Scripture tells us what to do but do we obey? In the wake of getting away from the Egyptians through the Red Sea, the Israelites went through the wilderness and showed up at Mount Sinai. It is here that the Ten Commandments and guidelines on how to fabricate the Tabernacle were given to them. We also find out about the significance of obedience to God and how His laws uncover sin, and what to do for living righteously.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Matthew 4:10, Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
Luke 16:13, No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Matthew 5:34, But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Mark 2:27-28, And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
The Israelites had just come from Egypt where many gods and idols were worshipped for different aspects of life. The people did this because they thought they could get more blessings. God was telling them that He was the One True God. They needed to learn this and if they did not learn this, they could not be His people, no matter if they were faithful in keeping the other commandments.
How many of us today have let worldly values take over our lives? If we center our thoughts and hopes on things like money, fame, objects, etc., we fail in focusing on the meaning and security that God can give. We may not start out worshipping things like these, but over time, they can end up controlling our lives. God should be the center focus of our lives.
Money - tithe
Possessions - land, cars, clothes, etc.
Status - society
Jobs/careers -work 6 days, 7th is for rest (literally)
Question - does it really matter what day is observed as the Sabbath? Why argue about it?
Honor thy father and thy mother, but we are not to place them before God.
Matthew 15:4, For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Ephesians 6:2, Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
Matthew 10:37, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Thou shalt not kill.
Matthew 5:22, But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Matthew 5:28, But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Thou shalt not steal.
Matthew 5:40, And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Matthew 12:36, But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Thou shalt not covet.
Luke 12:15, And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Matthew 15:19, For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
The fifth commandment had a promise added to it, honor thy father and mother. That means speaking well of them, being polite, and showing them courtesy and respect. This will lead to building good family ties and respect for authority.
Bearing false witness is understood as making false evidence in a court of law. We should not twist the truth, invent a lie, deceive others, leave something out of a truthful statement, etc.
What does it mean to covet something? It is envying what others have, like 'oh I wish I had what he or she has. Admiring what others may have is one thing, coveting is a way of wanting to have or take something away from someone else, then which leads to stealing.
Only God can supply all our needs. We need to learn to be content with what God gives us. Why is it that so many people want more and more and expect God to provide it? Does it honor Him? Does it bring glory to God?
Matthew 6:24, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
1 John 2:15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 4:4, Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Joshua 24:15, And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
So how many of us do or do not do these things? How many of us seek after God's ways and follow them? As Elijah made a challenge to the people, we must take a stand. To whom do we follow?
1 Kings 18:21, And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
