THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

by Albert Gardner

When God brought the Jews out of Egypt, He spoke the Ten Commandments to them, which Moses recorded in Exodus 20:1-17. Moses restated the law in Deuteronomy 5. "Moses called all Israel and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made not the covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us alive this day" (Deuteronomy 5:1-3).

Notice 1) He called Israel 2) God made this covenant with them 3) He gave it at Horeb, which is Mt. Sinai. This means the Ten Commandments were given to the Jews and were never given to Gentiles. Gentiles were never in Egyptian bondage, and were never given a law at Horeb.

The Ten Commandments, along with the entire Jewish law were taken away at the cross. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:14). The only "handwriting of God that we know anything about is on the tables of stone. "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written by the finger of God" (Exodus 31:18). This writing was nailed to the cross.

In view of this, what is the meaning of Matthew 5:17-18? "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled." He does not say the law will last as long as heaven and earth.

Jesus is the only one who could keep the law, and therefore, fulfilled it. He did not come to remove it by force but to fulfill it. Until He fulfilled it, no part of the law would be removed, but when it was fulfilled all of it would be taken away. "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances: for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace" (Ephesians 2:15).

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3).

The Bible was given to reveal God to man. Without revelation people turn to nature and worship the sun, moon and stars. Moses taught the people there is one God. "Unto thee it was shewed; that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him. . .Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else" (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39).

The scribe agreed. "And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God, and there is none other but he" (Mark 12:32). Paul taught "there is but one God, the Father" (1 Corinthians 8:6).

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. . .Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them" (Exodus 20:4-5).

Both Judah and Israel worshiped idols which led to Israel being taken away by the Assyrians and Judah being taken to Babylon. After the Babylonian captivity, the Jews never

again worshiped idols. "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols" (Ezekiel 37:23).

The weakness and foolishness of idolatry is seen in many verses. Isaiah explains how a carpenter will take a tree, with part he will warm himself, with part he will cook his food, and with part he makes a god to worship, and prays to it, and asks for deliverance (Isaiah 44:13-18).

Consider the comparison of our God and their idols. "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield" (Psalm 115:3-9).

That description of idols reminds us of Dagon, the god of the Philistines, who captured the ark of God and put it in their temple by the side of Dagon. "And when they of Ashdod arose on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him" (1 Samuel 5:3-4).

Did you notice that those of the temple had to set Dagon in his place? How could such a god help them in need, if he did not have power to get up from the ground? Idol depend on people to carry them, for at no time can they carry people.

Paul told the people of Athens about the true God. "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your poets have said, For we are also his offspring" (Acts 17:24-28).

III

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

The word vain means empty, having no real value, worthless, hollow. To take it in vain is to use the name of God in an empty, insincere, irreverent fashion which is forbidden. "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:12).

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).

The sabbath is the seventh day, not the first (Deuteronomy 5:14). Two reasons are assigned as to why the Jews were to keep the sabbath. First, God rested from Hiss creative work on the seventh day (Exodus 20:11). No one was required to keep the sabbath until God commanded it of the Jews. "Thou camest down also on mount Sinai, and speakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madests known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedest them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant" (Nehemiah 9:13-14). The sabbath was "made known" at mount Sinai, for it had not been observed before this time.

Second, God wanted the Jews to remember He delivered them from Egypt. "And remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day" (Deuteronomy 5:15).

If the Ten Commandments are still in force and are to be observed by people today, it is obvious that the fourth command to remember the sabbath is to be kept. The claim is made the Ten Commandments are the moral law which existed from the beginning and will continue till the end of time. However, the fourth command to remember the sabbath is not a moral law, but is a positive divine command surrounded by moral commands. The early church did not observe the sabbath, but worshiped on the first day of the week. This was in keeping with prophecy.

"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:22-24).

These verses are quoted and applied to Christ. After the man was healed at the Beautiful gate of the temple, Peter preached the second recorded sermon. The Sadducees did not like his preaching about the resurrection, and Peter and John were put in jail over night. They were brought before the high priest and others, and were asked "by what power, or by what name" the man was healed. Peter said it was done by "the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner" (Acts 4:10-11).

When did Jesus become the head stone of the corner? He became the head of the corner when He was raised. When was He raised? He was raised on the first day of the week. "Now when Jesus was raised early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils" (Mark 16:9).

Now, notice Psalm 118:24. "This is the day which the Lord hath made." This is the day. What day? The day He became the head stone of the corner, the resurrection day, which is the first day. This is the day the Lord has made. It is the Lord’s day. What day is that? It is the first day that is the Lord’s day.

The first century church under the direction of the apostles, guided them by inspiration to worship on the first day of the week. "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7).

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (1 Corinthians 16:2).

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet" (Revelation 1:10).

Who changed sabbath observance to worship on the first day? The pope, Constantine, or any other man did not do it. It was in the plan of God, which plan is revealed by David.

Paul clearly identifies the Ten Commandments in 2 Corinthians 3:7, and says they are to be done away. "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away." The next verses make a contrast between the law and the gospel. Notice verse eleven. "For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." In verse seven, the law written on stones was "glorious." Verse eleven says that which was "glorious" is done away. 1) Ten Commandments were written on stone 2) they are said to be glorious 3) that which was glorious is done away.

Under the Christian age we are not free to kill, lie, steal, or commit adultery, because nine of the ten commandments are included in the gospel (Romans 13:8-9), either directly or are forbidden by some positive statement.

"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).

How do we honor our parents. Paul instructed children to obey their parents, and then quotes Exodus 20:12, to "honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise (Ephesians 6:12). One way children obey their parents is to obey them. In a long list of sins of the Gentiles, is that they are "disobedient to parents" (Romans 1:30). In the last days when perilous times shall come, men will be disobedient to parents (2 Timothy 3:2).

Another way we honor our parents is to love them. There are four Greek words which are translated by one English word love. Eros is physical love and storge is family love, but neither of these words appear in the New Testament, though much teaching is given on both of them. Phileo is brotherly love and is used often in Scripture. Agapeo is unconditional, no strings attached, which looks out for the best interest of that which is loved. "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44). If we love our enemy we will feed him if he is hungry, or give him a drink if he is thirsty (Romans 12:20). We will look out for his best interest. We will do this if we love the church, or if we love the Bible. If we love our parents we will look out for their best interest, which is unconditional love.

A third way to honor our parents is to support them if they need it. In 1 Timothy 5, Paul discusses widows and the duty of the church to help them. He mentions three classes of widows. First, there are those he calls "widows indeed" (verse 3). These widows are to meet certain qualifications listed in verses 9 and 10, before they are enrolled or taken into the number. These are fully supported by the church and "continueth in supplications and prayers night and day" (verse 5).

Widows indeed are desolate, and have no one to care for them, but a second class of widows have relatives that can and should care for them. "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (verse 8). "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed" (verse 16).

A third class is younger widows. "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully" (verse 14).

"Thou shalt not kill: (Exodus 20:13).

All killing is not murder. Even our laws recognize this. In case of accident when one is killed, often no one is arrested. This is different from armed robbery when someone is murdered. In some translations of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 (NKJV), instead of "Thou shalt not kill", it read "you shall not murder."

Under the Jewish law, they had six cities (three on either side of the Jordan River), which were designated as Cities of Refuge. When a person killed another, even if it were accidental, they could run to one of these cities where they would receive a fair trial. If it were accidental, he could remain in that city until the death of the high priest, then he would be free to go home (Joshua 20).

God is the author of civil government which is for our good. Without it society would be in complete disruption and lawlessness. Paul states the role of civil government.

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil" (Romans 13:1-4).

Almost from the beginning God authorized punishment for the lawless and disobedient (Genesis 9:5-6). Civil government is authorized by God for two major purposes. One, to praise law abiding people, and two, to punish the disobedient. He (civil government) is the minister of God. Civil government holds society under control "so we may lead a quiet and peaceable life" (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

As the servant of God, civil government can punish and even use the death penalty for some crimes. You can’t do that as an individual, for that would be murder. You can’t start your own police force, for that would be vengeance. But civil government as the minister of God does not bear the sword in vain.

Solomon lists seven things that god hates, and one of them is "hands that shed innocent blood" (Proverbs 6:17). EUTHANASIA is the belief that when one’s life has reached a place that one is no longer active and productive and that one is rather useless, it is all right to take that life. Some are even asking doctors to assist such people to die.

SUICIDE is the taking of one’s own life. Some of those who do this have a mental break down and are not responsible for their actions. Life is a gift from God and we have no right to end it in this way. Ahithophel hanged himself because others would not take his advice (2 Samuel 17:23). King Saul had been wounded in battle, so to prevent the enemy from abusing him, fell on his sword. His armor bearer did the same (1 Samuel 31:4). Samson asked for strength once more to pull down the temple where the Philistines were making sport of him. This would be like one dying in battle for his country, rather than suicide. Judas betrayed our Lord and went out and hanged himself, and he went to his own place (Acts 1:18).

ABORTION is the killing of an unborn child, and is therefore murder, even if the laws of the land approve it. When Mary went to visit Elizabeth who was pregnant with John, she told Mary "the babe leaped in her womb" (Luke 1:41). He was a baby before he was born. When the angel told the shepherds about the birth of Christ, they went to see Him. They were told "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12). After Jesus is born He is called a babe. This is the same word used of John before he was born.

WAR brings about much killing, but as civil government is a servant of God to control society, so one nation has the right to discipline an unruly nation that would be harmful to society. It was because of Hitler that World War II was fought. He killed six million Jews and had his eye on world domination. Many nations enter and believed it was a just war.

VII

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).

God is the author of sex, so it is normal for men and women to be attracted to each other. It was the plan of God from the beginning for one man and one woman to live together until death. God said, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). In no real sense could Adam leave his father and mother, which means these instructions were given to the human race. Marriage is not a church ordinance because marriage was given centuries before the church began.

Divorce was not in the original plan of God, but was allowed because of the hardness of hearts of the people, "but from the beginning it was not so" (Matthew 19:8). The Pharisees came to Jesus tempting Him, and asked the question, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" Jesus takes them back to the beginning to show them how things ought to be. When people marry they become one. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).

Jesus gives the one cause for divorce which allows the innocent party to remarry. "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matthew 19:9).

Sexual intercourse before marriage or outside of marriage is forbidden. One reason for marriage is to satisfy the natural desires for the opposite sex in a scriptural way (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Though youthful desires may be strong (2 Timothy 2:22), they are to be controlled. "That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor" (1 Thessalonians 4:4).

Fornication includes every form of sexual activity that is contrary to scripture, fornication and adultery, having sex with animal, sodomy, or homosexuality. In Jude 7, the example of Sodom and Gomorrha is given, saying they were "giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Genesis 19:4-5 shows the wide spread practice of homosexuality in the city. That practice destroyed the city of Sodom, so the lesson we should learn is that it will destroy a city or nation now, if they approve and encourage it. It is an unnatural practice (Romans 1:26-27)

VIII

"Thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:15).

In one sense we do not own anything. "The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1). The proper way to look at the things we possess, is that we are stewards of God. A steward is one that holds property for another, and is accountable for it, and must be faithful with it.

Ananias and Sapphira sold some land and kept back part of the price, but claimed that was the full price which they brought to the apostles. "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:3-4). Even though we only hold it as a steward, private property is to be respected. Stealing is indirectly stealing from God.

When one becomes a Christian, he puts off his former way of life. "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28).

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).

God is all powerful and can do anything consistent with His will, but He cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). He has never lied to get people to follow Him. Jesus said , "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He draws but does not force. He draws with truth.

Satan uses "deceitful workers" (2 Corinthians 11:13, while Jesus uses truth. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32).

Since God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit always tell the truth, they want us to deal that way with our neighbor. A false witness can bring much harm by destroying the reputation of another. As a Christian one puts away the former life. "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another" (Ephesians 4:25).

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s" (Exodus 20:17).

To covet is to enviously desire what belongs to another, instead of looking out for and doing what would be in the best interest of another. After giving a brief list of things we are not to covet, God said, "nor anything that is thy neighbor’s"

Achan detailed his own down fall concerning the accursed spoils at Ai. "When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it" (Joshua 7:21). He saw, coveted, took and hid them.

Paul calls covetousness idolatry. "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, no unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Ephesians 5:5). "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).

Covetousness has been the down fall of many. "For the love of money is the root of evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10). The covetous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). A man came to Jesus and asked Him to divide the inheritance between him and his brother. Jesus knew the man’s heart and said to him, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). We are of value not because of what we have but who we are.

Happiness is mental and does not depend on things. Contentment is in the heart. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:6-8).