Week 14 – 9th Commandment

by ehassertt on August 8, 2010

Ex 20:16 – You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

Not just you shall not lie

The meaning of the commandment

-           Narrow

  • Context of legal testimony
    • Lev 6:1-7
    • In formal court hearing or elsewhere where truthfulness is required
  • Distorting the facts in such a way as to harm one’s neighbor
  • False witness is a form of theft
    • Along with the 8th and 10th relates specifically to property in many of the case laws

-          Witnesses in other than property crimes dealt with

  • Legal witnesses hold sway over life and death
    • I Kings 21:13
    • Matt 26:60-61
    • Acts 6:13-14
    • In capital cases the witnesses had to cast the first stone
      • Deut 17:7
    • In capital cases a false witness receives the same punishment as the accused would have if convicted
      • Deut 19:16019

-          Promotes a General concern for truthfulness within the covenant community

  • Hosea 4:1-
  • Lying represents the meaning of the 9th commandment here
  • Foundation for the general biblical polemic against lying
    • Ps 12:2.
    • Ps 63:11
    • Ps 119:29
    • Prov 6:17.
    • Prov 13:5e.
    • Zech 8:16
    • Eph 4:25.
    • I John 2:21
    • Rev 21:27
  • Lying is a regular characteristics of non-Christians
    • Rom 1:25
    • Rom 3:8-18
    • 2 Cor 4:2-4
    • 2 Thess 2:9-12
  • False prophets were stoned to death
    • Deut 13:1-5
  • Lying is a way we harm each other
    • Gossip and Slander
      • Ps 15:3
      • 2 Cor 12:20
      • Gal 5:19-20
      • I Tim 5:13
      • 3 John 10
    • Judging rashly
      • 2 Sam 16:4
      • Matt 7:1-3
      • John 9:2
    • Twisting the words of others
      • Matt 26:61
      • John 2:19
    • Power of tongue to do evil
      • Gen 11:6-7
      • Rom 3:13-14
      • James 3:2-10

-          WLC 144

-          WLC 145

Are we always required to tell the truth?

-           Augustine said the 9th is a prohibition against lying under any circumstances

-          A lie is not simply an untrue statement

  • A mistake is not a lie
  • A parable is not a lie
  • A fictional story is not a lie – unless it is represented as factual
  • Hyperbolic statements for effect are not lies

-          In games, we often use deception for strategy

  • Everyone understands and participates in agreement under those rules
    • Ball fake etc.
  • Jokes often involve practical suspension of truth
    • Some warning here
      • Proverbs 26:18-19

-          Jesus on the road to Emmaus

  • Luke 24:28 – acted as if he were going further

-          So what is a lie:  A word or act that intentionally deceives a neighbor in order to hurt him

  • Not everyone is a neighbor but brooder than we think (good Samaritan)
    • Still does not include thieves and murders or enemies

-          Misleading an enemy is prevalent in scripture (the Anne Frank defense)

  • Exodus 1:15-21 – Israelite midwives
  • Joshua 2:4-6 – Rahab – Heb 11:31
  • 2 Kings 6: 14-20
  • 2 Thess 2:11
  • May more examples
  • Who do we owe truth to?  Our neighbor
    • Deception in scripture is for promoting justice against the wicked d and protecting the innocent from the wicked

Protecting the Reputation of Others

-           Two or three witnesses for any accusation

  • Deut 17:6
  • Deut 19:15
  • Heb 10:28

-          Reputation is huge so love should be our guide in making accusations

  • 1 Peter 4:8
  • Matt 18:15-20
    • Matt 7:3-5
  • Accusation by confrontation not gossip

-          A name is very important

  • Ex 32:11-14
  • Josh 7:9
  • Even the Reformers were too quick to accuse and attack each other
    • Their sins are not our example

-          Most of the problem is due to the failure of church discipline

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Ethics Week 13 – 8th Commandment

by ehassertt on August 8, 2010

You Shall Not Steal

-          WLC 141

-          WLC 142

-          There are many ways to take things that do not belong to us

Elements of the commandment

-           Private Property

  • The 8th commandment assumes God has given us ownership of property
    • Part of taking dominion
      • Gen 1:28-30
      • Ps 8:6
      • Ps 115:16
  • Ultimately all property belongs to God
    • Ex 19:5
    • Ps 24:1
    • Ps 50:10
  • But God does give specific property to specific people
    • Land of Canaan to Israel
      • Divided by tribes and families as well
      • Lev 25:10-55
    • Restrictions on its use
      • Lev 25:4
      • Hos 9:3
  • Private property with the ultimate ownership belonging to God

-          Work Ethic

  • Work as part of cultural mandate
    • Gen 1:28-30
    • I Thess 4:11-12
  • Warning against laziness
    • Prov 6:6-11
    • Prov 15:19
    • 2 thess 3:6
    • 2 Thess 3:10
  • Work as the opposite of theft
    • Eph 4:28
    • The thief is not only told to work but to be generous with what he earns

-          The 8th commandment mandates both justice and mercy

  • Narrow – justice for several types of theft
    • Property – double restitution
      • Ex 22: 4-7
    • Kidnapping – a capital crime
      • Ex 21:16
      • Deut 24:7
      • I tim 1:10
    • Swindling
      • Jer 22:13-17
      • Amon 8:4-6
    • Stealing from widows and orphans
      • Matt 23:14
    • Defrauding employees
      • James 5:4
    • Land Theft
      • Isa 5:8
    • Unjust weights
      • Lev 19: 35-36
      • Deut 25:15
    • Misleading someone for economic gain
      • Prov 20:14
  • Broader application of theft
    • Stealing affection
      • 2 Sam 15:6
    • False prophets stealing God’s words
      • Jer 23:30
    • False religions leaders
      • John 10:1
    • Merchandising in the temple
      • Matt 21:13
    • Robbing God of tithes and offerings
      • Mal 3:8
      • Josh 7:11
    • Robbing God of his due

-          Scripture does seem to tolerate stealing to feed one’s self

  • Prov 6: 30-31

Tithing and the 8th Commandment

-           Malachi 3:8

-          Various tithes in the OT

-          It was not a tither on income, or wealth but agricultural produce

-          Not explicitly required in the NT

  • 2 Cor 9:7-8

Taxation and the 8th Commandment

-           In the Ot the tithe was the Lord’s tax

  • Ex 23:16
  • Deut 26:2

-          Civil authorities

  • In the Ot they made their living as everyone else did
  • Tithes were used for infrastructure but not salaries or projects

-          Taxation only came about with the monarchy

  • Army to wage war
  • Palaces
  • I Samuel 8:11-18
  • Warning from Samuel that kingship leads to oppression

-          No prescription for taxation limits ins scripture

  • Solomon’s oppressive reign
    • I Kings 12:4
  • Government called to lessen the burden on the people
    • I Kings 12:12-24

-          Difference between theft and taxation

  • Taxation is a regular procedure set forth in law
  • Stealing represents amounts over the standard tax

-          Nt commands to pay taxes even to pagan governments

  • Matt 22:17-22
  • Rom 13:6-7
  • The Roman emperors used their tax money to found their won cults
  • Bible does not quantify amounts

-          Priority of obligations to god and family over state

  • I Tim 5:8

Financial Responsibility and the 8th Commandment

-           Mandates a responsible use of resources

  • We have spheres of responsibility
    • Family – 1 tim 5:8
    • Church – 2Cor 8-9
    • State – Matt 22:17-22
    • Ourselves – @ Thess 3:10
  • Luke 14:28
  • Matt 25:14-30
  • Scripture does not condemn use of money for entertainment or luxury but calls for a balance

-          Coveting riches is foolish

  • Luke 12:13-21

Gambling and the 8th Commandment

-           Often treated as a case of financial irresponsibility

  • Can be linked to the worship of fate for chance
  • Psychologically addictive
    • I Cor 6:12
  • Involves covetousness
  • Waste of time, cause of poverty
  • Thought of as a substitute for work
  • Often controlled by c criminal element

-          If used as recreation with none of those elements present then is not sinful

-          God is sovereign

  • Prov 16:33

The 8th Commandment: and wealth and poverty

-           Wealth

  • Scripture as a whole has a favorable attitude toward wealth
    • Deut 8:18
    • Josh 1:7-8
    • Ps 1:3
    • Psa 112:1-3
    • Mark 10:29-30
  • Both wealth and poverty come from God
    • ! Sam 2:7
    • Job 1:21
  • God uses human effort to grant financial success
    • Prov 10:4
  • Saints who were wealthy
    • Abraham – Gen 13:2
    • Those who ministered to Jesus – Luke 8:3
    • David
  • Not sinful to be wealthy and enjoy material blessings
    • Deut 12:17-19
    • John 2:1-11
    • I Tim 6:17
  • Not to be preoccupied with wealth
    • Matt 6:19-2
    • Matt 6:24
    • Luke 12:13-21
    • Matt 19:24
  • Be content with what you have
    • Matt 6:6
    • Matt 19:21

-          Poverty in the Covenant Community

  • Through scripture that we should care for the poor
    • Deut 15:7-8
    • Ps 41:1
    • Prov 14:31
    • Prov 19:17
    • Isa 1:16-17
  • Man of righteousness is judged by his treatment of the poor
    • Job 5:15016
    • Ps 9:18
    • Ps 35:10
  • Rich man in hades not because of wealth but because of lack of compassion for the needy Lazarus
    • Matt 19:20-21
  • Care for the poor required
    • Gal 2:10
    • 2 Cor 8-9
    • James 5:4
    • James 1:26-27
  • Jesus says judgment is based on our treatment of the poor and needy
    • Matt 25:31-46
  • Condemnation of laziness
    • 2 Thess 3:6-12
  • Scripture explicitly requires help without a means test!
    • Luke 10:25-37
  • Poverty is often the result of oppression by the rich or government in scripture – not sin
    • God is not against the rich because they are rich
    • God is against the rich who have no compassion on the poor
  • No favoritism against the poor
    • Ex 23:2
  • Family is first defense against poverty
    • Jubilee year restored family holdings to keep poverty from being systematic
    • Sabbath year debt release
      • Deut 15:1-3
    • Kinsman redeemer
      • Lev 25:25
  • Relief of poverty in the community
    • Tithes
    • Interest free loans
      • Deut 15:7-8
    • Gleaning
      • Lev 19:10
      • Lev 23:22
      • Provides food for those willing to work
      • Limits against maximizing profit without caring for the poor
    • Work
      • 2 Thess 3:10
      • Does not speak of single mothers, widows etc.
    • Massive sharing
      • Mark 12:42-44
      • 2 Cor 9:7
      • I John 3:17
      • Acts 2:44-45
      • Acts 4:34-37
    • Hospitality
      • Rom 12:13
      • I Tim 3:2
      • Titus 1:8
      • I Peter 4:9

-          World Poverty

  • Are we responsible
    • Gal 6:10
    • Household of faith has priority
    • Luke 10:25-37 again
  • Ethical and religious failure has contributed a great deal to world poverty
  • Consumption by rich nations
    • No proof this is the case
    • Larger level of wealth worldwide
    • Bad government decisions do play into this
  • The state is the government of the family of Adam just as the church is the government of the family of Christ
    • Families take care of their own
    • Should not oppose government assistance to the poor in every case

-          Economic Systems

  • The bible does not explicitly address the question of how a society should organize his economy
  • Divine sovereignty reject totalitarianism by the state
  • We can have strong feelings and support hem politically
    • Israel’s economy is nothing like what we see in the free market today

-          Homelessness

  • Christians should be concerned when people do not have essentials of food, clothing, housing and health care
  • Some re homeless because they refuse help – either for drugs, or other things – these we cannot help
  • Homelessness because of poverty
    • Need not only offer housing but offer a means and training for them to reenter the work force
    • Shouting “get a job” is unchristian
    • Claiming we know their plight when we don’t is ridiculous
    • Cooperative efforts among Christians are needed
  • Homelessness because of illness
    • Dumped by church and community for mental illness
    • They need the compassion of churches more than almost anyone!
  • Only a small percentage of people are homeless because they choose to be
    • Seattle – 1 bed in a shelter for every 10 homeless persons

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Ethics Week 12 – 7th Commandment

August 8, 2010

Exodus 20:14:  You shall not commit Adultery
Meaning of the Commandment
-          Narrow meaning

No sexual intercourse with another person’s spouse
But the implications can cover many areas of human life

-          WLC

Question 138:
Question 139:
WLC gets a bit legalistic here and goes beyond scripture as well.  We will look into those in more detail here in a minute.

Point is [...]

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Ethics Week 11 – the Sixth Commandment Continued – Just War, Suicide, Abortion

July 19, 2010

The sixth commandment and War
- Little about the ethics of war in scripture
- Consummation of history is peace not war
o Isa 2:4
o Isa 9:6-7
- Special honor to those who seek peace
o Ps 46:9
o Matt 5:9
o Even David could not build the temple because he was a man of war
 I Chron 22:18-19, 28:3
- The Kingdom of God is not to be advanced by war [...]

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Ethics Week 10 – Sixth Commandment – Part 1

June 28, 2010

Ethics Week 10 – 6th Commandment
Intro
-           The next three commandments are linguistically short

One word with the Hebrew for NOT
But have some of the most extensive applications

Theological Background
-           God is the Lord of Life

Gen 1:30
Gen 2:7
Man’s existence is physical and spiritual

-          Death as the summary of the result of Adam’s fall

Gen 2:17
Gen 3:19
Everyone has a limited [...]

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Ethics Notes in Word

June 24, 2010

If you would like the Ethics class notes in word format, email me at ad70.net and I will send them to you.

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Ethics Week 9 – Fifth Commandment – Live Long and Prosper

June 22, 2010

Ethics Week 9
The Fifth Commandment
Exodus 20:12 – 12
Dt 5:16  16
-          Live Long and Prosper!
Moving into the second table – our duty toward each other
Perspectives on the Commandment
-           Intro

Calvin: reference Obedience and Gratitude
Calvin fits our three aspects of ethics

Existential – reverence
Submission – Normative
Gratitude – situational – specifically application to support

-          Reverence (Existential Perspective)

Both sin [...]

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Ethics Week 8 – Fourth Commandment – Sabbath Keeping

June 22, 2010

Ethics Week 8
Fourth Commandment
Exodus 20:8-11 -
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 -
Exodus:  Reason for keeping the commandment is God’s creative Work
Deut: Reason for Keeping the Commandment is celebration of rest from bondage in Egypt
“Creation and Redemption do not generate two different ethics, but rather the same one.”  – JF
We are to imitate Jesus’ work of redemption – John 13:34-35 [...]

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Ethics Week 7 – Third Commandment

June 22, 2010

Ethics Week 7
Third Commandment
EX 20:7 – 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
JF “  We should never utter his name without expressing in some measure the reverence and awe that are due to him, for that would be [...]

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Ethics Week 6

May 4, 2010

Second Commandment
Exodus 20:4-6:  4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am [...]

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