Dear Good News Magazine Subscriber,
Without Google, I wouldn't have known that the Ten Commandments were on display in Toronto last week, and that because of huge crowds, a lot of people got "left out in the cold."
Of course this wasn't the copy of the Ten Commandments God Himself engraved in stone on Mount Sinai (though I wonder if some of the crowds thought it was). It was part of a fragile display of the Dead Sea Scrolls (parchment and papyrus scrolls mostly written before the time of Christ) that were at the Royal Ontario Museum.
Whether written on parchment or stone, human beings have shown a tremendous capacity to break these laws. And there are many misconceptions about these 10 principles of living given by God. That's why I propose taking a new look at the Ten Commandments—looking at the "flip side," as it were, of the superficial misunderstandings.
1. The Ten Commandments are positive. Though eight of them are stated in the "thou shalt not" form, the Bible shows how to think them through to their positive intent. For example, the apostle Paul wrote, "Putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth...' Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor...that he may have something to give him who has need" (Ephesians 4:25, 28). The Ten Commandments form a fence to protect the sanctity of life, family, property, the truth and much more. (The chapter titles in our booklet The Ten Commandments are an interesting study in the positive statement of these laws.)
2. The Ten Commandments are spiritual. Though some people focus only on the physical aspects of the laws, the apostle Paul clearly states that "the law is spiritual" and "holy and just and good" (Romans 7:12, 14).
3. God intends the Ten Commandments to be written on, not stone, but our hearts and minds. "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them" (Hebrews 10:16).
4. The Ten Commandments show us how to love. Paul lists five of the commandments and then says, "and if there is any other commandment, [they] are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Romans 13:9).
5. The Ten Commandments lead to eternal life. Jesus Christ said, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17).
There are many more misconceptions and truths to uncover with a deeper study of the Ten Commandments. If you haven't read our booklet The Ten Commandments, we urge you to take a look at it today. You can read it online or we are happy to send you a copy of this fascinating study through the mail. And take some time to check out other resources we have to help you improve your relationships with God and fellow man.
Thanks for your interest in The Good News magazine. If you have any suggestions or input for these newsletters or the magazine, we are always happy to hear from you.
Warm regards,
Mike Bennett
Editorial content manager
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Blog posts from a 19-year-old blogger about each of the Ten Commandments:
I Don't Believe in That Kind of God Either
Silly Gods and American Idols
"I Dare Say He Never Swore Again Without..."
Working 24/6
How to Live Long and Prosper
If Thoughts Could Kill
Blockbuster Affairs
Rooting for the Thieves?
Are White Lies Really Harmless?
The Enemy of Contentment
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