Sermon Tone Analysis

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.