Episode Transcript
Verses 13-17, the last five commandments in the decalogue, carry the same spirit as the first five. Why does God instruct a society not to permit murder within its borders? A society where people are permitted to kill one another without just cause cannot survive or prosper. Instead, for any society to live long and prosper, its citizens must know how to have kind intentions toward one another. When we hate one another, we accomplish the same thing murder accomplishes—the destruction of our society (cf. Matthew 5:21-22).
Society cannot thrive if men are cheating on their wives and lusting after women. The encouragement of lust and the ease of divorce make for the breakdown of families, which is the base unity of society. It also creates a general culture of entitlement that produces brats who need to have everything they want instead of doing what is best for others.
When people are stealing what is not theirs by some kind of organized economy, society loses its order and people are doing what they think is best for them even if others are hurt in the process. To permit theft within a society creates a society that is not sustainable. Burglary is not the only form of theft—so is charging interest on loans (cf. Exodus 22:25), taking more than you need as a politician or king (cf. Deuteronomy 17:16-17), or being interested in sordid gain as a pastor (cf. 1 Timothy 3:3).
When people lie about others and want the things their neighbors have, society cannot thrive—being longevous or prosperous. Lying does not appeal to all forms of deception. One can justly wear camouflage while going to just war or hide Jews and tell the Nazi’s they are not. This command not to bear false witness is a command for us not to make someone else, or ourselves, out to be better or worse than we actually are. Don’t cast others in a more negative light than they are. Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to think. Coveting does not appeal to all forms of want. To say, “It would be nice to have better home or circumstance,” is not sinful if you are content. To say, “I am envious of what my neighbor has,” actually severs a relationship that is vital to a successful society—an attitude that leads to theft and adultery.
So God, who promised never again to destroy the world because of human wickedness (Genesis 8:21-22), gives a Law that promotes justice, peace, longevity, and prosperity. Yet, people dislike His Law. In the name of equity, people steal from others. In the name of love, people elevate their personal lusts. In the name of having needs, people cheat on their spouses. In the name of security, people bear false witness about other people. In the name of self-promotion, people bear false witness about themselves. We claim that we want to see justice, equality, love, and security in our time—but we only perpetuate the adverse in the way that we pursue the justice we want to see. Instead of living lives to gain for ourselves, perhaps we should treasure the Law of God. It was given for our good.
