On the tenth day of Christmas … ten lords-a-leaping. This day’s gift in the song can stand for the Ten Commandments. God’s Law is both written on our hearts as well as revealed to us through God’s Word, given especially to His prophet, Moses, on Mount Sinai. The first three Commandments are the laws that govern our relationship with God. The last seven Commandments are the laws that govern our relationships with one another.
The Ten Commandments have both the Law stated in the Commandment as well as the Law implied around what is written. God’s Law tells us what God requires of us and threatens punishment if we don’t obey Him. It is impossible for us to fulfill God’s Law; our sin is too great. We break His Commandments in our desires, thoughts, words, withheld words, actions, and inactions on a daily basis. Also, if you break one Commandment, you’re guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10). God’s Law reveals our sins to us, convicts us of them – finding us all guilty – and sentences us to death for them. The only punishment for our sin is eternal condemnation.
But thanks be to God that Jesus Christ humbled Himself, stepping down from His throne in heaven, all to die on the cross for our sins and rise to new life! In doing so, Jesus fulfilled God’s Law for us, removed our sin from us, and clothed us in His perfection and righteousness. This is called “The Great Exchange.” Now, that does not mean that we can willfully live in our sin because we are already forgiven. God wants us to flee from temptations and sin, fixing our eyes on Him, the author and perfector of our faith.
The Ten Commandments:
1) “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3 ESV)
This means that we should fear, love, and trust in God above all other things. In this Commandment, God forbids us from idolatry; when we regard and worship any creature or thing as a god over the True, Triune God. It also forbids us from fearing, loving, trusting, or believing in anyone or anything over Him.
We can fear God above all other things when we revere Him alone as the highest being, honor Him with our very lives, and when we avoid doing what displeases Him. We can love God above all other things by clinging to Him alone as our God, fleeing from sin, and devoting our lives to His service. We can trust God above all other things by committing our very lives completely to His keep and relying on Him for help in our every need.
2) “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7 ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive others by His name. Instead, we should always call upon God’s name, especially in every trouble that we encounter. We can do this through prayer to Him. We should also give Him all of our praise and adoration, as well as give thanks to Him for all that we have.
God revealed His name to Moses from the burning bush: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to you.”’” (Exodus 3:14 ESV). In Hebrew, this is “ehyeh asher ehyeh” and then shortened to “ehyeh” or “I AM.” The Israelites later said God’s name as “YHWH” or “Yahweh.” This name of God, revealed by God to Moses, is part of His essence and one of His attributes. He revealed that He is not a distant, abstract being, but is in fact a close, active, divine being.
3) “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.” (Exodus 20:8-10a ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never despise the preaching of His Word. Instead, we should always hold God’s Word as sacred, gladly hearing it and learning from it. The seventh day of the week is Saturday. The word “Sabbath” means “to rest.”
The Old Testament Sabbath day was a requirement for the Israelites to rest, as well as a sign pointing to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Since Jesus has already come and has already completed His work of salvation, He has become our Sabbath rest. God no longer requires us to observe the Sabbath day as it was in the Old Testament because we can now find Sabbath rest in Christ, all day, every day, anywhere we are. “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 ESV).
4) “Honor your father and your mother, that you days may be long in the land that the Lord you God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never despise our parents, nor provoke them to anger. This is extended to all figures of authority. Instead, we should always give them honor, serve and obey them, hold them in high esteem, and love and cherish them. Obviously, if your parents or an authority figure asks you to do something evil, that is not something to honor, obey, or love.
5) “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13 ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never hurt or harm our neighbors; in mind, heart, body, or spirit. This includes causing death to someone through carelessness or negligence, also known as manslaughter. Instead, we should always strive to help and support our neighbors and encourage them in every need; in mind, heart, body, and spirit.
6) “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14 ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we always lead a sexually pure and decent life in our desires, thoughts, words, and actions. If married, we are to love, cherish, and honor our spouse. We should never think, speak, or act on temptations of lust, but instead flee from them. When faced with such temptations, the best way to overcome them and not fall into sin is through prayer and God’s Word.
7) “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15 ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never take our neighbor’s money or possessions, no obtain them in any dishonest way. Instead, we should always help our neighbors to improve and protect their money and possessions.
8) “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16 ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never tell lies about our neighbors, betray them, slander them, or hurt their reputation. Instead, we should always defend our neighbors, speak well of them, and explain everything in the kindest way possible. This does not apply if your neighbor is performing evil, which would make your defense of them evil.
9) “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.” (Exodus 20:17a ESV)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never scheme to get our neighbor’s inheritance or their house, or obtain them in any dishonest way. Instead, we should always help our neighbors and be of service to them in keeping their inheritance and house.
10) “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.” (Exodus 20:17b)
This means that we should fear and love God so much, that we never entice or force away our neighbor’s spouse, workers, or animals, nor turn them against our neighbors. Instead, we should always urge them to stay and do their duty to our neighbors. If the relationship between our neighbor and their spouse, workers, or animals has become adulterous, abusive, estranged, or sinful in any way on its own, we should not condone the evil behavior committed by our neighbor by encouraging their spouse, workers, or animals to stay with them.
God’s Law is meant to make you feel quite uncomfortable because it exposes your sin and the evil you commit. God hates sin and evil; He has no sin or evil within Him. (Psalm 5:4). No one is saved by God’s Law; we all fall short of His glory because of our sin. We are, however, saved by His Gospel – God the Son – Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection. Christ alone saves you. “Jesus said to him, ‘I Am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 ESV).
Soli Deo Gloria!
Philip Frank
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”The Twelve Days of Christmas” song image in the corner is by Xavier Romero-Frias and used under Creative Commons license BY-SA 3.0.
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