Let’s be honest; if you’re like me, your gut reaction to the Ten Commandments is here is a reminder of what we are supposed to do or not do, which is also a reminder of how far I fall short on a regular basis. While the Ten Commandments does show us how we are utterly reliant on the grace of God because we can’t meet His standard, it does more than that. It is grace in itself. Let me explain.
“I am the Lord your God: You shall have no other gods but me.” That frees us from trying to find God. He has revealed himself to us! And there are no other gods hiding in the shadows for us to discover, either. It is YHWH alone. The second commandment stems from this one: “You shall not make to yourself any graven image, to bow down to them, or worship them.” Our one triune God is beyond imaging with human hands. And as we just read, there is only one God, so no need to fill your house with expensive golden images. But there are images of God: All humanity. We are image-bearers of God! Think about that, we cannot make images of God, but God himself created the first man and woman, and His image has been spreading across the planet ever since.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Our God is too great and too holy to use His name with anything other than deep reverence. He wants us to understand this important truth and live it out. This commandment is also part of God’s self-revelation to us.
“Remember that you keep holy the Sabbath day.” In other words, take a day off. Rest—but not just rest–worship rest. Trust that God can meet your needs without a hectic 7-day work week. Practice God’s shalom of peace and wholeness. What a blessing this is!
“Honor your father and your mother.” For moms and dads, this is a great one. You should expect to be honored for all you do for your children, whether they are still young or have left the house. None of us got where we are without a parent (hopefully both) who invested deeply in us. This commandment is a reminder and call to gratitude.
“You shall not murder.” No one is to take the life of a fellow image bearer. This demonstrates God’s love for all of us. You are so important to Him that He has decreed protection over your life.
“You shall not commit adultery.” The unique marriage relationship between a husband and wife is so special that like He did in protecting life, God now protects marriage. He cares deeply about marriage. He wants it to reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church. Therefore, nothing should come between a husband and wife. This is also a protection for children. Children can flourish in a home where love is the rule between mom and dad.
“You shall not steal.” God even cares about our stuff. Most of us tend to think of our things as replaceable, because in our modern society, so much of it is, but that’s not always the case. If a poor farmer in the time of Jesus had his farming tools stolen, it would be a major expense to purchase replacements. They were handmade. But without them, he could not possibly farm, and therefore had no way to support his family. Having one’s property stolen could be more than an inconvenience—it could be life threatening. For the thief, a life lived through theft is the life of a parasite, feeding off others. There’s no creation or building anything in that. It is contrary to God’s nature.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” In other words, judgments should be fair, which isn’t possible when evidence is falsified. God is a God of justice—regardless of one’s station in life. I find it ironic that the breaking of this commandment (by the religious establishment no less), resulted in our Savior’s death. This commandment is designed to protect us from injustice.
“You shall not covet.” Be grateful for what you have. Don’t compare with others. (Warning for Facebook users!) This is actually a call to satisfaction. Someone who is free of coveting is satisfied with what God has given him/her. Who doesn’t want to be satisfied? It’s also easy to see how someone who doesn’t covet is less likely to give a false witness, steal, commit adultery, or murder. Being a satisfied person is a hedge around other temptations.
There is more, much more, that one could write about the grace hidden within the Ten Commandments. They are a key to living a life of peace and joy that honors God.
