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This morning, as we continue our current study of the Old Testament book of Exodus, we turn our thoughts to the fifth sixth and seventh of the Ten Commandments we find in Exodus 20.

1. Commandment Five

“Honour your father and your mother…” Exodus 20:12a, ESV

I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed this before, but the ten commandments are thematically divided into two groups.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40, ESV

What does it mean to “honour your father and your mother”? Being a father or mother is a weighty responsibility, and therefore, children are not to respect them, obey them, and be grateful for them.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1, ESV

For some, your relationship with your parents is most difficult because of neglect, abuse, abandonment, or perhaps even divorce.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Psalm 27:10, ESV

2. Commandment Six

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13, ESV

The sixth commandment forbids the unjust taking of innocent human life, whether by willful intent or negligence.

No Israelite acting on his own had the rightful authority to decide to unlawfully end someone’s life. Murder is wrong because human beings are made the image of God. This reality is relevant when thinking through substantive and sensitive ethical issues we face today, whether that be abortion, euthanasia, and even suicide.

Jesus deepened and transformed this commandment in his Sermon on the Mount.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22, ESV

Paul also called out certain attitudes and actions not in keeping with obedience to the commandment, “You shall not murder”.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV

3. Commandment Seven

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14, ESV

This commandment prohibits those that are married from having sexual relations with someone other than their spouse. Marriage is designed by God to be an exclusive relationship, where there is no room for rivals, and that includes rivals when it comes to sexual intimacy, for marriage is a covenant that demands sexual fidelity.

Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Hebrews 13:4, ESV

Jesus reminds us that adultery is ultimately a matter of the heart.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28, ESV

Even if you don't commit the physical act of adultery, you can still be guilty of adultery by means of your thoughts, fantasies, desires, and affections.

Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:12b-14, ESV

Paul says that we need to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ so that we increasing replace thinking about how to gratify the desires of the flesh with how to live for his glory and praise.