The Heart of the Matter
Scripture Focus
And God spoke all these words, saying,
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."
“You shall have no other gods before me...."
"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,..."
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy..."
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."
“You shall not murder."
“You shall not commit adultery."
“You shall not steal."
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
(Exodus 20:1-4,7-8,12-17)
The 9th Commandment reminds us that Our Words Matter!
This command to truthfulness includes not only the words we speak but the words we post or repost or forward or retweet
“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
(James 3:9-10 ESV)
“If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity.”
(Leviticus 5:1 ESV)
“If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.”
(Leviticus 5:1 NLT)
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
(Proverbs 12:22 ESV)
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him… a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
(Proverbs 6:16,19 ESV)
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another… Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
(Ephesians 4:25, 29 ESV)
Tips for avoiding false witness in our communication:
- Speak the truth plainly.
- Don’t withhold what you know.
- Verify before you share.
- Use words to build others up.
The 10th Commandment reminds us that God’s concern begins with our hearts first and our actions second.
“Coveting is desiring anything other than God in a way that betrays a loss of contentment and satisfaction in him.” – John Piper
"a Thought – a Form – a Fascination – a Fall" - St. Augustine
The posture of our heart before God shapes and is revealed in our outward actions, practices, and lifestyle.
Let God Be Enough
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
(James 4:1-3 ESV)
“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
(Ezekiel 11:19-20 ESV)
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
(1 Peter 2:21-22, 24 ESV)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
(Titus 2:11-14 ESV)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20 ESV)
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