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Daily Devotion: Exodus 20:13-17

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Exodus 20:13-17     "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." 

It has been said that the first four commandments (Exodus 20:1-11) deal with how we relate to God and the last six (including verse 12) deal with how relate to each other. However, we need to be careful about taking this distinction too literally. Remember that Jesus taught us that the treatment we show to the least of His we have done unto Him. The LORD our God is the author of all these commandments.

We are often quick to point out things we have not done. We say we have never killed anybody, but have we ever been guilty of hating our brother (1John 3:15)? We say that we have never committed adultery, but have we ever forsaken the LORD to serve another (Ezekiel 14-15)? We may declare ourselves innocent of stealing from our neighbor, but have we been guilty of robbing God (Malachi 3:8-9)?

As a purely moral law, the Ten Commandments is a wonderful declaration of how men should live. Whether religious or not, following the precepts of these commandments allows men to live together in peace. All of this is good. Serving God and seeing the spiritual application of His law is better.

When we live to serve Him, we are not going to defraud our neighbor. We are not going to covet his goods or be tempted to leave the service of God to live a different lifestyle in order to have what our neighbor has. If we live these laws as being spiritual as well as moral, we will be better able to live a life that is pleasing to Him. We will live a life that gives all the glory to God.

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