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All
Christians, at one time or another, have heard the ten Commandments. These
are the ten laws God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai during the time the
Israelites wandered in the desert after being freed from their bondage to
the Egyptians (Exodus 20:3-17). These commandments are preached in our
churches and we remember them for recital at a very young age. But do we
really understand what they mean? Below, I've listed these great laws and
provided an explanation as to their meaning.
I. You shall have no other
god before me. (Exodus 20:3)
There's only one God. Contrary to the beliefs of many
religions, there aren't different gods for different situations. Our
heavenly Father is the creator and director of all life. He alone is worthy
of our praise and adoration. He's the only God of the universe. We're to
worship him alone and not the fictional gods of myth and legend.
II. You shall not make for
yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth
beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bend down to them or worship
them; . . . (Exodus 20:4-5)
This law is a reflection of the first. Since all other
gods are only creations of man's mind, they're unworthy of worship. If we
create an image, like the golden calf in Exodus, then we're giving a visual
stimulus to the gods of our sin. There are also idols we haven't personally
created but are idols. If we hold any one person in a higher regard than
God, that person becomes an idol and a false god. The same holds true of our
finances and possessions when they become more important to us than God.
III. You shall not misuse
the name of the LORD your God, . . . (Exodus 20:7)
The name of God is a name that should be used with the
highest esteem. Misusing his name isn't just using it as a curse. To damn
someone in the name of God isn't part of being a Christian. Judgment and
condemnation belong to God. Another misuse of God's name is swearing to
oaths by using God's name. If you swear an oath in the name of God, you're
saying God has given your promise some validation. Instead of swearing an
oath in God's name, we should only give our promise to another person on our
word. IV.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days
you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to
the LORD your God . . . (Exodus 20:8-11)
The Sabbath day is to be a day of reflecting on the
works of God, his laws, and all he's done for us. In the Old Testament, the
Sabbath was the seventh day of the week, or Saturday, the day on which God
rested from his work of creation (read Genesis 2:2-3). However, because of
the resurrection, which occurred on a Sunday (at least according to
historians), Christians today celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday. We're still
to rest one day out of the seven.
V. Honor your father and
your mother, . . . (Exodus 20:12)
In this case, honor is referring to love, respect, and
obedience. Since your parents tended to your needs in your childhood, don't
abandon them in their old age when they need your help. This honor is a
life-long commitment. However, there's a limit to what's to be respected and
tolerated. When parents are abusive, neglectful, or teach anything that goes
against the Word of God, we're permitted to be disobedient to our parents.
The laws and ways of God take precedence over any human activity. There's no
disrespect in telling someone they're not living in the way of God and
pointing out the actions that need correction.
VI. You shall not murder.
(Exodus 20:13) |
