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This article concludes the article series Relationships Commandments. In the first article, we showed how the loving God fulfils the first 4 commandments in Exodus 20. Today we will show how loving your neighbour fulfils the rest. Jesus had tied these 2 together as the greatest commandments in Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV) 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
In this article we will unpack the significance and implications of the 6 commandments on how we love our neighbours.
THE PLACE OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
Before we proceed further to examine how the remaining 10 commandments relate to our loving others, it is important to explain the relevance of the 10 Commandments to us Christ-followers today. For the Mosaic Laws including the 10 Commandments are applicable only to the Jews. One reason is that the Mosaic Law is like a marriage covenant made between God and the Israelites. A careful study of Scripture reveals that. Not to Gentiles, not to Christians.
Another reason is because the 10 commandments and the rest of the Mosaic Laws are an inseparable unit. This unity is evident by noticing that the 10 commandments are expanded upon within the rest of the civil and ceremonial laws. We cannot adequately understand the 10 commandments without studying the rest of those laws.
The 10 commandments are like an executive summary of the Mosaic Law. In other words, we cannot separate the 10 commandments from the rest of the Mosaic Laws.
The 10 commandments are like an executive summary of the Mosaic Law. In other words, we cannot separate the 10 commandments from the rest of the Mosaic Laws, as some scholars have attempted to. If we believe that the 10 commandments still apply, then so must the rest of the Mosaic Laws.
There are further reasons why we should not be obligated to the Mosaic Laws, including the 10 Commandments. I explained that in much greater detail in my articles on Refuting Christian Sabbath Teachings Parts 1 and 2.
The 10 commandments reveal eternal principles and standards behind these laws.
Since the Mosaic Laws do not apply to us, does this mean we can ignore the 10 commandments? No. Because the 10 commandments reveal eternal principles and standards behind these laws. A much fuller explanation of this concept is found in another article Covenant in the Bible (Part 6): How The Old Became New. God’s eternal principles never change. God is immutable, unchanging. His principles never change. While his application of rules and regulations can change according to the context of the people He is dealing with and His purposes.
God’s eternal principles still apply to us today. In fact, God’s eternal principles often set a higher standard than that required by the Mosaic Law. Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV) 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
The difference is the Mosaic Law set a legalistic standard which no man can fully keep. But God’s New Covenant provides grace to move towards a higher standard, motivated by love. God helps us! Further, the 10 commandments are convenient to refer to due to its compactness when attempting to express something about God’s standards.
We will examine the remaining 6 commandments and discover some of the eternal principle behind it to understand what God desires in our attitudes and actions – when we love our neighbours.
GIVE DUE HONOUR
Exodus 20:12 (NIV) Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
To give that respect and honour to authority is a reflection of our respect for God’s authority.
The Scriptures teach that we should honour all those in positions of authority. This includes institutional, governmental, spiritual and parental. The principle is the same. Authority is to be respected, honoured and obeyed. Because to give that respect and honour to authority is a reflection of our respect for God’s authority. Romans 13:1 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Our respect for parental authority often sets the tone for our response to all other authorities.
Parents are given particular emphasis because it is the first authority we come under and a life-long one. Our respect for parental authority often sets the tone for our response to all other authorities. Further, our relationship with God is described most vividly, amongst several imageries, as that of a child to a father. Hence, the importance of our respect towards our parents.
In fact, this is the first and only commandment that directly comes with a promised blessing. Ephesians 6:2 (NIV) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise. This is why parents should teach children from young, to respect and honour them.
To deliberately and blatantly dishonour our parents is deserving of death in the Mosaic Laws. Exodus 21:17 (NIV) “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.” Also in Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (NIV). If we still follow the 10 Commandments we should put to death any person who dishonours their parents. That may mean a significant chunk of the population of Australia. Fortunately, we don’t follow the command but the principles behind it.
Scriptures teach that we should give honour to all in authority, even if they are doing a terrible job because we respect the office. Indeed, the Scriptures teach that if they do a good job we should give them more honour. 1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV) The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
This Scriptures highlights a number of key principles in giving extra honour. Consider the quality of their work when giving extra honour. Consider the nature of their responsibility, those who responsibility is greater or more influential, and consequently weightier on their shoulders, should be given more honour.
Loving others involve consideration of their authority roles and giving them appropriate honour.
Loving others involve consideration of their authority roles and giving them appropriate honour. For it shows our esteem of them. It shows that we love them for who they are, for their responsibilities and for their faithfulness in carrying it out. In Australia, our society is very egalitarian/classless and do not appreciate nor esteem roles of authority sufficiently. The church can lead the way forward by showing by our example.
VALUE SANCTITY OF LIFE
Exodus 20:13 (NIV) “You shall not murder.
You shall not rasah
The Hebrew word used in rasah which can mean murder, slay or kill. However, in the context of the 10 Commandments, most scholars agree that it is best translated as murder. Rather than the too-general “kill” as used by KJV. That is why most newer translations, including the NKJV uses “murder”.
God clearly differentiates between accidentally killing someone, negligently killing someone and deliberately killing someone.
But what does rasah actually mean? The actual scope of this word and hence commandment has to be understood within the context of God’s commands in the Mosaic Law. Without the rest of the Mosaic Law we would not understand the scope of this commandment. Scriptures shows that God clearly differentiates between accidentally killing someone, negligently killing someone and deliberately killing someone. The last is today known as murder while the other 2 are known as manslaughter.
God deals with murder, the deliberate intent to take a life because of malice, with the most severe penalty. Exodus 21:14 (NIV) But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death. (see also Exodus 21:12, 14-17, Numbers 35:20-21).
God distinguishes that from accidentally taking a life where protection is offered. Exodus 21:13 (NIV) However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate. (see Num 35:22-25).
On the other hand, if death is caused by negligence then the person is fully responsible and also faces he most severe punishment. Exodus 21:29 (NIV) If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death.
The difference between all the above is motive. Murder is due to malice. Negligence is due to “I don’t care if it hurts anyone.” Accidental is due to not having reasonable knowledge. Those of us who have some familiarity with the Commonwealth law can immediately see the same principles behind our laws. For much of our laws were based on Judeo-Christian concepts in the past. There are other forms of killing which are legitimate, such as during war or in carrying out the death penalty, but I will not go into the intricacies of these today.
What is the true intent behind this commandment?
You shall value life
It is about the sanctity of life. Scriptures teach that human life is valuable. For life is given by God. Man should not take matters into his own hands to take away life. Human life is incredibly valuable not because of our inherent value but because of the value God places on human life. Psalms 8:4 - 6 (NIV) 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
Abortion is choice for the mother, but leaves no choice for a helpless human life.
Nowadays, people are often valued in economic terms. Actually, that de-values human life into dollars and cents. Scripture lays the foundation of understanding that if we love others, we will value their right to life. We will not treat their life lightly but give it due respect. That is why God considers abortion a blatant disregard for human life if it is done in order to provide choice, avoid responsibility or embarrassment for the mother, in contrast to saving a mother’s life. That is why abortion falls under “you shall not rasah”. Abortion is choice for the mother, but leaves no choice for a helpless human life.
A professor at the UCLA Medical School asked his students this question: "Here is the family history: The father has syphilis. The mother has TB. They already have had four children. The first is blind. The second had died. The third is deaf. The fourth has TB. The mother is pregnant. The parents are willing to have an abortion if you decide they should. What do you think?" Most of the students decided on abortion. "Congratulations," said the professor. "You have just murdered Beethoven!"
Nothing is so final as murder, even when it is done very early in a life. Terence Patterson
Chances of your being killed by terrorists overseas: 1 in 650,000
Chances of your being aborted if you are in the womb of an American woman: 1 in 3.3.
-- What Are the Chances? by Bernard Siskin (Crown, 1989); U.S. Today, 1/26/89. Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 4.
Let us value human life.
RESPECT BIBLICAL RELATIONSHIPS
Exodus 20:14 (NIV) “You shall not commit adultery.
Why did the commandment not state, “You shall not commit sexual immorality?” After all, adultery is a sexual sin?? There is a difference! What is the nature of adultery? It is the breaking of a covenant between a husband and a wife to maintain faithfulness to one another. Adultery damages the relationship between a husband and wife. It also damages the family. So is this commandment about sexual sin? It is, but more, it is about respecting relationships that are important to God.
If we love our neighbour, we will not damage their marriage relationship. And for the same reason, we will not damage their relationships even with others. Whether it be with family, friends or colleagues. Instead, we will respect it and seek to nurture healthy relationships.
Does this mean we respect and nurture all kinds of relationships? No. The Scriptures is clear that there are certain kinds of relationships that God is not pleased with. Adulterous relationships, sexually immoral relationships, incestuous relationship, homosexual relationships, paedophilic relationships, bestiality (man and animal). Any kind of unnatural relationships, we cannot condone.
We are to respect any relationship which falls within what the Scriptures condone.
We are to respect any relationship which falls within what the Scriptures condone. That is why I said “biblical relationships” to mean relationships acceptable to God. In Hope Church, we support all the married couples and families. Their marriages are important. Their relationships with their families are important. That is why in our church, we do all we can to offer support, whether through spiritual or practical means. Because we respect and value all biblical relationships.
RESPECT OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY
Exodus 20:15, 17 (NIV) 15 “You shall not steal. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
This commandment is about respecting the property of others. Hence, we should not rob someone of what is theirs. When someone is robbed it hurts them. Hence if we truly love others, we will never do that to them.
Stealing anything hurts the human spirit and brings separation between God and ourselves. For stealing is against God’s very nature.
This Commandment applies to even the smallest things. Stealing anything hurts the human spirit and brings separation between God and ourselves. For stealing is against God’s very nature. John 10:10 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” God’s way is to give rather than take!
We should not even covet someone else’s property. To covet is to desire to have the possessions of others. It goes beyond simply admiring someone else’s possessions or thinking, “I’d like to have one of those”.
Covetousness springs from a selfish nature. Because a man is selfish, he covets. Because he covets, he steals, lies, commits adultery, murders and disregards others. Jesus said in Luke 12:15 (NIV) "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consist not in the abundance of the things which he possesses"
Sometimes, we may spend our lives comparing ourselves to others as we covet what they have. Yet, God knows that possessions never make anyone happy of long. Only God can supply all our needs, true contentment is found only in Him. Let us maintain our contentment in God who will bring eternal rewards, rather than covet and steal from others which brings no rewards but judgment.
VALUE OTHER’S REPUTATION
Exodus 20:16 (NIV) “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
To give false testimony is to tell untruths, lies about someone else. To do so is to injure the reputation of someone. To do so is to destroy someone’s good name is as if the person has been attacked maliciously. It can be a very painful experience. It is as if we have plunged a dagger in the person’s heart.
Colossians 3:8 (NIV) But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Slander is saying unkind, malicious things about others. Usually it is distorted truths, half-lies. Slander is like attempting murder with words.
Gossip is like negligently killing someone.
Gossip too is sin because it is passing on unpleasant information about others, without care about their reputation. Passing on to people who cannot help at all. Gossip is like negligently killing someone. If we love others, we would respect their reputation and not tarnish it. In God’s family, we must not have slander and gossip. Instead let us speak words of affirmation, life, encouragement and seek to build others up in the Lord! Church would be a safe place.
CONCLUSION
Let us love our neighbours. Give them due honour. Value the sanctity of their life. Respect their relationships that are acceptable to God. Value their property and their reputation.
Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.
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