Ten Commandments - Part 2

 As I said with the first three commandments they are specific to how we are to relate to God. The other seven are how we are to relate to one another, and in the process glorify God. They are as follows:

1. Honor your Father and your Mother.
2. You shall not kill.
3. You shall not commit adultery.
4. You shall not steal.
5. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
6. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
7. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods

"Honor your Father, and Mother"

The commandment sounds simple enough when taken at face value, but there is more to it than this. We are called to always honor our parents no matter what, except for when they are asking or commanding something that is sinful, then we are commanded to honor God and disobey. As to disobey God is a greater and more grievous thing than to disobey your parents when commanded to sin. This commandment can extend to those that are in authority over you. For example, in the New Testament when Paul became a spiritual father to the church in Corinth they had an obligation to honor him, as he was their spiritual father. We honor our spiritual fathers to this day in the form of Priests and calling them "Father". Where there is a spiritual father, there are spiritual mothers too, in the form of consecrated religious women. They regard their superior as Mother, or Mother Superior, depending on the order. 

"You shall not kill"

Of all of the commandments, you'd think this one would be the one people would adhere to no matter what. And yet, malicious and intended murder happens. Now the least obvious thing about this commandment is that not all forms of killing are forbidden, otherwise everyone would starve if we equated this to the death of animal and plant life to feed humanity. There are lawful forms of killing, such as that in the death of an assailant who was determined to kill you. Killing in a justified war or battle is also just. Simply look to the various battles and wars in the Old Testament, they were just in one way or another.  

A lesser obvious way is that of spiritual death. We are capable of spiritual death of others, by way of scandal. Scandal, in the theological context is to pertain to the words, acts, or omission of another's committing sin. You can be guilty of scandal when you do something that goes against the faith, such as worshipping an idol like a false god, money, fame, etc. and then go about it as if there was nothing wrong in your actions. 

"You shall not commit adultery" and "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife"

Typically these two are talked about in unison as they deal with the same thing. Unfaithfulness to one's spouse. The sixth commandment is to anyone and every act contrary to chastity, which by extent forbids infidelity in marriage. The ninth commandment forbids any desire that is contrary to the fidelity between a husband and wife. See why they're talked about at the same time now? These are commandments that, when followed, prevents impurity in the heart. Impurity in the heart leads to an impure soul, which is a soul that is turned away from God. 

"You shall not steal"

Another of the more obvious commandments, but as with anything theological, philosophical, and in some cases the Transformers, there is more than what meets the eye. With the well known version of theft, robbery, or mugging, there is also theft through means of unjust business practices. If you cheat a customer of just goods or an employee of just wages, you are guilty of stealing. Promising a customer 20 pounds of flour and purposefully giving them 18 hoping they wouldn't notice is theft. Taking just pay and wages from an employee for their just work is theft. 

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor"

This is most commonly referred to as the commandment to not lie. But there are many ways that you can bear false witness against someone. Things such as calumny, gossip, adulation, rash suspicion or judgement, detraction, and every sort of lie be it jovial, officious or malicious. All of these are false statements intended to cause harm to the character in question. Either by saying that someone has faults of another (calumny), making know the faults of a person for intent to harm (detraction), suspecting evil without due reason (rash judgment/suspicion), or telling a lie to make a joke or false statement both without injury, or telling a lie with intent to cause character or physical harm to another are all acts that break this commandment. 

"You shall not covet your neighbors goods"

 

Typically people will lump this one in with stealing because coveting good and stealing are pretty close together. However, one deals with act, and the other deals with desire. This is why they are treated separately. This commandment is a means of helping ourselves to deny our greediness, and to accept what we have and our state in life. Again many would only relate this to the materiality of this world, for example: "He has a Ferrari, but I don't. I want his car!". It doesn't occur to many people that "That family is so blessed with happiness, joy, and stability. I want what they have." can be just as dangerous as the first one. There is nothing wrong with working hard to have a comfortable life, and to have a happy life, but to covet the life of another, to covet the blessings of another leads to discontentment with your life and your blessings. You then begin to dislike your life and deny the blessings in your life. 

To live a life without coveting the other is to life a life focused on God, and all that he is and has for you. To live for Him, is to deny the pleasures of this world. Being focused on God will lead you to enjoy your life, the life that He gave you. In doing so, you not only follow His commandments, but give glory to Him as well.