"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Deuteronomy 5:16) Jesus pointed out hypocrisy which He observed regarding the way this commandment was being handled in His day. Men could deliberately avoid providing for their father and mother in their old age by pledging the money to the Lord instead. Giving money to the Lord's work is not a sin in itself but it is a sin if doing so breaks one of the Lord's commandments. It is a sin if doing so causes family members, for whom a man is responsible, to be in need. But a man who didn't want to honor his parents was allowed to say, "Sorry, but I've already pledged this money to the Lord. My word to Him cannot be broken." He would not come under censure for failing to provide his parents with basic necessities. In regard to this Jesus had some harsh words, "For God said, 'Honor your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.' But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is 'devoted to God,' they are not to 'honor their father or mother' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God with your tradition. You hypocrites!" (Matthew 15:4-7a)
As we studied yesterday, it's possible to follow the letter of the law while losing the heart of the law. Just as Jesus pointed out it was a sin to keep the commandment not to work on the Sabbath if that meant refusing to render aid to someone on the Sabbath, it's a sin to give money to the Lord's work if it's being given to avoid providing for someone we are obligated to provide for.
These next four commandments require no additional commentary and Moses does not add any. "You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (Deuteronomy 5:17-20) The Lord could not have made these commandments any plainer so He simply says, "You shall not do it."
Coveting is an emotion which leads to things such as murder, adultery, theft, and bringing false charges against someone whom we envy. This is why we must take care to recognize and repent of covetous thoughts. "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Deuteronomy 5:21)
Covetousness was something the Apostle Paul struggled with before he converted to Christianity, for he said that while he lived under the law he recognized in himself "every kind of coveting". (Romans 7:8) The commandment not to covet caused him to feel convicted in his heart of sin, but under the law he had no permanent means of absolution for this sin. Under the law he found no victory over this sin. But under grace he found a permanent means of absolution in Christ's sacrifice, and through Christ he attained victory over his tendency to covet what others had. He lost the constant desire to grasp more worldly fortune and fame for himself. When he became a minister of the gospel he lost all the wealth and status he had accumulated during his pre-Christian years when he had climbed the ladder of success faster than most men his age (Galatians 1:14) and he said of the loss of the things he once treasured, "I consider them garbage." (Philippians 3:8) He considered these material things garbage because he valued Christ more. The luxuries he lost meant nothing in comparison to "the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord". (Philippians 3:8) He said the law had not been able to relieve him of his covetous desires but knowing Christ set him free of them.
Moses begins to wrap up his sermon. "These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and He added nothing more. Then He wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me." (Deuteronomy 5:22) Moses says, "These commandments are not my words. They are the Lord's words. They were not given to you by man but by God. He spoke them with His own voice. He wrote them with His own finger. They are to be accepted and obeyed, for they are not the rules or the opinions of man, but are the very word of God."
"When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me. And you said, 'The Lord our God has shown us His glory and His majesty, and we have heard His voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them. But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer. For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived? Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.'" (Deuteronomy 5:23-27) Moses says, "The thundering voice of our God struck such awe and fear in you that you preferred He speak to me and that I relay His words to you. This is how much you revered Him on that day. Keep that attitude always and you will revere His commandments and obey them."
Moses reminds the people that the Lord was pleased with the awe in which they regarded Him on that day, "The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, 'I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! Go, tell them to return to their tents. But you stay here with Me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.'" (Deuteronomy 5:28-31)
King Solomon said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) If we do not fear the Lord (if we do not regard Him with respect and awe) then we will not be obedient to Him. If we are not obedient to Him, we are not wise---we are fools. "So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." (Deuteronomy 5:32-33)
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