June 22, 2022

“You shall not murder.  You shall not commit adultery.  You shall not steal. “

Exodus 20:13–15

It is a little ironic that these often feel like the easier commands to obey. Each one present a dramatic, willful depriving of another that most cultures agree is harmful to society. Now, that never prevented me from stealing gum as a kid - and the idea of adultery doesn’t often come to mind when we let our eyes linger. But generally, we feel like we’ve got these three down, especially murder. Sure we insult, belittle, and dismiss each other for any number of reasons…but we’d never actually go so far as to kill them! But the truth is that each negative commandment has a positive implication. Because God is the author of life - we should not only not murder, but also preserve the lives of those around us to the best of our abilities! Because God is a giver of gifts, we should not only not steal, but also reflect God in granting our resources to cover our neighbors lack. Because God is the author of Covenant we should not only not violate marriages but also bind ourselves to others in marriage and honor the image of God in each person - particularly for those whose appearance makes us trip on the sidewalk as they walk past. Because God is the author of every good and perfect gift - the ways in which we interact with each other on a daily basis reflects our understanding of His goodness and steadfast love. If we struggle to extend these things, it may reflect a faulty understanding of who he is for us.

 — MATT ALLHANDS