Don't Covet “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”(Ex 20:17) To Covet means to: “set the heart upon, long for, have earnest desire, to...
“You shall not give false witness” (Ex 20:16). Many interpret this to mean that it is wrong to lie, which is correct to a point. The core of this command is not to falsely accuse someone of an offence. In the OT two false witnesses...
“You shall not steal” (Ex 20:15). This is a simple command. If it isn’t yours don’t take it. Don’t take someone’s stuff, their honor or their words. When a thief steals, he exchanges self-respect for plunder. Better to be rich in integrity and poor in possessions....
“You shall not commit adultery. Eph 5:31-32 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Sex is an expression of love, covenant and exclusiveness between a husband and wife. This is...
“You shall not murder” (Ex 20:13). To murder is to take an innocent human life. It is not the same as to kill, for instance, taking a life in self-defense, in war or to protect family is not murder. In Matt 5:21-22 Jesus refers to...
The 5th Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother” (Ex 20:12). This is the first of the Ten Commandments that has a promise attached, “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Eph 6:2-3). The word...
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Ex 20:8). Sabbath means to “cease,” from work, some need physical rest, others mental rest. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27). It is a command that is still in effect...
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Ex 20:7 We all know using the names of God, Jesus or Christ as swear words is a smear against His great Holiness....
[caption id="attachment_38" align="alignnone" width="300"] Golden Calf[/caption] “do not make a carved image… you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” Ex 20:4-5. In our culture we don’t have carved images, but we still serve many things: Distractions - sheer business; Fear - that leads to...
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex 20:2-3). Only two powers exist: God and Satan (the source of all false gods). God sets people free from bondage. Satan traps them in...