BIBLE STUDY – THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

PART 2

SIXTH COMMANDMENT: DO NOT MURDER --- {Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17}

The wording of this Commandment simply prohibits "killing"; however, the word used is not related primarily to killing in warfare or to capital punishment, both of which are dealt with in other portions of the Mosaic Law. The word could be used to designate both murder and manslaughter. Since manslaughter involves accidental killing, it cannot be sensibly prohibited; it too, is dealt with in other legislation {Deuteronomy 19:1-13}. Thus, the sixth Commandment prohibits murder, the taking of another person's life for personal and selfish gain. Stated positively, the sixth Commandment preserves for each member of the Covenant community the right to live. In the modern world, a similar statute prohibiting murder exists in almost all legal codes, having become a part of state Law, in addition to purely religious or Moral Law. Yeshua however, pointed to the deeper meaning implicit in the Commandment. It is not only the act, but also the sentiment underlying the act, that is evil {Matthew 5:21-22}.

SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY --- {Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18}

The act of adultery is fundamentally an act of unfaithfulness. One or both persons in an adulterous act are being unfaithful to other persons. Of all such crimes, the worst is that which signifies unfaithfulness. It is for this reason that adultery is included in the Ten Commandments while other sins or crimes pertaining to sexuality are not. Thus, the seventh Commandment is the social parallel to the first Commandment. Just as the first Commandment requires absolute faithfulness in the relationship with the one YHVH Elohiym, so the seventh requires a similar relationship of faithfulness within the Covenant of marriage. The relevance of the Commandment is apparent, but again Yeshua points to the implications of the Commandment for the mental life {Matthew 5:27-28}.

EIGHTH COMMANDMENT: DO NOT STEAL --- {Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 5:19}

The eighth Commandment establishes a principle within the Covenant community concerning possessions and property. A person has a right to certain things, which cannot not be violated by a fellow citizen for his or her personal advantage. But while the Commandment is concerned with property, its most fundamental concern is human liberty. The worst form of theft is "manstealing" {somewhat equivalent to modern kidnapping} -- that is, taking a person {presumably by force} and selling him or her into slavery. The crime and the related Law are stated more fully in Deuteronomy 24:7. The Commandment is thus not only concerned with the preservation of private property but is more fundamentally concerned with the preservation of human liberty {freedom from slavery and exile}. It prohibits a person from manipulating or exploiting the lives of others for personal gain. Just as the sixth Commandment prohibits murder, so the eighth prohibits what might be called "social murder," that is, the cutting off of a man or woman from a life of freedom within the community of YHVH's people

NINTH COMMANDMENT: AVOID BEARING FALSE WITNESS --- {Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20}

This Commandment is not a general prohibition against lies. The wording of the original Commandment sets it firmly in the context of Israel's legal system. It prohibits perjury, or the giving of false testimony within the proceedings of a court of law. Thus, it establishes a principle of truthfulness and carries implications with respect to false statements in any context. Within any nation, the courts of law must be able to operate on the basis of true information. If law is not based on truth and righteousness, then the very foundations of life and liberty are undermined. If legal testimony is true, there can be no miscarriage of justice; if it is false, the most fundamental of human liberties are lost. Thus, the Commandment sought to preserve the integrity of Israel's legal system while guarding against the abuse of personal liberties. The principle is maintained in most modern legal systems, for example, in the taking of an oath before giving evidence in court. But the Commandment also points to the necessity of truthfulness in all interpersonal relationships.

TENTH COMMANDMENT: DO NOT COVET --- {Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21}

The tenth Commandment is curious in its initial context. It prohibits the coveting, or desiring, of persons or things belonging to a neighbour. To find such a Commandment in a code of criminal law is unusual. The first nine Commandments prohibited physical acts. A criminal act can be followed by prosecution and legal process if detected. But the tenth Commandment, in contrast, prohibits desires, or covetous feelings. Under human law, it is not possible to prosecute upon the basis of desire, since proof would be impossible. While the crime involved in the tenth Commandment could not be prosecuted within the limitations of the Hebrew system, it was nevertheless known by YHVH, the "Most-High Judge." The genius of the Commandment lies in its therapeutic nature. It is not enough merely to deal with crime once it has been committed; the law must also attempt to attack the roots of crime. The root of almost all evil and crime lies in the desires of the individual. So, evil desires are prohibited. If covetous desires are gradually eliminated, then natural desires can be directed toward YHVH.

PRINCIPLE OF THE COMMANDMENTS

The relevance of each Commandment is understood in the underlying principle of the whole Decalogue. The principle of the whole is the principle of Love, the heart of Israel's religion. YHVH Loved Israel and called them in Love. In return, He imposed one Commandment upon Israel that superseded all others: "You shall love Adonai your YHVH with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" {Deuteronomy 6:5}. That is the central Commandment of Israel's religion. How to love the invisible, intangible YHVH is partly explained in the Decalogue. For the person who loves YHVH, the Ten Commandments provide guidance -- they point to a way of life that reflects love for YHVH and leads to a deeper experience of YHVH's Love. Therefore, the Ten Commandments continue to be a central part of all believers. Yeshua repeated the Commandment to love from Deuteronomy 6:5 and he called it "the first and greatest Commandment" {Matthew 22:37-38}. Consequently, the Ten Commandments still serve as a guide for the believer community.

YESHUA AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1 -- What the First Commandment says: "Do not worship any other gods." {Exodus 20:3}
What Yeshua said: "You must worship Adonai your YHVH; serve only Him." {Matthew 4:10}

2 -- What the Second Commandment says: "Do not make idols of any kind." {Exodus 20:4}
What Yeshua said: "No one can serve two masters." {Luke 16:13}

3 -- What the Third Commandment says: "Do not misuse the Name of Adonai." {Exodus 20:7}
What Yeshua said: "Don't make any vows! If you say, ‘By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is YHVH's Throne." {Matthew 5:34}

4 -- What the Fourth Commandment says: "Remember to observe the Shabbat day by keeping it holy." {Exodus 20:8-10}
What Yeshua said: "The Shabbat was made to benefit people, and not people to benefit the Shabbat. And I, the Son of Man, am Master even of the Shabbat!" {Mark 2:27-28}

5 -- What the Fifth Commandment says: "Honour your father and mother." {Exodus 20:12}
What Yeshua said: "If you love your father or mother more than you love Me, you are not worthy of being mine." {Matthew 10:37}

6 -- What the Sixth Commandment says: "Do not murder." {Exodus 20:13}
What Yeshua said: "If you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!" {Matthew 5:22}

7 -- What the Seventh Commandment says: "Do not commit adultery." {Exodus 20:14}
What Yeshua said: "Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart." {Matthew 5:28}

8 -- What the Eighth Commandment says: "Do not steal." {Exodus 20:15}
What Yeshua said: "If . . . your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too." {Matthew 5:40}

9 -- What the Ninth Commandment says: "Do not testify falsely against your neighbour." {Exodus 20:16}
What Yeshua said: "You must give an account on Judgment Day of every idle word you speak." {Matthew 12:36}

10 -- What the Tenth Commandment says: "Do not covet." {Exodus 20:17}
What Yeshua said: "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have." {Luke 12:15}