Deuteronomy 5:17

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 5:17, “Thou shalt not kill.” This means, “Thou shalt not murder.” Life is precious. God is the life-giver. Since God gives life, only He has the right to take it. God wants life to be prolonged. Jesus healed everyone that He came across. He did not harm or punish or end the life of anyone. There are practical exceptions to this commandment which is why it is interpreted as, “Thou shalt not murder.” Individuals have the right to protect themselves. Countries have the right to protect their borders from aggressive nations. Police officers have the right to protect innocent citizens and themselves. The judicial system has the right to end the life of murderers in order to carry out justice and protect other citizens. But because the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” is so important, I understand very well if someone interprets this commandment and says that they must allow no exceptions whatsoever. The right-to-life movement is based upon a deep acceptance of life. The founders of the American government stated that they realized this truth when they penned at the start of the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 5:18, “Neither shalt thou commit adultery.” This commandment is a requirement that you honor the life of someone else. To adulterate someone is to corrupt them. If you commit this sin, you are only thinking of yourself, not them. No wonder that God says to never commit adultery. It can result in so many horrible things. It can result in the destruction of one or two marriages, and a lot of hatred and revenge feelings that go along with those kinds of divorces. Adultery can result in a child out of wed-lock and life-long issues that can result from that. Adultery has resulted in many abortions as people try to get back to where they were before the act of adultery. Adultery can result in acquiring sexually transmitted diseases that can then be given to the spouse. If you are a Christian, adultery can result in the loss of a testimony for Christ and the sorrow and guilt that might last a life-time. Adultery truly is a terrible sin. Adultery violates the great concept of marriage that is meant to symbolize the faithful and loving relationship of Christ with a believer.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 5:19, “Neither shalt thou steal.” Stealing is taking from your neighbor that which belongs to him or her. They have something that you want and so you steal it. You have no right to it, but you steal it anyway. The way to acquire things in this life is to work for them. That is God’s way for human beings on this earth. God told Adam when Adam was kicked out of the Garden of Eden, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” It says in Proverbs 6:6-11, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:[7] Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,[8] Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.[9] How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?[10] Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:[11] So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.” It says in Second Thessalonians 3:10-12, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.[11] For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.[12] Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

The ninth commandment is recorded in Deuteronomy 5:20 and says, “Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.” One of the reasons that lying is so bad is because of the effect that a lie can have on others. A lie hurts the liar because of the loss of credibility and respect. And a lie also hurts the one who is lied about. It is called slander. The truth always comes out eventually. A liar is also a foolish person who thinks that he or she can get away with a lie. The truth is a very powerful force. Do not lose your strength by lying.

The tenth commandment covers anything for which someone has a selfish desire. It says in Deuteronomy 5:21, “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.” This commandment does not involve what you do, but what you desire. Of course, what you desire will change what you do. Desire the wrong thing, and you will end up doing the wrong thing. Strong desire is also known as lust. One of the greatest enemies of any person is their own strong will and strong desires. To follow Christ requires surrendering one’s will to the will of God.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 5:22, “These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.” God spoke and then God wrote His own words on “tables of stone.” Was there any difference between the spoken word and the written word? None whatsoever. If you heard God speak, or if you read the words that God wrote in the stone, then you had the exact same words. This shows us the value of the written word of God, what we call the Bible. When you read God’s written Word, you are reading the actual words from God as if He was speaking them to you. The reasons God wrote His words on tables of stone was to symbolize the fact that His Word is immutable and that His Word was to endure for every generation. God gave His written Word and God preserved His written Word. Jesus said that was the case. Jesus said in Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” God not only gave His precious Word in written form, but He has also preserved it. Anyone who teaches otherwise is anathema and is not of the truth.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 5:23-29, “And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;[24] And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.[25] Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.[26] For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?[27] Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.[28] And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.[29] O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” The children of Israel said in verse 24, “we have seen this day that God doth talk with man.” That is a very true statement. God communicates with people. That is one reason that Jesus is called “the Word.” Jesus is the living communication from God to man. Jesus is the great teacher. He taught when He was on the earth, and He teaches today because He is still alive. God communicates with people. That is why He gave us His written Word: so that we could know His truth and so that we could receive His communication in written form.

After the children of Israel promised to obey God’s commandments, notice God’s reaction to that promise. God said in Deuteronomy 5:29, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” First we see the heart of God. God longs that someone would turn his or her heart to Him. Most people are selfish and self-centered and never turn their hearts to the Lord to love Him and serve Him. How much it breaks God’s heart to see people turn away. But the sad truth is that most people do turn away from Him. God can see the future and He knows the terrible result that will come upon everyone that turns from Him. Jesus expressed this same sadness at the refusal of human beings to turn to Him. Jesus said in Matthew 23:37-39, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not![38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.[39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

God is speaking to Moses and says to him in Deuteronomy 5:30-31, “Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.[31] But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.” God uses people. Of course, God can do whatever He wants, and what He wants to do is to use people. We are His instruments. Every Christian is used of God for the glory of Christ. And God gives every Christian a gift to be used for His glory. Some people are called to teach and to preach God’s Word. That is God’s will. If you are not called to teach, then you are called to listen to one of God’s teachers and to learn from him. God spoke through Moses to the children of Israel. God still uses that method. It says in Ephesians 4:7-12, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.[8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.[9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?[10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 5:32-33, “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.[33] Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” On the one hand these verses show the tremendous demands of the law. If you want to live by law and base your relationship with God on law, then do not forget that the law demands perfection. But the New Testament message is different than the law. Instead of trying to gain righteousness through the law, we can gain righteousness through faith in Jesus. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7-9, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

___________________________________________________