Our Neighbors’ Keeper The Sixth Commandment God’s Law encourages neighbor-love. Deuteronomy 22:8 “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.” 1 Corinthians 8:9-12 Here is yet another way that neighbors exercised responsibility ...
Pledges and Livelihood The Sixth Commandment No pledge could jeopardize one’s livelihood. Deuteronomy 24:6 “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.” Taking someone’s livelihood in pledge for a loan was absolutely forbidden. It is part of being in the image ...
Rights of a Slave The Sixth Commandment God’s Law allowed slavery, but with restrictions. Exodus 21:20, 21 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be ...
A Check on Passion The Sixth Commandment Cities of refuge reined in unjust passions. Numbers 35:9-15 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for ...
Cities of Refuge The Sixth Commandment A model for our system of justice? Numbers 35:9-15 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, ...
Justice and Community The Sixth Commandment Justice is a community effort. Numbers 35:22-29 “But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not ...
Havens of Grace The Sixth Commandment Cities of refuge were tokens of grace. Deuteronomy 19:1-10 “‘When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, you shall set apart three cities for yourselves ...
Hint of Grace The Sixth Commandment Grace is always present in the work of the Law. Exodus 21:28-31 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ...
Individual Responsibility The Sixth Commandment Each is responsible for his own sin only. Deuteronomy 24:16 “‘Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.’” Under the Law of God each person ...
Lex Talionis The Sixth Commandment An eye for an eye was the standard of justice. Leviticus 24:17-23 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to ...