Dear Friends, In the 1981 classic film History of the World Part 1, there is a scene in which Mel Brooks – playing the role of Moses – comes down from the mountain carrying three stone tablets of the Law. Addressing the Israelites, he says, “The Lord has given unto you these fifteen” – at which point he drops one of the tablets – “these Ten Commandments.”
We can only guess what those additional commandments might have been: (1) Thou shalt not ask, “Does this toga make me look fat?” (2) Thou shalt not answer if it does. (3) Thou shalt not leave the seat up. (4) Thou shalt not take the last M&M, and my personal favorite (5) Thou shalt not whine.
While it may be fun to think of the rules we might have proposed had we been in charge, Moses cautioned the Israelites, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”
The fact that the Ten Commandments are spelled out in Exodus 20:1-17 and in Deuteronomy 5: 6-21 is an indication of the importance God placed on these instructions to the Israelites. The Ten Commandments were part of the Mosaic covenant in which God declared, “If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6 NIV)
Did the Israelites live up to the terms of the covenant? Of course not, and neither can we. As the Apostle Paul explained, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. (Romans 3:20 NIV)
The story is told of the defendant who appeared before a stone-faced judge for sentencing. “What do you have to say for yourself?” The judge asked.
“I have always lived by the Ten Commandments,” the young man declared.
Two words from the judge sealed his fate, “Name them.”
While we may or may not be able to recite the commandments, Jesus made clear how incapable we are of satisfying the requirements of the law on our own when he spoke of anger, “21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone [even yourself], you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. (Romans 5:21-22)
So we are the defendant who will one day face judgement. Our only plea is guilty as charged,” but “God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins.” (Romans 3:25 TLB)
Now, rather than being a judgmental standard that we cannot possibly meet, the Ten Commandments – through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us -become aspirational guidelines for living.
The Ten Commandments
I am the Lord thy God … Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images. Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet.
Verses for the week: John 14:15-17a (NLT) 15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”
Blessings, Your Friends in Christ
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