"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."
Every commandment (except for 4 and 5) were in the form of prohibitions (You shall not...), and each of them have their equal but opposite counterparts. In general, the counterpart of all the commandments is "Love God" and "Love your neighbor". The ten commandments are specifics on how not to love. Because loving someone is a discipline and varies greatly from situation to situation and person to person, God has chosen for the most part to not list instructions on how to love. However, certain actions are in no way loving and should be avoided if the commandment is to be kept. These are not necessarily an all encompassing instruction on how to love, but rather how to not break the commandment to love.
That being said, bearing false testimony against your neighbor certainly isn't loving them. When the Pharisees brought false testimony against Jesus in order to convict and kill him, they certainly weren't loving him. Actually, they hated him. And who is your neighbor? Those who have mercy on others (Luke 10:36-37) and imitate God. So do not slander your fellow servants in Christ nor treat them with contempt to try and tear them down out of jealousy or hatred like the Pharisees who hated their fellow Jew, Jesus Christ. Rather build one another up (1Cor 14:26), speaking in psalms, hymns and Spiritual songs (Eph 5:19). This is loving your neighbor.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Deuteronomy 5:19
"You shall not steal."
We all steal. Perhaps we call it borrowing without asking, or we have some other clever name for it, but regardless, taking something which we have no right to take is in fact, stealing. There are many excuses for stealing, such as "It was just going to waste anyway" or "No one is going to miss it" or even worse "I deserve it because of..."
Stealing is hardly considered a major offense today, but it is included with commandments prohibiting murder and adultery and carries the same consequences. What's the big deal? While the damage may be minimal to those you steal from, the self-destructiveness of stealing is catastrophic. Stealing and dishonesty go hand in hand and those who steal tend also to be liars (in order to cover up their thievery). Stealing is a gateway sin which leads to many others (covetousness, pride, deceit, greed, etc.)
But "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." (Eph 4:28) The opposite of stealing is not "not stealing" but rather generosity. We are called to lives that give of themselves selflessly as a reflection of our generous Lord. Stealing is a denial of the image of God we were made in and an affront to his glory because we are not able to reflect Him properly.
We all steal. Perhaps we call it borrowing without asking, or we have some other clever name for it, but regardless, taking something which we have no right to take is in fact, stealing. There are many excuses for stealing, such as "It was just going to waste anyway" or "No one is going to miss it" or even worse "I deserve it because of..."
Stealing is hardly considered a major offense today, but it is included with commandments prohibiting murder and adultery and carries the same consequences. What's the big deal? While the damage may be minimal to those you steal from, the self-destructiveness of stealing is catastrophic. Stealing and dishonesty go hand in hand and those who steal tend also to be liars (in order to cover up their thievery). Stealing is a gateway sin which leads to many others (covetousness, pride, deceit, greed, etc.)
But "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." (Eph 4:28) The opposite of stealing is not "not stealing" but rather generosity. We are called to lives that give of themselves selflessly as a reflection of our generous Lord. Stealing is a denial of the image of God we were made in and an affront to his glory because we are not able to reflect Him properly.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Deuteronomy 5:18
"You shall not commit adultery."
When we remember that anyone who breaks any of these commandments is subject to death, we can begin to understand the seriousness of adultery. Why? Because adultery is a force so powerful and destructive that it can singlehandedly become grounds for divorce (Mt 5:31). Adultery destroys relationships. It takes two people who were bonded together and rips them apart, tearing at their hearts and souls and unleashed so much emotional pain and turmoil that it is an affront to God. No parent can stand to see their children heartbroken, and neither can God.
And yet, Jesus says that the one who looks at a woman lustfully commits adultery with her in his heart (same goes for women). Recognizing the destructive power of adultery, Jesus's solution is graphic: If your eyes look lustfully, cut them out. If your hand causes you to sin, (say by touching another person lustfully) cut it off and throw it away. You know why? Because it is easier to cut off one's own body parts than to correct a heart that lusts.
With man such correction is impossible. No matter how hard you try, you will never escape your sinfulness, but thank God he has sent us a savior! Now even when we sin, we have one who intercedes for us and defends us before the throne of God. It is Christ living in us that transforms us by the power of the Holy Spirit not to lust for only he can fulfill our every need. With Christ in us, what else is their to lust for?
When we remember that anyone who breaks any of these commandments is subject to death, we can begin to understand the seriousness of adultery. Why? Because adultery is a force so powerful and destructive that it can singlehandedly become grounds for divorce (Mt 5:31). Adultery destroys relationships. It takes two people who were bonded together and rips them apart, tearing at their hearts and souls and unleashed so much emotional pain and turmoil that it is an affront to God. No parent can stand to see their children heartbroken, and neither can God.
And yet, Jesus says that the one who looks at a woman lustfully commits adultery with her in his heart (same goes for women). Recognizing the destructive power of adultery, Jesus's solution is graphic: If your eyes look lustfully, cut them out. If your hand causes you to sin, (say by touching another person lustfully) cut it off and throw it away. You know why? Because it is easier to cut off one's own body parts than to correct a heart that lusts.
With man such correction is impossible. No matter how hard you try, you will never escape your sinfulness, but thank God he has sent us a savior! Now even when we sin, we have one who intercedes for us and defends us before the throne of God. It is Christ living in us that transforms us by the power of the Holy Spirit not to lust for only he can fulfill our every need. With Christ in us, what else is their to lust for?
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Deuteronomy 5:17
"You shall not murder."
Those who read the Bible without insight see this commandment as hypocrisy. God commands us not to murder, but does he not take life? Does he not also command others to kill? Such people do not understand the spirit of the commandment.
If a man is wicked and unrepentant and causes much suffering while he is alive, God's justice dictates this man be removed from the earth not to punish the wicked man but to protect the innocent. God is also the one who gave life in the first place to be used not for wickedness but for good. The life we own is a life borrowed from eternity, entrusted to our care by the creator God. We are not to do as we please with it, especially depriving another of their gift of life as well.
The spirit of this commandment is one that requires us not only to murder someone in our hands, but in our hearts as well. Life was not granted to be spent hating each other. Such hatred is not of God and has no place in God's creation. God cannot dwell in hearts that are filled with malice (not the same as anger). He cannot be worshiped by a heart filled with hate. This is why murder and hatred share the same judgment. (Mt 5:22)
Forgiveness, mercy, compassion, and love are from God. The command not to hate and murder is the same command to love God and your neighbor stated different ways. Do not hold onto bitterness, but learn to forgive and let go for in the end it will only destroy you.
Those who read the Bible without insight see this commandment as hypocrisy. God commands us not to murder, but does he not take life? Does he not also command others to kill? Such people do not understand the spirit of the commandment.
If a man is wicked and unrepentant and causes much suffering while he is alive, God's justice dictates this man be removed from the earth not to punish the wicked man but to protect the innocent. God is also the one who gave life in the first place to be used not for wickedness but for good. The life we own is a life borrowed from eternity, entrusted to our care by the creator God. We are not to do as we please with it, especially depriving another of their gift of life as well.
The spirit of this commandment is one that requires us not only to murder someone in our hands, but in our hearts as well. Life was not granted to be spent hating each other. Such hatred is not of God and has no place in God's creation. God cannot dwell in hearts that are filled with malice (not the same as anger). He cannot be worshiped by a heart filled with hate. This is why murder and hatred share the same judgment. (Mt 5:22)
Forgiveness, mercy, compassion, and love are from God. The command not to hate and murder is the same command to love God and your neighbor stated different ways. Do not hold onto bitterness, but learn to forgive and let go for in the end it will only destroy you.
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