Highlights In Today's Reading:
The Law is a mirror that reveals with absolute accuracy and authority what we are and what we should be. The Apostle Paul said: I had not known sin, but by the Law: for I had not known lust (evil desire), except the Law had said, Thou shalt not covet (Romans 7:7). I the Lord thy God am a jealous God . . . shewing mercy unto . . . them that love Me, and keep My Commandments (Exodus 20:5-6).
God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God. . . . Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing . . . in heaven above, or . . . the earth. . . . Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . . . Honour thy father and thy mother. . . . Thou shalt not kill. . . . commit adultery. . . . steal. . . . bear false witness against thy neighbour. . . . covet (20:1-4,7-17). The Ten Commandments are of utmost importance since they were given to us by our Creator, the One True God, who gives instructions for what is best for His creatures and who alone is to be worshiped. It is no surprise that those who hate and reject God also hate to see His commands displayed. However, they are essential, basic principles for the spiritual and moral conduct of mankind. Without them we have no standard of right and wrong. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
We are warned that it is wrong to steal — whether it is done by shoplifting, cheating on income tax, or failing to give an employer a full day's work. It is a sin to bear false witness against (to lie, or to wrongly accuse) a neighbor. If I love my neighbor, I will not steal his property, commit adultery with his wife, or commit fornication with his daughter. I will protect and respect his loved ones because they belong to God, and He commands us: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew 22:39).
As sacred and perfect as the Ten Commandments are, Christ revealed that a person can keep all these commandments from his youth up (although no one but Jesus ever has) and yet lack the one thing needful to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:11-21).
By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Romans 3:20-22).
Many have thought they would get to heaven by being good; but they are unwilling to recognize that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (3:23). If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).
If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him (John 14:23).
Thought for Today:
The . . . unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8; Ephesians 5:5-8).
Christ Revealed:
The perfection of Christ is revealed through the Ten Commandments, for He kept all of them (Exodus 20:1-17). He was perfect and without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Word Studies:
20:10 Sabbath =ady of rest to honor God; 20:13 kill =murder; 21:8 strange nation =foreign people; 21:14 presumptuously =willfully; with guile =treacherously; 21:19 be quit =be acquitted, blameless; 21:22 her fruit depart from her =suffer a miscarriage; 22:2 breaking up =breaking in; smitten =struck with a fatal blow; 22:16 endow =marriage payment; 22:21 vex =wrongfully treat; 22:24 wax =become; 22:25 usurer =one who loans with interest; 22:31 holy men unto Me =special people consecrated to My service.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts in honor of Reverend Leonard P. Miller • Staff: Pam Pendergrast • Government Officials: Rep. Bart Gordon (TN) and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA) • Country: Barbados (259,000) on the island farthest east in the West Indies • Major language: English • Religious freedom • 79% Protestant; 8% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to make you willing to go wherever He wants to send you (Isaiah 6:8).
Optional Reading: Matthew 24
Memory Verse for the Week: Galatians 3:11
