Memory Work:
Q1. What does God forbid in the sixth commandment?
God forbids not only murder but also the roots of murder, such as envy, hatred and desire of revenge. (Matthew 5:21,22)
Q2. How does God restrain killing in this present world?
God has instituted government and given it authority to punish evildoers and to promote the welfare of those who do good.
Q3. What does the seventh commandment require?
That since my body and soul are temples of the Holy Spirit, I must keep both pure. Therefore God forbids all unclean acts, gestures, words, thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 13:4)
Q4. Why does God mention only adultery here?
Adultery is the most grievous form of this sin, by which marriage as the symbol of Christ’s union with his church is destroyed. (Ephesians 5:32)
Q5. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
Here God forbids all deceit and robbery, by which we try to take our neighbor’s goods for ourselves. (Deuteronomy 25:13,16)
Q6. Against what does the ninth commandment warn?
It warns not only against false witness but also against all lies, slander and backbiting as the proper works of the devil. (John 8:44)
Things to Look Up:
1. How did Jesus interpret the sixth commandment?
- “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty [enough to go] into the fiery hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
2. Why are sexual sins so destructive to body and soul?
- Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:16-19)
3. Why is it essential to our Christian witness to work for a living?
- …for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12)
4. Why and how must we always speak truth?
- Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25)
5. From what does God exclude people who live in the sins forbidden by these commandments?
- Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. (Revelation 22:14-15)