February 15th, 2004
Deuteronomy 5:20-21
I. The Ninth Commandment: Neither shalt bear false witness.” (20)
A. The Lord’s life was taken because of the sin forbidden in this commandment.
1. Even the sinless Son of God was vulnerable to the false accusations of men who hated him.
2. Your reputation is very vulnerable and open to attack by people who do not prize the Truth.
3. This is the reason that we should never make a judgment based on rumor, hear-say or un-proven statements.
B This commandment reminds us of the third commandment and is associated with it.
1. We are to speak about God in ways of Truth, and people the same way.
2. If you keep the third you’ll keep the ninth.
C. Perjury is lying under oath.
D. Tale-bearing is a form of lying.
E. False impressions are forms of lying.
F. Silence may be form of lying
G. Questioning people’s motives may be form of lying.
H. Flattery may be a form of lying.
II. The Tenth Commandment: “Neither shalt thou covet (desire).” (21)
A. This is the only commandment that forbids an inner desire of the heart.
1. Desire and covet are the same interchangeable words.
2. The sin forbidden in this commandment is the desire to possess something or someone that belongs to someone else.
B. There are legitimate desires that are not sins:
1. To desire an object advertised is not a sin.
2. The Apostle Paul desired fruit in Philippians 4:17.
3. God grants the desires of his children. (Proverbs 10:24)
4. The Lord Jesus Himself told us to pray for desires in Mark 11:24
C. What then does God mean when He commands: “Neither shalt thou covet.”?
1. Notice the text verse.
2. We are not to desire OUR NEIGHBOR’S property or spouse.
3.
In short, we are not to desire what is forbidden by God, or owned by
another person,
(unless it is legitimately for sale).
- We need to note that your financial standing may make it wrong to desire even what is for sale.
D. What happens when this commandment is violated?
1. Coveting other people’s property leads to stealing.
2. Coveting other people’s spouses leads to adultery.
3. Coveting what is forbidden is a sign of spiritual immaturity – our greatest desire should be to please God. (Psalm 73:25)