12 "Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
13 "Thou shalt do no murder.
14 "Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 "Thou shalt not steal.
16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
17 "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's."
Golden Text.—“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt. 19:19.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What is enjoined in the fifth commandment? What promise follows a faithful obedience of the command? Verse 12. Note 1. (2) What is the sixth commandment? Verse 13. Note 2. (3) How much is involved in the commandment? (4) What is the seventh commandment? Verse 14. Note 3. (5) How much does it mean? (6) What is the eighth commandment? Verse 15. Note 4. (7) What must always precede stealing? (8) What is the ninth commandment? Verse 16. Note 5. (9) What is the tenth commandment? Verse 17. Note 6. (10) How many of the commandments are connected with the tenth? (11) Would there be any worship of false gods if it were not for unlawful desire? (12) Would we keep any other day as the Sabbath save that commanded of God if it were not for some unlawful desire? (13) Would we kill if our desires were right? (14) Would we commit any sin if all our desires were in perfect harmony with God's law?
NOTES.
1. "Thy Father."—In considering the commandments of God, it must be remembered that "the law is spritual" (Rom. 7:14); therefore our Heavenly Father is the first to be considered in the honoring of parents. If we dishonor our earthly parents, it is the transgression of the Heavenly Father's law that makes it sin. Rom. 4:15; 1 John 3:4. The sin which caused the downfall of the race was Adam's disobedience of his Father. Thus his days were shortened in the land which the Lord had given him, while the promise for obedience is a lengthening of days. This is "the first commandment with promise." Eph. 6:1-3. But let it be remembered that the one most responsible for obedience to this commandment is the parent.
2. Murder is not confined to the actual taking of human life, or to any mere physical act. The hatred of a brother is charged in the ledger of heaven as murder. See Matt. 5:22; 1 John 3:15.
3. A look may be a sufficient outward act to constitute adultery (Matt. 5:28); but back of this is the lustful thought, of which the Word of God takes cognizance (Heb. 4:12). From Rom. 7:1-4 we learn that when the professed Christian longs after the things of the world more than after the life of Christ, he is reckoned as an adulterer. See also James 4:1-5 and 1 John 2:15, 16. So the church becomes a harlot.
4. The stealing of property from a fellow-man is not all that is contemplated in the eighth commandment. The withholding of the Lord's tithe, or tenth of one's income, is a feature of robbery so heinous in the sight of God that He has pronounced a curse upon those who are thus guilty, as well as a special blessing for faithfulness in this duty. Mal. 3:8-12; Luke 11:42. The theft of the time due to God in the observance of His holy Sabbath day according to the commandment, is also an unwarranted usurpation of that which belongs to Him.
5. It is not keeping the law to refrain from witnessing falsely against a neighbor just because of the injury it may do him. The spirit of this spiritual law is obedience to God. If this is overlooked, the duty to man will also be lightly esteemed. The carnal mind can not keep the law of God (Rom. 8:7), so any attempt to observe this command just for man's sake will surly fail to fulfil the spirit of the law. Silence at times may have all the effect of outspoken falsehood; just as silence at the opportune moment may be a virtual denial of Christ.
6. The tenth commandment is last, yet coveting seems to be the beginning of all outward sin. Lucifer coveted higher position (Isa. 14:12-15); Eve coveted the fruit of the forbidden tree (Gen. 3:6); and Paul says, "I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7.
For Special Helps see article on page 7 entitled, "Thy Commandment Is Exceeding Broad;" and "Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 308, 309.
