10; Le 25:25; Le 25:49; Nu 36:8; Dt 25:5; 1 Sa 20:29

Leviticus 25:10 (NKJV) — 10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.

Leviticus 25:25 (NKJV) — 25 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.

Leviticus 25:49 (NKJV) — 49 or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself.

Numbers 36:8 (NKJV) — 8 And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be the wife of one of the family of her father’s tribe, so that the children of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers.

Deuteronomy 25:5 (NKJV) — 5 “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.

1 Samuel 20:29 (NKJV) — 29 And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”

Slaves and masters

Col 3:22; Col 4:1

Colossians 3:22 (NKJV) — 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Colossians 4:1 (NKJV) — 1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

See also Ex 21:2; Eph 6:5; Eph 6:9; 1 Ti 6:1; Tt 2:9; 1 Pe 2:18

Exodus 21:2 (NKJV) — 2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing.

Ephesians 6:5 (NKJV) — 5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

Ephesians 6:9 (NKJV) — 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

1 Timothy 6:1 (NKJV) — 1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

Titus 2:9 (NKJV) — 9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,

1 Peter 2:18 (NKJV) — 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

Employers and employees

Le 19:13

Leviticus 19:13 (NKJV) — 13 ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.

See also Dt 24:14–15; Job 31:13–14; Je 22:13; Mal 3:5; Jas 5:4

Deuteronomy 24:14–15 (NKJV) — 14 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15 Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.

Job 31:13–14 (NKJV) — 13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me, 14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

Jeremiah 22:13 (NKJV) — 13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages And gives him nothing for his work,

Malachi 3:5 (NKJV) — 5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.

James 5:4 (NKJV) — 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.