“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16 There are two interesting aspects of the ninth commandment of which we should take note. First, the commandment assumes a relationship and a context. As with all the commandments, we are tempted to ask ‘where is the line?’ when it comes to speaking the... Continue Reading →
First Glance: Exodus 20:15
“You shall not steal” Exodus 20:15 Q110. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? God forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes all scheming and swindling in order to get our neighbor’s goods for ourselves, whether by force or means that appear legitimate, such... Continue Reading →
First Glance: Exodus 20:14
“You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) Q108. What does the seventh commandment teach us? A. That God condemns all unchastity, and that therefore we should thoroughly detest it and live decent and chaste lives, within or outside of the holy state of marriage. The seventh commandment speaks specifically and directly concerning sexual sins. This... Continue Reading →
First Glance: Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) The very first of the ten commandments to deal directly with our relationship with others speaks of honoring those placed by God in authority over you. In particular, the command... Continue Reading →
First Glance: Exodus 20:8-11
‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy’ (Exodus 20:8) The words and metaphors we use shape how we understand the world around us. Our relationship to time has been largely determined by the words we use to describe it. We spend an afternoon reading, waste time by procrastinating, and manage time in order to... Continue Reading →
First Glance: Exodus 20:7
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord, your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name (Exodus 20:7) Q99. What is the aim of the third commandment? A. That we neither blaspheme nor misuse the name of God by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor share in such... Continue Reading →
First Glance: Exodus 20:4-6
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:4-5a) We are created to worship. Many years... Continue Reading →
First Glance: Exodus 20:1-3
And God spoke all these words: I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:1-3) The Ten Commandments have had immeasurable influence upon western culture, law, and morality. Whether they are displayed in... Continue Reading →
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