Indulge me for a minute and think about the news. Imagine what would appear on your news if everyone followed the Ten Commandments.
The first four commandments concern our relationship with God. The next six commandments concern our relationships with one another.
What would the news have to cover if humanity followed these directions from God?
Family Harmony
Among the commandments concerning human relationships, the directive to “honor your father and mother” stands as a foundational principle regarding our relationships.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12).
The biblical concept of honor shares similarities with that of love. In modern culture, both are often perceived as based on our emotions. However, in the biblical context, honor and love are defined more by actions than feelings.
This means that even if we don’t feel like honoring our parents, we are called to engage in behaviors that demonstrate honor and express love in ways that are actively beneficial to them.
Murder
You’re probably familiar with the Sixth Commandment often stated as “Thou shalt not kill.”
However, a more precise translation, such as the one found in the New Revised Standard Version, is “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).
As we read the Old Testament, we encounter many instances where killing is sanctioned by God. Conversely, the Old Testament also provides numerous examples of how murder is punished, giving rise to the better translation of the NRSV.
I recently listened to a podcast about Ukraine, produced by The Telegraph in the United Kingdom. In it, they interviewed a woman researching sexual crimes committed against Ukrainians by the Russian army.
At the end of their conversation, she stated that hate speech is at the root of the Russian army’s behavior toward Ukraine. This made me recall Jesus’ teaching on the origin of murder in the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus identified the foundation of murder in His sermon.
“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’
But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).
Consider for a moment how prevalent hate speech is in the media. Whether in Russia or America, a significant portion of our discourse denigrates others. Hate speech appears in comedy, political rhetoric, and various other forms of denunciation.
Followers of Jesus who engage in hate speech should take seriously Jesus’ words. He teaches that using hate speech makes us liable not only to earthly judgment but also to eternal separation from Him in hell.
Take Action
For everyone who engages in hate speech or the denigration of others, Jesus offers a remedy.
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
Leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).
Here’s a thought experiment we should take seriously:
- What if we stopped ourselves every time we clicked on a media article that denigrated a politician?
- What if each time spoke negatively about another person, we immediately apologized to God and repented of that action?
- What if every time we engaged in any form of hate speech, we immediately confessed it as a sin to God? What impact would that have on our behavior and our inner state?
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 