Revealed in the Law - The Decalogue (The Ten Commandments)
Exodus 20:1-17
As you read these, did you notice what is one thing they all have to do with?
In Survey of the Old Testament, Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton (based on the 1979 work of Stephen Kaufman)(3.1) summarized these as found again in Moses' sermons on them in Deuteronomy 6-26 according to the spirit of the Law instead of according to the legal material. These scholars saw that the groupings of the legal material revealed something enlightening: that it suggests four topical areas of authority, dignity, commitment, and rights and privileges. Not only that, but the groupings further suggest that these topical areas are first addressed as they relate to God and then to humans. So as you pondered what one thing they all had to do with, did you see that they all had to with relationships?
A quick story to share: I remember a long time ago, over 20 years ago now, having breakfast with the senior pastor of the Roman Catholic church where I grew up and telling him that as I meditated on the Ten Commandments it seemed to me that they were all regarding relationships in some way. To my embarrassment, my statement was disregarded and we moved quickly onto a new subject. My heart is now thrilled to be learning how the Holy Spirit had allowed me to see the spirit of the Law even way back then! You now also have a bit more insight into why this subject has so arrested my attention and passion!
Here is the structure based on the spirit of the Law:
Then God gave the people all these instructions:
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
“You must not have any other god but me.
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
“You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You must not murder.
“You must not commit adultery.
“You must not steal.
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
“You must not have any other god but me.
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
“You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You must not murder.
“You must not commit adultery.
“You must not steal.
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
As you read these, did you notice what is one thing they all have to do with?
In Survey of the Old Testament, Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton (based on the 1979 work of Stephen Kaufman)(3.1) summarized these as found again in Moses' sermons on them in Deuteronomy 6-26 according to the spirit of the Law instead of according to the legal material. These scholars saw that the groupings of the legal material revealed something enlightening: that it suggests four topical areas of authority, dignity, commitment, and rights and privileges. Not only that, but the groupings further suggest that these topical areas are first addressed as they relate to God and then to humans. So as you pondered what one thing they all had to do with, did you see that they all had to with relationships?
A quick story to share: I remember a long time ago, over 20 years ago now, having breakfast with the senior pastor of the Roman Catholic church where I grew up and telling him that as I meditated on the Ten Commandments it seemed to me that they were all regarding relationships in some way. To my embarrassment, my statement was disregarded and we moved quickly onto a new subject. My heart is now thrilled to be learning how the Holy Spirit had allowed me to see the spirit of the Law even way back then! You now also have a bit more insight into why this subject has so arrested my attention and passion!
Here is the structure based on the spirit of the Law:
Commandment 1 - Divine Authority
"You must not have any other god but me."
Deuteronomy 6-11
In these chapters, Moses gives examples of how to obey this first commandment.
Commandment 2 - Divine Dignity
"You must not make for yourself an idol."
Deuteronomy 12
This section tells us how God should be treated.
Commandment 3 - Commitment to God
"You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God."
Deuteronomy 13:1-14:21
Everything we do should reflect our commitment to God, not just when we are at church.
Commandment 4 - Rights and Privileges of God
"Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17
Observing the Sabbath is only one way to recognize the rights of God
to receive honor and gratitude from the Israelites.
Commandment 5 - Human Authority
"Honor your father and mother."
Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22
The core of this commandment is "to establish human authority
as important for making sure that the covenant is preserved."(3.2)
Commandments 6-8 - Human Dignity
"You must not murder."
"You must not commit adultery."
"You must not steal."
Deuteronomy 19-21; Deut 22:1-23:14; Deut 23:15-24:7
Human dignity is derived from three areas:
existence, belonging to a uniform group, and personhood.
Commandment 9 - Commitment to Humankind
"You must not testify falsely against your neighbor."
Deuteronomy 24:8-16
The common denominator in this section is developing a mutual trust based on truthfulness.
Commandment 10 - Human Rights and Privileges
"You must not covet ... anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Deuteronomy 24:17-26:15
This section deals with protecting the rights of individuals such as basic food and shelter, for justice and fair treatment, to have children, and to a fair wage for their work.
Isn't that just breathtaking?
Now, do you remember in the Bible Project video on the Law where Tim and Jon tell us how God kept giving the Israelites new, more specific laws every time they broke these first ten in new ways? From this, and careful study of the remaining 603 laws, we can see that truly all the laws stem from these eight principles! Especially since Moses reorganizes so many of them for us this way in Deuteronomy so we can see it. No wonder Jesus states (Luke 10:27; Matthew 22:34-40) that all the Law can be summed up in these two verses:
Now, do you remember in the Bible Project video on the Law where Tim and Jon tell us how God kept giving the Israelites new, more specific laws every time they broke these first ten in new ways? From this, and careful study of the remaining 603 laws, we can see that truly all the laws stem from these eight principles! Especially since Moses reorganizes so many of them for us this way in Deuteronomy so we can see it. No wonder Jesus states (Luke 10:27; Matthew 22:34-40) that all the Law can be summed up in these two verses:
Deuteronomy 6:5
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."
and
Leviticus 19:18
“Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
By seeing how God Himself kept giving the Israelites laws based on these eight principles as they continued to disobey and with the eventual cessation of the Sinai Covenant at Israel's exile from the land, we can also conclude that God never intended the Law to be a boring and lifeless catalog of do's and don't's in order to gain the favor of a distant, uncaring, subjective and lifeless (or boring) god.
The spirit of the Law reveals to us a precious view of the character of God, and a very concrete objective pattern for a relationship with God and with others!
In my next postings, I will further unpack each of these principles and give some examples. Stick with me, God's Word always has more real treasures to be revealed!
Here are a few questions to ponder before you continue:
How is your heart responding to what you just learned?
Seeing God's heart in this way, is it easier for you to imagine yourself actually loving Him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength?
Did any of the principles stand out to you above the others? Why?
I encourage respectful and edifying dialog. All comments are subject to approval.
Last updated: June 28, 2018
Here are a few questions to ponder before you continue:
How is your heart responding to what you just learned?
Seeing God's heart in this way, is it easier for you to imagine yourself actually loving Him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength?
Did any of the principles stand out to you above the others? Why?
I encourage respectful and edifying dialog. All comments are subject to approval.
Last updated: June 28, 2018
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I encourage respectful and edifying dialog, though please know that all comments posted are subject to approval.