Exodus 20 (pt 9) - 2011.11.26

The COMMANDMENTS (9)

“Thou shalt not commit adultery." — Exodus 20:14

The term “adultery,” in scripture is sometimes limited to sexual transgression involving a married person, and sometimes used to cover the whole range of sexual sin, including “fornication,” which is sexual union outside of marriage. It is the latter, in my judgment, which is the ground of this commandment. Scripture allows that marriage alone justifies sexual union, and that between male and female. All other sexual behavior falls under the general heading of adultery and is in violation of this commandment. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply…  [Gen. 1:27-28a].”  It is marriage which is “honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge [Heb. 13:4].” Extra marital union comes up against the “thick bosses” of this commandment. 

Throughout history men have hated this restriction, and nations and cultures have defied it in practice, and by legalizing what God has denounced, America no exception. The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, sharpened the focus:

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery [Matt. 5:27-32].”

Indicted here are pornography (v.28), lust, divorce and remarriage (v.32, cf.Mark 10:11-12, Rom. 7:1-3.) With respect to sexual relations, God’s order is ‘one man and one woman for life.’ Divorce, as an act of man, does not satisfy the divine requirement. Death, which is an act of God, dissolves the relationship and removes the indictment of adultery from remarriage (Rom. 7:3.) Even the church (i.e. the visible organization called ‘the church’) has relaxed its view on these matters in this day of growing apostacy and many allow without restraint what God has clearly condemned.

Let the church recall the scripture: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…shall inherit the kingdom of God [I Cor. 6:9-10].” God has not changed His mind, nor His standards!

At this point it may be well to note two things. First, this is not the worst of sins. It is only one among the many that place this rebellious race in jeopardy before a Holy God. Second, it is not an unpardonable sin. Christ died for all our sins, and because “His blood can make the foulest clean,” repentance and faith will bring forgiveness, cleansing and hope for eternity. But, it is only through the Savior that this wrong can be remedied. And, if we would teach these things to our children they might be better equipped to stand against the temptations thrown at them in this “adulterous and sinful generation.”

There is, however, another dimension to this commandment revealed in the course of scripture, which merits our consideration. “Adultery” is used not only in the literal sense we have considered above, but also in a figurative sense to describe infidelity in our relationship with God, corporately and individually. The Old Testament prophets are graphic in their use of the term to describe departure from the true God on the part of His people; e.g., “The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge [Israel] yea, declare unto them their abominations; That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house [Ezek. 23:36-39].” And in the New Testament the apostle James accuses, “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 [Jas. 4:4].”

These are representative passages that should remind the church that God demands integrity in our relationship with our spouses and in our relationship with God. If the church does not wake up, there is no hope that the unregenerate world ever will. May God move us to “awake to righteousness and sin not.” (See I Cor. 15:34)

"Pastor" Frasier

Thanksgiving Greeting

Thanks to God Hymn

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost Provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, 

Thanks for dark and stormy fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure.

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, 

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, 

Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of 

God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

I Thessalonians 5:18

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 8) - 2011.11.19

The COMMANDMENTS (8)

“Thou shalt not kill” —Exodus 20:13

The sixth commandment enjoins respect for human life. Except for the Sabbath commandment, it is the first with its roots deeper in they Old Testament. It is the prohibition of the malicious taking of another’s life. It is somewhat more clearly rendered in other translations, “You shall not murder.” Taking of life in war and by civil authority when capital crimes have been committed is not at issue here, as some pacifists would have it. In this fallen world God has authorized war and commanded the death penalty for certain transgressions of societies and individuals. The commandment is aimed at the disposition that acts against others in hatred and violence for selfish reasons.

In the beginning all slaughter of “living creatures” (Gen. 1:24) was evidently forbidden, and man was vegetarian. After the flood the divine restriction against killing animals for food was lifted, but with it a strict prohibition was issued against the taking of human life and, in fact, at that time capital punishment was instituted under God’s direction. “…at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man [Gen. 9:5b-6].” (Those who are inclined to swallow the lie of evolution should meditate on this early text that distinguishes between animal life in general and human life as a distinct and separate creation, and note the declaration that man was made in the image of God. (See Gen. 1:27))

It is worth noting in passing that it is the deliberate act of violence that is targeted by this commandment. That the accidental killing of another was exempt is evident from the establishment of the cities of refuge in Israel after their settlement in the land, for the protection of any who accidentally slew another.

However, if that seems to ease a bit the severity of the commandment, Jesus’ treatment of it in the New Testament takes it to a much higher level:
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 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. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing [Mat. 5:21-26].”

How, one wonders, how might church attendance (poor enough as it is) change if men were prohibited from attending and offering if there was any bitterness in their hearts toward other fellow men. As is customary with the Savior, the commandment is removed from addressing the act, and focused on the attitude. As always, “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

There was a cartoonist whose work was published in our local newspaper when I was growing up whose lead character, when offended for some reason would carry the “thought balloon” over his or her head containing the words, “The urge to kill.” It was, sadly, reflective of that in the human spirit which the Lord here cites as “in danger of the judgment.” It is from this perspective, I think, that the apostle James says of certain in the church, “ye kill.” We cannot conclude that believers were actually murdering one another, but entertaining the attitude in their inner sanctuary that might sponsor it if they could get away with it. The apostle John is more transparent when he says, “[He that] hateth his brother is a murderer [I John 3:15].” The commandment is violated when the attitude is formed, not simply when the act is committed. “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the Truth [James 3:14].” There are not many overt murders in the church, but I fear there may be many who are covertly guilty by the Savior’s standards.

Nowhere, of course, is the groundless hatred of a fellow human being more evident than in that exercised by the (religious!) Pharisees who sought to murder the Son of God. Of them, and of all who violate this commandment in fact or in spirit, He says, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it [Jn. 8:44].” There is but one way out: “Repent…and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out [Acts 3:19].” That is the objective of the commandments!

To open our eyes,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 7) - 2011.11.12

The COMMANDMENTS (7)

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee..”—Exodus 20:12

With this commandment the emphasis in the decalogue shifts from the “vertical” to the “horizontal,” or, if you prefer, from responsibility to God to responsibilities to others under God. It is the point at which the Lord Jesus Christ divided the “ten” into two, from “God” to “neighbor.” (Cf., e.g., Matt. 22:34-40) The so called “second table” of the law is no less significant, but its immediate direction is different.

There is an implied prerequisite to this commandment that is often overlooked. That is the implication of the responsibility God places on parents in the matter of raising children. If submission to parents is to be all it should be, then parents must function in that capacity under the government of the heavenly Father. It takes godly parents to cultivate godly children. That parallel is revealed in scripture on more than one occasion, and is especially relevant to fathers. In God’s plan, the wife is to function under the authority of the husband (Eph. 5:22) and the family is to be under his control. Fathers are responsible under God to exhibit submission to God and to cultivate the spiritual order of the household. In far too many cases in the visible church this order is not followed, and spiritual initiative is left to the wife and mother. In such cases, though father and mother are still to be honored, the divine plan will not function as God intended. A man’s relationship to his heavenly Father, and a woman’s respect for her husband’s authority should illustrate the child’s relationship to his or her earthly father.

“Honor thy father and thy mother.” To honor parents is to love, respect and obey them, just as all are commanded to honor God. We honor our heavenly Father when we love Him and out of love obey Him, and our responsiveness to the first four commandments lays the ground for our children to respond to this one. Jesus reiterated this commandment on more than one occasion, with emphasis, extending it into old age: “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition [Mt. 15:4-6, cf. Ex. 21:17, Prov. 20:20].” In addition, He exemplified it when after His adventure  in Jerusalem at the age of twelve He “…went down with [Joseph and Mary], and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them… And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man Luke 2:51-52].”

Writing to the Ephesians the apostle Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) referred to this as “the first commandment with promise.” (Eph. 6:1-3). The promise is well being and long life. There are temporal benefits as well as eternal ones in keeping God’s commandments and respecting His order. 

The general tenor of scripture reinforces the importance and value of this commandment. Noah evidently had the respect of his children, long before the commandment was codified in the decalogue. As a result, when he entered the ark his children and their wives entered in with him and enjoyed as a result much longer life than had they not respected their father. While the world scoffed they evidently believed him and no doubt aided him in the construction of the instrument of deliverance. Every godly man wants all his children in the “ark” of salvation. Realizing that blessing begins with godly parents and eventuates with children who honor them.

Abraham was commended by God as one who would “…command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which hath been spoken of him [Gen. 18:19].” In sad, but striking contrast is Eli, a godly priest, but a deficient parent, of whom it is written, “And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever [I Sam. 3:11-14].”(Christian workers take note!)

May God give us enough love for our children to “train them up in the way that they should go,” and our children enough love for us in consequence that they will honor us—and Him—by “following in His steps” and “not depart from it” when they are old.

And, to God be the glory, 

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 6) - 2011.11.05

The COMMANDMENTS (6)

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”—Exodus 20:8-11

On the seventh day of the creation week “God rested from all His work,” and set that day apart as a memorial of His mighty enterprise. He “blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,” or set it apart as special. (Cf. Gen. 2:1-3) When Adam sinned, God’s sabbath rest was broken, and there is no mention of the sabbath again until the issuance of this commandment for the children of Israel. A study of scripture reveals that the sabbath actually commemorates two things: God’s role as creator (Ex. 20:11) and His role as redeemer, so noted in the reiteration of the commandments in Deut. 5:6ff, where we read in verse 15, “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.”

The objective of the Sabbath, as far as man is concerned, is suggested in Lev. 23:3, “…the seventh day is the sabbath of rest…” The Lord Jesus said, “The sabbath was made for man [Mk. 2:27],” and certainly one of God’s gracious objectives in ordering it was for our physical refreshment and renewal. A second, and obvious purpose was to maintain the awareness of His people of His Lordship and continuing involvement in their lives, both as creator, redeemer and Lord. In this connection it was established as a periodic day of worship; “keep it holy.” Disregard for the sabbath principle is a disregard for God, and for the believer’s covenant relationship with Him (see Ex. 31:16-17).

Responsibility for maintaining the sabbath was assigned to men, heads of households, who were to exercise government over family, servants, enterprise and visitors. God has always laid responsibility for spiritual order upon men (i.e. the male) and will hold them accountable. 

Probably of all the commandments this one is the most lightly regarded in Christendom today, but it behooves us to note the severity with which God imposed it. “Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death [Ex. 31:14-15 (See also Ex. 35:1-3)].” Scripture gives us an illustration of the exaction of the death penalty for violation of the sabbath; see Numbers 15:32-36.

With this background it is, perhaps, not surprising that in the gospels we see a running battle between the religious fundamentalists of the day and the Son of God, who seemed to exhibit a more relaxed attitude toward the Sabbath. For example we have in Mark 2, early in His ministry, the Pharisees indicting His disciples for snacking on grain as they walked through the fields on the sabbath day. It was then that Jesus declared that they misunderstood the purpose of the sabbath, which was to be a blessing, not a burden; and, that they failed to recognize His Person as “Lord of the sabbath.” (See Mk 2:23-28)

When we come to the New Testament era, the sabbath is no longer emphasized. Two considerations have been noted: First, that on the sabbath day the Son of God was in the grave. Second, that on “the first day of the week” He rose from the dead. There was a mighty transition from the Old Testament dispensation of the Law to the dispensation of Grace. The early church began to gather for fellowship and worship of the risen Christ on the first day of the week. Those who trust Christ as Savior move from periodic rest to a permanent sabbath-rest in Him. When that transition is made by an intelligent faith, He becomes our rest, and every day is (should be) devoted to the Lord. “For he that is entered into His [sabbath] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his [Heb. 4:10].” That is the great redemptive sabbath that the day anticipated, and we are “no longer under the Law.” 

However, in my judgment the value of the one-in-seven principle remains to be recognized as we move from here to eternity. It should serve the believer as a reminder of our dependence upon God for our existence and for our destiny. It should provide special time for fellowship and worship. And, it will prove beneficial in the practical matter of rest and recuperation from the busy-ness of this mad, rushing world. It is both spiritually and physically therapeutic.

Time is a gift from God. We have it only as He extends it to us. It is well that we set a day apart for Him in recognition that, after all, we owe Him everything. The “first day of the week” is a good time to keep sacred as a reminder that without His grace we would be law breakers in the first degree and candidates for eternal destruction.

For His glory and our good, 

"Pastor" Frasier