Exodus Chapter 20 Deep-Dive Part 2: The Ten Commandments Continued...

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Deep-dives into the Bible beyond what Sunday teaches you.

 

Back to the giving of the law: Ex 20:15 “(9)You shall not steal.”

Which of Jesus’ parables best addresses “theft?” The Parable of the Vineyard & Tenants: Mk 12:1-12, or, Mt 21:33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. (GOD’S EXPECTED PROFIT FROM LEASING HIS VINEYARD – THE BASIS OF THIS PARABLE IS CLEARLY THEFT ! 35And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” 42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

BEWARE IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THEFT BEING DONE BY SOMEONE ELSE THAT WILL RESULT IN GAIN FOR YOU !! GOD SEES EVERYTHING … AND JUDGES OUR MOTIVATIONS

THE EXPECTATION AND RIGHT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE BIBLE:

Deut 19:14 “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary stone which the ancestors have set.”

Deut 27:17: “Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.”

Prov 22:28 “Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.”

Prov 23:10 “Do not move the ancient boundary or go into the fields of the fatherless.”

Job 24:2 a list of those who do evil: “Some remove the landmarks; they seize and devour flocks.”

THE RIGHT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SOCIETY … THIS CAN NOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED !

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DAYDREAMS ABOUT “GETTING EVEN” WITH THE RICH, OR NOT PAYING THEIR DEBTS OR TAXES? HERE ARE SOME TYPES OF THEFT YOU MIGHT NOT THINK ARE RELATED TO “THOU SHALT NOT STEAL”:

White Collar Crimes: use of deceit for financial gains, such as Ponzi schemes; securities fraud; tax evasion; and embezzlement. Usually committed by persons hired for the management of a business or government entity.

Bribery: which is the act of accepting or offering something of value in exchange for influence or power in connection to an elected position or public employment.

Fraud: such as wire fraud; tax evasion; insurance fraud; and identity theft.

Embezzlement: when an individual steals money or property that he or she has been entrusted to manage.

Identity Theft: when someone unlawfully uses another's personally identifying information (such as a Social Security Number) to commit other crimes, such as credit card fraud.

Money Laundering: a crime involving the movement of illicit money and other gains into legitimate channels in order to disguise the money's illegal source and thwart tax officials.

Mortgage Fraud: illegal schemes related to the misrepresentation or misstatement of mortgage documents for the purpose of defrauding another party, such as a lender or a homeowner. (SOMEONE IS LENDING THE MONEY !)

Racketeering / RICO: (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization) laws, which make it a crime for a criminal organization to profit from otherwise legitimate business operations.

Securities Fraud: a crime in which a corporate officer, for example, makes misleading statements about the company’s stock performance or discloses confidential information related to its stock.

Tax Evasion / Fraud: The crime of not paying one’s legally required share of either federal or state taxes, which is punished severely and can lead to asset forfeiture or prison.

WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT PAYING TAXES? Lk 20:25He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT PAYING OUR DEBTS: Mt 6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. WE OWE WHAT WE OWE … I OWE MY DEBTS !!

PAUL’S TAKE ON “WHITE COLLAR CRIMES”

Rom 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. PAUL TIES “PAYING WHAT YOU OWE” TO THE WORKS OF DARKNESS AND “PUTTING ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

PAUL’S TAKE ON THEFT IN THE CHURCH

1 Cor 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. 2And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. STAY WITH ME … YOU’LL SEE HOW THEFT IS TIED TO THIS:

3For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF WHY AND HOW GOD USES SATAN TO DRAW US BACK TO HIMSELF. PS 78:32 In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. 33So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. 34When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. 35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.

BACK TO 1 CORINTHIANS 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. HERE’S THE CONNECTION TO “THOU SHALT NOT STEAL”:

9I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

6:1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

PAUL’S TAKE ON THEFT IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS:

Eph 4:25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

THINK OF THIS FOLLOWING PASSAGE AS WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT ROBBING FROM CLOSE FRIENDS OR FAMILY …

Pr 25:24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is a companion to a man who destroys.

JESUS’ PARABLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD COMPARED TO “THIEVES & ROBBERS” … THIS PARABLE IS CLEARLY FOR THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

THE SETUP FOR THE PARABLE BEGINS IN JN CH 9 – THE MAN WHOM JESUS HAD HEALED BY PUTTING MUD ON HIS EYES ON THE SABBATH:

Jn 9:35Jesus heard that they had cast him out (FROM THE SYNAGOGUE), and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. 10: 1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he (A SHEPHERD) who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2But he (A SHEPHERD) who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him (THE SHEPHERD WHO ENTERS BY THE DOOR – JESUS) the gatekeeper opens … WHO IS THE GATEKEEPER ?!? … THE FATHER – WHO OWNS THE SHEEP!! The sheep hear his (THE SHEPHERD WHO ENTERS BY THE DOOR – JESUS) voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

6This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep (EQUATING HIMSELF WITH THE GATEKEEPER – THE FATHER FROM V3). 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. WHY DID JESUS NOT SAY THEY WERE FALSE PROPHETS OR DECEIVERS … HE CALLS THEM THIEVES AND ROBBERS!

9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

THE OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES JESUS WAS REFERENCING:

Jer 23: 1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. 3Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. THIS IS A MESSIANIC PASSAGE: 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

JESUS WAS CLAIMING TO BE EQUAL TO YAHWEH – MY SHEEP & I AM THE GATE !!!

Ez 34:1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; 6they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. 7“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. ROBBERS AND THIEVES !! 11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out … THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIMSELF !!!!!

REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIS OTHER SHEEP WHO WERE FROM A DIFFERENT FOLD? … 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

17“As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

IN THIS SECTION LISTEN FOR THE “I WILL” PASSAGES … YAHWEH IS THE “I” … JESUS ALSO CLAIMS THAT SAME “I” …

20“Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.

THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES ALL KNEW THESE TWO PASSAGES … THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT JESUS WAS TALKING – THAT THEY WERE THE BAD SHEPHERDS WHO WERE ONLY INTERESTED IN FEEDING THEMSELVES – THE THIEVES AND ROBBERS WHO JESUS SPOKE ABOUT, AND THAT JESUS WAS CLAIMING TO BE EQUAL TO YAHWEH!

Back to Exodus / Sinai / God speaking directly to the people THUNDERING FROM THE MOUNTAIN IN DARK CLOUDS, THUNDER AND LIGHTNING … giving them the 10 commandments:

Ex 20:16 (10)You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor: TESTIFYING IN COURT!

Pr 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Pr 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

Pr 19:22What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

Pr 24:28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

Pr 25:18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

What about lying?

1 Sam 21:10And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

God put a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets of Israel … ?

1 Ki 22: 1For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. 2But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” 8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 15And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17And he (Micaiah the prophet of God) said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 18And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD … HIS HEAVENLY COUNCIL IS MEETING: 19And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”

2 Ki 8:7 Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. (CH 5 – NAAMAN THE LEADER OF THE SYRIAN ARMY WAS HEALED OF LEPROSY BY ELISHA – BEN HADAD KNEW WHO ELISHA WAS) And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels’ loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” ELISHA DIRECTED HAZAEL TO LIE TO THE KING OF SYRIA. 11And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

Ez 14:6“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. 7For any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I the Lord will answer him myself. 8And I will set my face against that man; I will make him a sign and a byword and cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 9 And if the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 10And they shall bear their punishment—the punishment of the prophet and the punishment of the inquirer shall be alike— 11that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord God.”

Ps 116:10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”

Jn 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

2 Thess 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 Tim 1:8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rev 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” … v22And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN LYING IS THE BEST OPTION … Ex, HIDING JEWS FROM NAZIS … WE SEE GOD USING DECEPTION, SENDING LYING SPIRITS, AND EVEN SENDING DELUSIONS, HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT TO HAVE A LIFESTYLE OF DECEPTION OR LYING … Gal 5:16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. … AND YOU WILL HAVE THE PROPER DISCERNMENT REGARDING WHAT TO DO …

Back to Sinai – the final commandment

Ex 20:17 “(10)You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Covetousness: the “internal” commandment … based on your thoughts / feelings / motivations … SO, WHEN JESUS SAID THAT LOOKING ON A WOMAN WITH LUST = COMMITTING ADULTERY … THAT WASN’T ANYTHING NEW … HIS SERMON ON THE MOUNT “WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVATION” COMMANDMENTS … IT’S ALL INCLUDED IN THIS 10^th COMMANDMENT.

Ecc 5:18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Ps 37: 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. TAKE A MOMENT AND LOOK INWARD … WHAT ARE YOUR HEART’S DESIRES? IF YOU DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD HE WILL CHANGE YOUR DESIRE’S TO GODLY “DESIRES” THEN FULFILL THOSE DESIRES IN YOUR LIFE …

Titus 2: 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive … SLAVES CONTENT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES GOD HAS PLACED THEM IN … IN ORDER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL!

1 Cor 7:17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Lk 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Eph 4: 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

1 Tim 6:Teach and urge these things. 3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. DO I DESIRE TO BE RICH?

Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” FAITH IN GOD AS “MY HELPER” IS DIRECTLY TIED TO CONTENTMENT.

The Sermon on the Mount Mt ch 5-7 JESUS’ MT SINAI WHERE HE GIVES HIS LAW: STUFF! Lay Up Treasures in Heaven Mt 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also … 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. IF YOU’RE FOCUSED ON LAYING UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN YOU WON’T BE INTERESTED IN ATTAINING WORLDLY STUFF, OR, ON TAKING WHAT DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU. Do Not Be Anxious 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. IF YOU’RE FOCUSED ON BEING CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE YOU WON’T BE INTERESTED IN COVETING …

Paul’s thank-you note to the Philippian church: 4: 10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. PAUL’S EXAMPLE OF BEING CONTENT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE … TOTALLY RELYING ON GOD.

2 Cor 10:5 PAUL SPEAKING We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Rom 12:1 PAUL SPEAKING I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

THAT CONCLUDES THE GIVING OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS AT SINAI

There are 3 different collections of laws in the Pentatuch given to the Israelites with some overlap between them. 1) The book of the Covenant Ex 20:22 – 23:19 (24:7) an application of the 10 commandments. 2) The priestly holiness code Lev 17-26, in (Lev, Ex & Num), 3) Dueteronomic – found in Dueteronomy.

The ancient Jewish leaders called the 10 commandments the 10 WORDS.

The New Covenant that Jesus instituted is based on Jesus fulfilling the requirements of the Sinai law FOR US & the Holy Spirit INHABITING OUR BODIES AND WORKING IN OUR LIVES TO MAKE US LIKE JESUS … this redefines my/our identity with God. Look at the differences between Mary & Joseph, Elizabeth & Zecharia (John the baptizer’s parents), Simeon & Ana (the two prophets who recognized Jesus when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple to be presented to the Lord), compared to official religious leaders like Ananias & Caiaphas (high priests during Jesus’ life) & Nicodemus (the teacher of Israel who did not understand Jesus’ teaching …) the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees who rejected Jesus’ claim to be the messiah … IS GOD LOOKING FOR PERFECT OBEDIENCE? NO – THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE! If Adam and Eve couldn’t keep just one simple commandment how can God expect everyone else to keep the law … WE CAN’T !!! One of the key reasons the law was given was so that all men would KNOW THEY ARE SINNERS BEFORE THE LAWS OF GOD !! He’s looking for repentant, humble, believing, loyalty to Jesus & the Kingdom of God … this RESULTS IN a changed life that makes us LIKE JESUS

The NEW law … the LAW OF CHRIST !! The New Covenant is: Jesus AND the Holy Spirit … ME IN CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ME … JESUS PROTECTING ME FROM YAHWEH AND GIVING ME ACCESS TO YAHWEH … AND THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERING ME TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS … IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS … IN ORDER TO LIVE A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD

PAUL TO THE GALATIONS

Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ… AND BE MORE THAN SOMEBODY WHO JUST KEEPS THE LAW – BE LIKE JESUS

Consider also Rom Ch 8, 1 Cor 9:19-10:13

Back to Exodus / Sinai

Ex 20:18Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test (TEST, TRY, PROVE, TEMPT) you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. SO, WHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED TO SIN … REMEMBER THIS FEARFUL DEMONSTRATION … AND CHOOSE TO NOT SIN

MORE ABOUT THIS SCENE FROM DEUTERONOMY – MOSES’ FINAL WORDS TO ISRAEL, RECAPPING WHAT HAPPENED AT SINAI:

Deut 5:22 “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. THAT WILL HAPPEN LATER 23 And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 24And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. 25Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. 26For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’ 28“And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! 30Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ 32You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

BACK TO EXODUS:

GOD HIMSELF SPOKE AND EVENTUALLY WROTE THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BUT THE LAW WAS NOT COMPLETE. EVERYTHING AFTER THAT WAS GIVEN TO MOSES WHO WAS THE SCRIBE AND PASSED THEM ON TO ISRAEL.

Laws About Altars

Ex 20:22And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. SILVER AND GOLD HAD INTRINSIC VALUE IN ANCIENT CULTURES. ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THEY WOULD ENHANCE THE VALUE AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF IDOLS FASHIONED BY THEM … AARON MADE THE GOLDEN CALF THEN PROCLAIMED A FEAST TO THE LORD … THE GOLDEN CALF WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN IDOL OF YAHWEH … STRICTLY FORBIDDEN

24An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. THERE IS NO CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS AMONG BIBLE SCHOLARS, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS TO BE DIRECTED AT IDOLATRY. PAGAN ALTARS WERE PERMANENT AND OFTEN BECAME OBJECTS OF WORSHIP THEMSELVES. EX: MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS … PEOPLE CAN END UP WORSHIPING THE CHURCH INSTEAD OF GOD. UNDECORATED ALTARS CONTAINING NONE OF OUR HANDIWORK THAT WE MIGHT BE FOCUSED TOTALLY ON GOD. IF YOU PUT A TOOL TO IT … IT BECOMES YOUR ALTAR. NOTHING FANCY OR OSTENTATIOUS. NO BUILDINGS OR CLIMBING – TOWER OF BABEL. IT’S ABOUT ME (YAHWEH), DO WHAT I TELL YOU !

Ex 20:26And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’ NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THAT – INCLUDING GOD.

FURTHER INSTRUCTION IN THE LAW REGARDING PRIESTS AND NAKEDNESS:

Ex 28:40 “For Aaron’s sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty. 41And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 42You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs; 43and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.

 

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