Christian Churches of God

Law and the Tenth Commandment (No. 263)

(Edition 1.1 19981011-19981011)

It is written: 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. This paper explains the entire structure of the Law of God, as applied to its Commandment as explained by the prophets and the Testament in compliance with the reading of the Law in the Sabbath years.

 


Christian Churches of God

PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA

Email: secretary@ccg.org

(Copyright ã 1998, 1999 Wade Cox)

This paper may be freely copied and distributed provided it is copied in total with no alterations or deletions. The publisher’s name and address and the copyright notice must be included. No charge may be levied on recipients of distributed copies. Brief quotations may be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching copyright.

This paper is available from the World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org


Law and the Tenth Commandment

It is written:

Exodus 20:17 17 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. (KJV)

Deuteronomy 5:21 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. (KJV)

Romans 7:7 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (KJV)

The tenth commandment establishes the law on a higher and spiritual plane. The tenth commandment establishes the law in the mind and heart and regulates the conduct of the elect. A breach of this commandment, as with the other commandments in the structure, breaches the law entire.

The structure of the tenth follows that of the Two Great Commandments and the other nine commandments.

The First Great Commandment

Matthew 22:36-38 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. (KJV)

The entire structure of the Law is centred on the Love of God.

God’s System and Structure and Authority as Law

God has established His law until the complete fulfilment of His plan, over the entire age and the resurrections to life and judgment.

Matthew 5:17-32 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (KJV)

The entire structure of the law was interpreted correctly, and placed on the Spiritual plane through Messiah. He gave the law to Moses and then gave its understanding as it had to be kept, as Messiah.

Deuteronomy 27:26 26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. (KJV)

Envy of God’s people is the cause of their persecution

Exodus 1:1-14 1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. (KJV)

By coveting the growth and well being, and fearing the power of God’s people, the adversary promotes their destruction. But the Lord raises up the deliverance of His people while it is yet far off.

Exodus 2:16-25 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. 20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. 23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Exodus 3:11 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. (KJV)

God then calls His deliverer for the purpose he is set aside. God undertakes the deliverance in His own good time. The tenth commandment teaches patience and perseverance in the will of God.

Coveting power and authority

Privilege and respect of persons

All power is from God, even to that power conferred on and permitted to Satan and the Host in the last days. God is not a respecter of persons as we have seen (Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:17; 16:19; 2Sam. 14:14; 2Chron. 19:7; Prov. 24:23; 28:21; Rom. 2:11; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25; Jas. 2:1; Jas. 2:9; 1Pet. 1:17).

He allocates power within His plan.

Monotheism and Polytheism

Monotheism is the system whereby all will is in subjection to the will of the One True God, under Jesus Christ whom He sent (Jn. 17:3).

Wills in rebellion

Having a will in rebellion to the Will of the One True God is Polytheism and rebellion. It is as the sin of witchcraft. Polytheism merely seeks to establish wills in opposition to, or external to the will of the One True God. That is why Christ did the will of the Father in all things (Jn. 6:38-40).

God knows what our needs are and all things are catered for in His plan. Covetousness strikes at the faith in the adequacy of the provisions God has set aside for us. The children of Israel were given manna so that their bread and water would be sure, which is His promise to us in the last days in the wilderness (Ps. 37:25; Isa. 33:16).

Numbers 11:1-35 1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. 2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. 3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. 4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. 7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. 8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. 9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. 10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. 11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. 18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. 19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? 21 And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. 22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? 23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. 24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. 26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! 30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 31 And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. 32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. 35 And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth. (KJV)

Give thanks in all things. Be thankful for what the Lord has given us. For in lust and covetousness is the wrath of God.

Witchcraft and divination

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (1Sam. 15:23). So too is witchcraft and enchantment the desire to circumvent God’s will. Observing times and divining times is a desire to know the future and to determine will in opposition to the will of God.

Deuteronomy 18:10-15 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. 15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (KJV)

Stargazing and communing with spirits is the antithesis of faith and the just shall walk by faith.

The Sabbath System as Signs of God and His power

God establishes His system according to His times and His calendar, and not according to the God of this world. That is why the entire calendar of the world’s system, including the false calendar of the Hillel system under Talmudic Judaism, must be overthrown and returned to the calendar of the Temple period (cf. Lev. 23:1-44; Num. 15:3; 29:39; 1Chron 23:31; Ezra 3:5; Neh. 10:33). The Solar Calendar and the Jewish Hillel Calendar are in opposition to the Will of God and God has said that He hates their feasts (Isa. 1:14) because they have polluted the feasts of God.

The entire Sunday-keeping system is based on pagan theology in opposition to the will of God and His specific laws given in the fourth commandment system (cf. Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256)). The entire theology in defence of Sunday-worship is based on a perversion of the Scriptures and a distortion of the creation narrative and the Sabbath rest of God, as applied to the seventh day Sabbath. The first day of the week has no basis in this narrative, other than as the beginning of the seven day creation narrative. The mindset of itself is based on the covetous mindset of the demons, again in breach of the tenth commandment.

The Second Great Commandment

It is written : Matthew 22:39 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (KJV)

Covetousness strikes at the law in a spiritual fashion and sets the mind on the downward path to physical sin. We are sons of God and are meant to worship in Spirit and in truth.

Romans 13:9 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (KJV)

The thrust of the law is encapsulated in this statement: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. How then does the tenth commandment relate to this concept?

Offences against neighbour

Leviticus 19:13 13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (KJV)

The basic crimes of fraud and theft are, as we have seen above physical actions, but they are all based on a thought process, which yields to sin. Sin attacks the fabric of a society and the freedom of a people.

The strength of a nation rests on the premise of a free and independent people. Slavery is an anathema to God’s system and the spirit of family, which embraces the concept of the Sons of God. Coveting a manservant interferes with the capacity to administer and observe the law.

Runaway slaves

Deuteronomy 23:15-16 15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: 16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him. (KJV)

A servant, who escapes from his master is deemed to have done so with just cause, and the servant is not to be returned by those who find him, but he is to be given sustenance in the place to which he goes. This legislation also goes to the spirit of the refugee, who escapes for just cause in preservation of his life. It does not simply condone the idle movement of the populace in pursuit of better standards of living. Most of the people escaping are in dire necessity, through the failure of the nation to observe the laws of God, in the first instance.

Malice

The ‘eye for an eye’ legislation was put in place to deal with malicious wounding, caused by covetousness and malice.

Leviticus 24:19-20 19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; 20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. (KJV)

Christ had much to say about our attitudes to these offences and our love of our neighbour and the capacity for forgiveness. Nevertheless, the law is there to be used under circumstances which make it appropriate.

The system

The system is on a higher level in the tenth commandment and that fact is seldom fully appreciated.

Ephesians 5:5 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (KJV)

Covetousness is of itself idolatry and precludes the individual from the kingdom of God.

The structure of the law and the gift of God is often resented and misapprehended in covetousness and respect of persons.

Matthew 20:13-16 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (KJV)

We all labour for the same wages. We are all granted salvation, which is the gift of God by grace. It is the same no matter how long and hard we labour in the vineyard of the Lord. The reward is also of talents and cities. Nevertheless, we are all saved with the blood of Christ, as one price for our labour. Obedience to God’s Laws does not grant salvation and eternal life. However, obedience to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ is the method by which we keep the gift of grace and eternal salvation. We are not saved by keeping the law. We are not saved by works. However, we retain our position in the kingdom, according to our obedience to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:17; 14:12) and that is the fundamental difference that is not understood by mainstream Sunday-keeping Christianity, Rabbinical Judaism and Hadithic Islam. Faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:17).

Those who do not glorify God but seek to elevate themselves, or others to His level through covetousness, are fools. Many, being called, lose their positions in the kingdom through this error of thinking (cf. Rom. 1:22; 8:29-30).

Covetousness in society as it affects the Family

Covetousness must never interfere with the well being of the family, which is the basis of the nation.

Exodus 21:3-11 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. 7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. 8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. 11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money. (KJV)

The law does not allow any person to be mistreated by covetousness or neglect. The mindset that seeks to deny salvation to the Gentiles so that they can be extorted in usury and increase, even to the extent of denying that they are entitled to have their lives saved in emergencies such as we saw in Talmudic Judaism (cf. Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259)) is a gross perversion of the laws of God and blasphemy against His system of love and order. It is the reason the Messiah condemned the Pharisees and the reason they killed him rather than repent. The same evil mindset gave rise to the attitudes against Judaism in Islam and the persecutions in Christianity.

Covetousness as Murder

All murder springs from anger and lust as covetousness or envy. This is the basic lesson of Messiah.

Matthew 5:21-28 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

The mindset extends to hatred among one’s neighbours. The term Raca is left untranslated in the west, because it is not understood. It is an Aramaic term which means: "spit in your face." It is used in bargaining and is a term of contempt for the terms of trade offered by the other party (cf. notes to Lamsa’s translation of the Peshitta version).

It is the terms we use that defile us.

Matthew 15:10-20 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (KJV)

Here we see the power of thought and covetousness in undermining our spirituality.

Micah 2:1-2 1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. (KJV)

This was given effect by Ahab’s wife Jezebel (1Kgs. 21:1-29) and also by David with the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2Sam. 11:1-12:9). In both cases covetousness led to murder through false witness and abuse of power, and authority against loyal men. In each case the Lord raised a prophet to deal with the abuse of power.

Covetousness as Adultery

The breach of the tenth commandment follows on to adultery in such cases.

Matthew 5:27-28 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (KJV)

This higher law strikes at the preparation of the mind and the spirit for the role of son of God.

Covetousness as Theft

So too does covetousness lead to theft as we saw with Ahab and the field above. Covetousness leads to the breach of the orders of God and loss of position in the kingdom as we saw with Achan (Josh. 7:19-21).

The entire structure of the tenth commandment is the key to the intent and spirit of the law. It is the tenth commandment which falls first in these matters. Thus the law proceeds from God and is held by spiritual perfection in the tenth commandment.

Leviticus 6:1-7 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; 3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: 4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, 5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: 7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein. (KJV)

We have seen this text go to physical restoration in the section Law and the Eighth Commandment. The text in vv. 6 and 7 goes to the trespass offering, which goes then to the healing of the breach of the tenth commandment and its effect on the mind and the spiritual condition.

All sin comes between us and God and the nation perishes and the people are lost to the covenant and the first resurrection.

Leviticus 20:10-11 10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (KJV)

This is a severe penalty. Christ showed that it was the ultimate sanction under the law. He showed how the handling of this sanction was to be undertaken when the adulterous woman was repentant, and he stated that whoever was without sin, let them cast the first stone. We can only deduce what was happening there. The crowd, being convicted of its own sin dispersed (Jn. 8:1-11). This method of dealing with the law shows us its full intent and application.

The extension of the term brother to the alien and the sojourner in the land is seen in the text here. Thus usury and increase is forbidden to be exacted of all the nations, including the aliens and sojourners among us.

Leviticus 25:35-55 35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. 36 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. 37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. 38 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: 41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. 43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God. 44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 46 And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. 47 And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: 48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: 49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. 50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. 51 If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. 53 And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight. 54 And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him. 55 For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (KJV)

We have seen the effects of this legislation of Leviticus 25:35-55 in the Law and the Eighth Commandment. The entire thrust of this legislation is to show how the citizenship of Israel was to be a valued thing. No one could be a citizen and remain idolatrous. The rejection of the notion that salvation was extended to the Gentiles in Jesus Christ, was resisted from a fundamental desire to deny salvation to the nations, and to acquire their property under unjust terms. This mindset persists even today.

All of the people who live in the nation are destined to become sons of God and the nation is to prepare them. Salvation is of the gentiles and all should be joyous that this has been allowed.

From the text of Exodus 22:1-15 (cf. Law and the Eighth Commandment (No. 261)) we saw the legislation for restoration of loss through theft. Much of that text deals with losses that arise as a direct result of a breach of the tenth commandment and consequent fraud. The text has also a section dealing with unjust claims at law. If a person claims ownership of something and he is not correct, then he is to be fined double that which he has claimed (Ex. 22:9). This penalty acts as a deterrent against attempted acquisition and litigation by false claims.

All loss that arises from covetousness is to be made good under the law, and false claims in covetousness are penalised. Here in this text we also go to the concept of damages in fire and loss through negligence, arising in damages ensuing from secondary sources. The concept of due care of property in charge or in proximity is seen here, and this also follows to the tenth commandment. Care of our neighbour’s property flows from love and concern. Damages often flow from the lusts and ubiquities of the mind.

Arson is a disease which is nevertheless recoverable in damages. It is also a theft but often it is simply destruction in envy or jealousy. Jealousy stems from the desire to acquire that which another has. Envy is the desire to destroy that which one person has, purely because the other does not have it. This breach of the tenth commandment is a serious problem in mental attitude among a people, and prevents anyone of that frame of mind from entering the kingdom of God.

Covetousness as False witness

Covetousness leads to thefts of lands and inheritance, of sustenance and livelihood.

Deuteronomy 27:17 17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:14 14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. (KJV)

The spirit and intent of the law extends to the preservation of our enemy’s property, as well as our brother’s and when we extend the Law of God to the whole world in the Spirit, we have fulfilled the will of God.

Deuteronomy 22:1-4 1 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. 2 And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. 3 In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. 4 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again. (KJV)

Restore all damage that we see without being asked. Protect our neighbour as ourself.

The Spiritual aspects of the Law entire

No person is to make profit at the expense of another.

Steal

Neither by theft or by usury which is theft and the desire for another man’s labour.

Exodus 22:25 25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. (KJV)

No pledge is to interfere with a man’s comfort or survival, or welfare. Nor is to impinge on his ability to provide his livelihood.

Exodus 22:26-27 26 If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: 27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. (KJV)

The attitude of mind that is covetous precludes the person with such an attitude from entering the kingdom of God and leads to the breaches of the other commandments and of the law entire.

q

 

 


Christian Churches of God

PO Box 369 Woden, ACT 2606 Australia

E-mail:   CCG Secretary


Copyright:   The papers on this site may be freely copied and distributed provided they are copied in total with no alterations or deletions. The publisher's name and address and the copyright notice must be included. No charge may be levied on recipients of distributed copies. Brief quotations may be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching copyright.


| Search | Alphabetic Index | Long Catalogue | Home Page | Webmaster | Additional |