God's Ten Commandments, Paraphrased/Expanded
(Ex 20:3-17; Matt 22:36-40; Rom 13:8-10; James 2:12; Rev 14:12)
“ ‘It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen
to drop out of the law’ ” (Luke 16:17, NIV).
ONE
I'm the only God that there is, I'm a true God, and I'm also a holy God too,
Therefore, you're only to worship Me — just Me — and not various other gods pursue.
For example: You're not to go putting anything, or anyone, ahead of Me,
Nor in place of Me, or in addition to Me — NO — for you must display loyalty.
Therefore, always make sure that you put Me first in your life, loving Me with all of your heart,
For I want your complete devotion, I want you to stay with Me, and never depart.
So don’t go believing in any other gods, for there is only the one God — Me,
It was I, who created the Earth, humanity — thus only I can save, set free.
TWO
You're not to go bowing down to images — e.g. statues, effigies, or portraits,
So don't go making any idols, for I'm a God who any kind of idol hates.
No, never give honour to any image; you mustn't revere such, or adore them,
You must never treat them as if they are real, for such worship I most strongly condemn.
Yes, I'm a very jealous God indeed, and therefore, you must only bow down to Me,
And never to images of any thing in Heaven, on the earth, or in the sea,
Lest the succeeding generations harvest the harm of such extremely foolish seeds,
That are knowingly and rebelliously sown by their parents idolatrous words and deeds.
And hence why I say again, don't let anything, or anyone, become your idol,
For spiritually wise, and salvation wise, such is certainly suicidal.
And why you're never to let any idol of some kind wrongly take the place of Me,
Or even indirectly or unconsciously encroach upon My territory.
THREE
Under no circumstances at all are you to use My holy name irreverently,
For I am the great I AM, God Almighty, your Lord, the King of Kings — yes, your Majesty.
Therefore, always use My name very respectfully, not flippantly, not casually,
As wrongly using My holy name will thereby greatly dishonour and anger Me.
And hypocrisy too, I must say, will greatly dishonour Me and blacken My name,
Which is why when I judge humankind, I will rule against all those who have brought Me shame.
They being, any who dishonour Me via their mouth, (even thoughts), or via their wrongful deeds,
And who as a consequence, aren’t true ambassadors for He who died, rose, and now pleads.
FOUR
You're never to forget My Sabbath day — and that day is, the seventh day, Saturday,*
Such being the very day that I rested on as an example, for such is My way.
This day's the last day of the week, a day I've made a holy day, and thus a rest day,
A day that I've set apart, and therefore, a day that I want free of all work and play.
This day's also a memorial, (like a birthday), for it commemorates creation,
Thus reminding that I’m the Creator — and therefore, it has My authorization.
I have hallowed and blessed this particular day — it's a day that I installed pre-Fall,
Hence why I'm referred to as the Lord of the Sabbath — a day of worship that's for all.
Therefore, don’t let any of your employees work for you on My holy Sabbath day,
And don’t let your housemaid, gardener, or any tradesmen either, with or without pay,
You also mustn't let any work be done by visitors, your family or you,
And nor must you go using your machinery, like tractors, mowers, even cattle too.
You mustn't go seeking your own pleasure, like sports, parties, or any of your hobbies,
And you mustn't use My day for business, shopping, for just doing anything you please.
But rather, you're to join with your fellow Christians to worship Me, to study and pray,
And later on in the day, you can visit the ill — yes, doing good on My Sabbath day.
I want you to note that only this Commandment shows who's the author of the whole Ten,
Which is another reason for keeping it, for upon it, the other nine depend.
And hence why no other day I’ve sanctioned, nor blessed, for this day's My flag, My seal, My crest,
Thus, six days I've given you, keeping the seventh as Mine — it's a tithe, and holy rest.
FIVE
Via this Command, I’m addressing children, instructing and warning them specifically:
You must always honour your parents — in other words, you're to treat them respectfully.
For I, your God, have authorized your parents to rightly guide and rightly care for you,
Therefore, you're to humbly obey their instructions — don’t rebel, thus blotting their name too.
This way, you'll also learn respect for others who're in positions of authority,
And I will greatly bless you as a result — yes, far happier you will therefore be.
So help them when you are under their care, via those duties that you should willingly do,
And also care for them when they’re elderly — for after all, haven't they cared for you?
SIX
You're never to commit murder, but rather, you're to respect everyone’s right to life,
Nor are you to torture, behave violently, deprive, rage, hate, or somehow ignite strife.
No, you must never violate anyone's rights, nor anyone try to manipulate,
In other words, you're not to play with another’s life, nor try to control, or intimidate.
Now, regarding both humanity and creatures, I want to make one thing very clear:
And that is — in My eyes — the way either are treated, is far from a minor affair.
Therefore, don't go treating either wrongly, badly, and nor for your own hurts seek revenge,
For any wrong done to either creature or person, I will most certainly avenge.
You're also to remember that you mustn't take your own life, for that's murder also,
Besides, such an action isn't your prerogative, for only I have such say-so.
And take due care, lest it be that through your own recklessness, thoughtlessness, or carelessness
You thereby cause somebody else to die, or to suffer — for you will hardly be guiltless.
SEVEN
You're never to commit adultery — yes, be that mentally or physically,
And nor via wrongful affection, like those little flirty touches that there shouldn’t be,
By that I mean, that take place outside of your marriage, perhaps at work, or socially.
And never (publicly) dress revealingly, for that’s adultery indirectly.
You're never to defile the marital bedroom, thinking that anything is okay,
And nor via any lustful obsession, pornography, or via forcing your own way.
You're also to respect those times of abstinence that every month can come in to play,
And you're never to let any intimate secrets from your home or your bedroom stray.
Your sacred life-long marital covenant must never be broken, and thus abused,
For such an action is treachery, even rebellion, and for such, you'll stand accused.
After all, marriage is a haven and a fortress for both partner and family,
An institution that has been ordained and blessed by Me, and also witnessed by Me.
Premarital sex — in other words, fornication — is something else that I forbid,
For such works against marriage, spoils, threatens and undermines, hence why it's prohibited.
Yes, such seriously attacks the one-flesh principle, and shows lack of control too,
Thus strongly suggesting that in your marriage self-control will hardly be shown there too.
EIGHT
You're not to go stealing from anyone — and, let me add — you must never steal from Me,
Remembering that stealing goes far beyond taking possessions, quite obviously.
Such as using your employer’s time to pursue something that's desirable to you,
Or by not giving Me the time that you should, or others, including family too.
You mustn't go stealing somebody's health or well-being by making them miserable,
And you mustn't go stealing someone else's happiness by not remaining faithful.
No, you're never to go robbing someone of joy or faith via criticism or doubt,
Nor to deprive anyone of something by withholding from them a needed handout.
You're not to steal opportunities from anyone, who of such, is more deserving,
And you're not to go stealing anyone’s peace and quiet via something that is self-serving.
You're also not to go using anyone's things without their clear authorization,
And you're not to go fiddling with your tax returns, nor to hijack a conversation.
NINE
You must never harm anyone's reputation via some rumour, slander or gossip,
And you mustn't mislead others in general, particularly via leadership.
You're not to be silent when you should be speaking out, and you're never to lie in court,
Nor are you to lie in general, tamper with truth, or to truth in any way thwart.
And when you're guilty of something, but aren't questioned, you mustn't withhold your admission,
And likewise, when you're selling something, you must never go hiding its true condition.
You're also not to promise and then not deliver on whatever you said you would do,
Nor are you to deceive via pretence, or to fudge, slant, misrepresent, or misconstrue.
TEN
You're not to jealously desire someone’s partner, their possessions, their position too,
No, you're to be content, and not covet. Aren’t there others who are worse off than you?
And remember also, that I know everyone's heart, all those thoughts that they entertain,
And bare in mind too, that coveting just leads to theft — yes, it’s a trap, a ball and chain.
And lest you are not aware of such, coveting's also a form of idolatry,
Something that eventually led to Satan's own downfall, and the great controversy.
Therefore, just seek to make other people happy — yes, seek to give rather than to get,
Thus lovingly putting others before yourself — yes, first see that others’ needs are met.
End
My dear child, it’s because of My great love and concern for you, that I have given these,
And if you willingly keep them via the Spirit’s enabling, then Me you’ll greatly please.
So see that you place these Ten Commandments in your heart, thereby keeping them out of love,
And remember that it's only grace that can save, that grace that freely flows from above.
Yes, keep all these Commandments, the whole Ten of them, and then you’ll have less cause for regret,
For each one of them has been lovingly designed in your best interests, don’t forget.
But anyone who's truly genuine, and truly loves Me, and wants to follow me,
Will prove it by their words and their actions — that is, they will respond obediently
By Lance Landall
“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey the commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Rev 14:12, NIV).
*Saturday
— according to the creation order/record, as in Scripture. Any
historical tampering with the calendar has never made the slightest
difference to the sequence of the days of the week. Though Saturday is
the seventh day of the week, and has remained so throughout history,
many modern calendars now show Sunday as the seventh day and
Monday as the first (largely for business reasons), which can confuse.
Collier's Encyclopedia: Saturday, seventh day of the week.
"Remember ..."
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a [the] Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work...For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Ex 20:8-11, ESV).
Our Lord begins the fourth Commandment with, “Remember.” I wonder why?
Surely that is significant, and the content meant to amplify?
For only the fourth Commandment begins with, “Remember,” you see,
“Remember” being reinforcement, a reminder, added clarity.
Could it be because the Sabbath one points out the author of the Ten?
Did God know His Sabbath would get trampled on via traditions of men?
Was God concerned that it might be lightly treated, or even ignored,
And that some might be forced to denounce it via persecution or sword?
Because our Lord says, “Remember,” He must surely regard it highly,
Thus, I guess that’s why He set it aside, blessed it, and made it Holy.
And because it’s the end of His creation week — that is, the last day,
He’d hardly substitute it with another — for example, Sunday.
Why not?
Well, Sunday's the first day of the week, hardly appropriate, you see,
For that is the day that God began His work, not rested in memory.
Therefore, it could hardly stand as a memorial of His work’s end,
For that just wouldn’t make sense — thus, only Saturday one can defend.
That is, the seventh day, as clearly related in His Holy Word,
Yes, a specified day, (commanded), and not just any day preferred.
In other words, a flag forever flying throughout earth’s history,
So that all would see that no other god created this earth but He.
Did our Lord also say “remember” because some had forgotten it?
(That is, those He’d entrusted with His truth, that all was to benefit).
Doesn’t remember imply that this rest day already existed?
And wouldn’t Christians via this day be spiritually assisted?
Isn’t it His day? A day we’re to reflect on our Creator, Lord?
A day that’ll rejuvenate too, and keep us spiritually moored?
And given Christ and the apostles kept it after the cross, shouldn’t we?
(The seventh day, that is — Saturday — thereby displaying loyalty).
By Lance Landall
“ ‘For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter,
will pass from the law until all is accomplished’ ” (Matt 5:18).
“If you refrain...from pursuing your own interests on My holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and
the holy day of the Lord honorable…” (Isa 58:13).
“ ‘So the Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath [the Sabbath belongs to God ]’ ” (Mark 2:28, NIV). Note also Rev 1:10.
“Thy name, O Lord, endureth forever; and thy memorial [Sabbath], O Lord, throughout
all generations” (Ps 135:13, KJV).
“And He [Christ] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the sabbath day [Saturday – the 7th day]” (Luke 4:16, ESV).
“As they [Paul and Barnabas] went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next sabbath [clearly kept after the cross]” (Acts 13:42, ESV).
“Every sabbath he [Paul] would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks
[this indicates that no radical Christian separation had yet occurred from Jewish places
and times of worship]” (Acts 18:4).
“After the sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week [Sunday], Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary went to look at the tomb [Christ’s – to embalm Him]” (Matt 28:1, NIV)
For a deeper look at the issues surrounding the change of the Sabbath please read "The Sabbath Change".
A New Commandment?
“I give you a new commandment: love one another; as I have loved you,
so you are to love one another” (John 13:34, NEB).
Are God’s Ten Commandments inadequate? Even faulty, maybe?
No, of course not. So let’s examine this “new commandment,” shall we?
First, is the command to love new? Once again the answer is no,
Which Leviticus chapter nineteen, verse eighteen, will clearly show...
For Moses received a command to love — thus, such is hardly new,
Besides, isn’t this what every Christian should instinctively do?
How could anyone be a Christian and not love their fellowman?
No — us all loving each other — has always been our Saviour's plan.
Thus, there isn’t a new command, as such, but more a fleshing out;
By that I mean, an enlarging upon — that’s what it’s all about.
For loving others as we love ourselves is one thing, quite clearly,
But loving others as Christ loves — wow! Now that’s what He wants to see.
Yes, it’s this shift from our loving others as we love ourselves, to,
Loving others as Christ loves. It's this that He refers to as “new.”
And this big shift, this change of focus, will certainly come about
In the lives of those Christians who God’s will cheerfully carryout.
Our Saviour, via His earthy example, sought to reveal such love,
That each might love like He loves, (via the power received from above).
Thus, Christ opened up to them a new concept of God's love — a love
That revealed the character of His gracious Father up above.
You see, what Christ had cultivated with men relationship wise,
He also wanted them — where others were concerned — to exercise.
Yes, He wants every Christian to love like He loves — yes, completely,
And this, our Lord wanted right from the beginning, obviously.
The holy Scriptures — be it in the Old Testament or the New —
Echo this call, this commandment, and this very love reveal too.
A new commandment? No — rather, just a deeper expression of love,
Which we’re to emulate, for it’s God’s, and a command from above.
By Lance Landall
“I give you a new commandment: love one another; as I have loved you,
so you are to love one another” (John 13:34, NEB).
“...but you shall love your neighbour as your self…” (Lev 19:18, NKJV).
GOD’S LOVE?
Is unconditional love.
(Oh yes, amazing grace)
Is a serving love.
(Remember how Christ washed the feet of His disciples?)
Is a self-sacrificing love.
(How could we forget Calvary?)
Is a caring, giving, attractive, permeating love.
(That witnesses of Christ)
Christ The End Of The Law?
“Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness
for everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4, NIV).
It’s law as a method of obtaining righteousness that Christ brought to an end,
Not that anyone — pre or post Calvary — salvation by works could or can defend.
Since the Fall, God has only revealed one way by which anyone may be saved,
That is, via faith, via grace — it’s never been via how one behaves, or has behaved.
Before the cross, folk were saved by looking ahead to Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary,
Today, folk are saved by looking back to Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary.
Christ came to this earth to bring the Jews mistaken abuse of His Law to an end,
Not to remove His Law — otherwise, why would Paul God’s Ten Commandments defend?
The Jews had perverted God’s Law via legalistic obedience, you see,
That is, they thought that via keeping it they could earn their salvation, foolishly.
But as we know, no one is saved via law, for salvation comes via grace alone,
Plus, our best wouldn’t be good enough, hence that gracious gift from the Cornerstone.
Christ the end of the law? Hardly! For His moral Law points out what sin is, and,
It’s also via this Law that God’s will and character we better understand.
And when we do our best to keep His Law, we show genuineness, that we’re for real,
And God out of love, covers us with His grace, knowing we’ll fall short of the ideal.
The interpretation that Christ has literally done away with His Law
Is a perversion of Scripture, for not one apostle dared dismiss God’s Law.
Christ came to point the way back to faith; such faith doesn’t abolish but establish,
For what sort of God — the standard of Christian conduct — would come and abolish?
No, rather than abolish His Law, God sought to restore it to its proper place.
By Lance Landall
“Do we then overthrow [make void] the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold
the law
[the
standard of Christian conduct]” (Rom 3:31, ESV). Note also Rom 6:1,2.
“For I [Paul] delight in the law of God in my inner being” (Rom 7:22, ESV).
“So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good” (Rom 7:12).
“...Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet’ ” (Rom 7:7, ESV). Note also James 4:17; Rom 3:20.
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness [breaking God’s law]” (1 John 3:4, ESV).
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom [the Ten Commandments]” (James 2:12, NIV).
“For if we willingly persist in sin [lawlessness] after having received the knowledge of the truth, there
no
longer
remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment…” (Heb 10:26,27).
“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the
Lord your
God that I give you” (Deut 4:2, NIV).
“ ‘But this I [Paul] confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law and written in the Prophets’ ”
(Acts 24: 14, ESV).
“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason
the mind
that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot,
and
those
who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:6-8).
If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’ ” (Matt 19:17, NKJV).
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the
commandments
of God [all ‘ten’ of them. Circumcision belonged to the Jewish ceremonial law. Here we
clearly see a distinction
being made between God’s moral law and the Jewish ceremonial law]”
(1 Cor 7:19, NASB).
