1. You shall have no other gods before Me
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:3: “You
shall have no other gods before Me.”
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Explanation: Do we still need this commandment? We certainly
do. Whatever holds the supreme place in a person’s life is a god.
The story is told that in a certain museum in China there was an exhibit
called "The American God." And what do you suppose it was? A dollar
bill, neatly framed.
It is strange how modern men turn away from the living God, who is
revealed in nature and the Bible, and invent imaginary gods to fit their
unbelieving hearts.
In his book, God and the Cosmos,
Dr. Theodore Graebner tells us that some who set themselves up as
teachers–many even as religious teachers–say that God is merely “the
spirit of the community” (Page 30). One of these modern leaders says,
“God is myself” (Page 23). Another says that he worships man (Page 19).
How would you like to pray to "the spirit of the community" or pray to
yourself or to mankind in general? These are some of the false gods
proclaimed by the wise men of today.
Some worship pleasure; others, reason, philosophy, or business. But all
these things are as imperfect as humans themselves, and those who trust
in them will be left at last without a light in the vacant and dark
night, until the words of the first commandment meet them in the
judgment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”
2. You shall make no idols
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:4-6: “You
shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that
is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those
who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and
keep My commandments.”
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Explanation:
Is there anything wrong with this commandment? Millions in the world
need to hear this commandment. Jesus said in John 4:24, “God is Spirit,
and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
All representations of the true God or false deities for the purpose of
worship are forbidden. An idol image degrades God and it degrades man.
God's jealousy against false gods is but infinite love which allows no
rival for our heart's affection.
3. You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:7: “You
shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will
not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
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Explanation: Has the world advanced so far that we do not need
this commandment any more? Has all profanity ceased? Have men–and women
and children, too–ceased to take God’s name in vain? Have they at last
learned to honor the holy name of our Saviour?
How many millions violate this commandment every day! And how many do
about the same thing with common slang! Let us remember what Jesus said
to some careless talkers of His day.
It is recorded in Matthew 12:36, 37, “But
I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give
account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
4. Keep the Sabbath day holy
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:8-11: “Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all
your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In
it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your
male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your
stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the
heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the
seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed
it.”
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Explanation: We seem to always be busy and need physical rest
and spiritual rest. We need the Sabbath or God would not have made it
for us. Jesus said that it was “made for man” and that He Himself is the
Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27, 28).
The Sabbath is the memorial of His creative work, and it is also a test
of man’s willingness to recognize his Creator’s first claim to his time.
Wherever we are and whether we regard God’s holy day or not the
commandment is still there. Do you recognize and observe it in your
home?
5. Honor your father and your mother
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:12: “Honor
your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land
which the Lord your God is giving you.”
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Explanation: In Ephesians 6:2, the apostle Paul says that this
is “the first commandment with promise” and God will not go back on His
promise. Children owe their parents love, obedience, respect, and
helpfulness.
Think of the happiness that obedience to this commandment would bring to
thousands of homes today! Then every day would be Mother’s Day and every
day would be Father’s Day. So, "honor your father and mother.”
Disobedience to parents is one of the ominous signs of the last days,
according to 2 Timothy 3:1, 2.
6. You shall not murder
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Bible reference - Exodus 20:13: “You
shall not murder.”
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Explanation: This is the shortest of all the commandments,
having one less word than the eighth commandment. (Note: according to
the King James Version.) God forbids murder, the unlawful taking of
human life in private vengance or otherwise.
Do you know that there are many thousands who have broken this
commandment living at large in this country. And judging from past
records, many thousands who will die at the hands of others.
Crime has become a huge threat to civilization. From the first groan of
Abel to the last prayer upon the scaffold, this commandment comes
thundering into the hearts of men, “Thou shall not murder.”
7. You shall not commit adultery
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:14: “You
shall not commit adultery.”
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Explanation: Do we need a greater regard for the sanctity of
the home today? Do we need more honest obedience to marriage vows? Do we
need more husbands and wives true to each other? What is the answer? You
know the answer. It is YES! A thousand times yes!
In Luke 17:30, our Saviour predicted that a Sodom-like moral condition
would precede His return to this earth. Now is the time for every
Christian home to stand as an example of right living.
Remember, you can't write SIN in big letters without the law of God.
This seventh commandment must stand, or our civilization will go down in
disregarding it. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.”
8. You shall not steal
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:15: “You
shall not steal.”
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Explanation: According to police and press reports, the world
still needs this commandment. The varieties of thieves are almost
endless ranging from mere pickpockets and purse-snatchers, to men who
steal widows' homes, children’s education, banks, industries, and the
good names of their friends.
Facing all this dishonesty of men are these four words of God… “You
shall not steal.”
9. You shall not bear false witness
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:15: “You
shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
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Explanation: This commandment forbids bribery and forgery and
even the least suggestion contrary to truth. It forbids libel, slander,
and backbiting, and calls for the truth and nothing but the truth.
In Revelation 22:15, we are told that “whoever loves and practices a
lie” will be outside the gates of the New Jerusalem, and in Revelation
21:27 “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or
causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the
Lamb’s Book of Life.”
10. You shall not covet
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Bible
reference - Exodus 20:15: “You
shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his
ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
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Explanation: In Romans 7:7 the apostle Paul says that he would
not have known what sin was, unless the law had said, “You shall not
covet.” God's commandments point out sin. If Paul needed this
commandment, so do we.