The Big 10–and that Eleventh Commandment from Jesus Christ
In love often it seems, “A child shall lead them…” –the Bible
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See below: Sample: “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” –Bobby – age 5
“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” –Nikka – age 6
“There are two kinds of love. Our love and God’s love. But God makes both of them.” –Jenny – age 4
From Children’s views of “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Also views from: Wikipedia, John Major, Jesus, the Bible, the Supreme Court and Bob Ritter.
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Partial explanations from Wikipedia–more available:
The 10 Commandments
Commandments–Jewish (Talmudic),Anglican, Reformed, and other Christian, Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran
1. I am the Lord your God
You shall have no other gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol
3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
5. Honor your father and mother
6. You shall not murder [self defense,allowed for nations and individuals]
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal [kidnapping included]
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, and you shall not
not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. ###
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Jesus, paraphrased–from the Bible: “The pagans lord it over one another–let it not be said of you. The greatest among you will be the servant of all. I have washed your feet, go and do likewise.” The Commandment 11 was taught and illustrated by Jesus Christ in His life and death–greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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Love your neighbor is given an explanation–a view from John Major.
If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely. “Thou shalt lové thy neighbour as thyself. –Romans 13.9
We normally think of the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mt Sinai as the foundation of behaviour and conduct expected of the man or woman who lives their life as a follower of Christ. We know them well and have learned to recite them from our childhood.
Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bar false witness – and the rest. Significantly, the commandment s we know as the ten are mostly prohibitions – those things we shall not do.
Never for one moment rejecting the high and lofty ideals contained in the original commandments, Jesus adds an eleventh command; ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another.’ –John 13.34.
It’s this idea that is seen in our Epistle reading this morning, and for a host of reasons we have an absolute obligation to not only take this matter seriously, but also to use our adherence or deviation from this command as a yardstick on the quality of our discipleship. I said for a host of reasons we have an absolute obligation in this matter.
What are some of those reasons?
1. It’s a commandment. Its not a suggestion. Its not a possibility. Its not a good idea. Its a benchmark. Abide by it and you’re in. Neglect it, deviate from it, cut corners with it – and you’re at the least in great danger and bluntly, you’re probably out of God’s reckoning.
Jesus goes further and states that as a result of loving one another, others will notice and know that this is the sign of discipleship.
When Christians fail to love one another, when we neglect this eleventh commandment we do great harm to the cause of Christ and even stand in the way of others discovering the truth that is in Jesus.
The story is told of a Frankish king who was being prepared for baptism. He came from a life as a heathen and, right on the eve of his baptism, refused to follow Christ,
stating that he would far rather be in hell with his friends than to be in heaven with the Christian he had met.
Jonathan Swift says of he and his kind;
We had just enough religion to make us hate each other and not enough religion to love one another.
So, beyond argument, we are talking about a command.
2. It’s a positive. It seems to me significant that the ten commandments of Moses are mostly negatives – thou shalt not’s. Come Jesus, and His one commandment is entirely positive. Not a negation. Not a condemnation. Not an indication of failure. None of that. Its what we are required , requested and, let me add, equipped to do. More about that equipping in a moment.
3. It’s essential. Its not an option. Its not something we can pick and choose. Its not a high flying ideal required of the saints. Its required and necessary for you and me. Meet the requirement and we can truly call ourselves followers of Christ. Miss this one, and we are at best, marginal disciples, pale reflections of Christlikeness and a negative advertisement to our faith.
The communion service reminds us …Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins and are in love and charity with your neighbours, draw near with faith.
4. It’s possible. I said a moment ago that our Lord equips his people for their task of discipleship. Love is a gift, offered, free, abundant, present, now. Like every gift, that which is offered must be received, must be wanted, must reach empty hands,
Remember the prayer in our communion service.
Our hands were empty, and You filled them.
It’s a commandment, its positive, its essential, its possible. With the simple faith of a child we come seeking God’s love and – having received that love, share it.
Several children were asked the meaning of love. With that wisdom of the child we close this mornings reflection on this obligation.
“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.” –Billy – age 4
“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.” –Karl – age 5
“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” –Chrissy – age 6
“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” –Danny – age 7
“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” –Bobby – age 5
“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” –Nikka – age 6
“There are two kinds of love. Our love and God’s love. But God makes both of them.” –Jenny – age 4
“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” –Tommy – age 6
“My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.”
–Clare – age 5
“Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.” –Elaine – age 5
“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.” –Lauren – age 4
“I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her.” –Bethany – age 4
“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” –Karen, age 7
“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” –Jessica – age 8
The above was from a ’sermon’ by John Major at St Peter’s, Palmerston North, Sunday 5th October, 2008
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A view about the 10 Commandments from U.S. history and practice : Bob Ritter’s writings
“We need only look within our own [U.S. Supreme] Courtroom. Since 1935, Moses has stood, holding two tablets that reveal portions of the Ten Commandments written in Hebrew, among other lawgivers in the south frieze. Representations of the Ten Commandments adorn the metal gates lining the north and south sides of the Courtroom as well as the doors leading into the Courtroom. Moses also sits on the exterior east facade of the building holding the Ten Commandments tablets.
Similar acknowledgments can be seen throughout a visitor’s tour of our Nation’s Capital. For example, a large statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments, alongside a statue of the Apostle Paul, has overlooked the rotunda of the Library of Congress’ Jefferson Building since 1897. And the Jefferson Building’s Great Reading Room contains a sculpture of a woman beside the Ten Commandments with a quote above her from the Old Testament (Micah 6:8). A medallion with two tablets depicting the Ten Commandments decorates the floor of the National Archives. Inside the Department of Justice, a statue entitled “The Spirit of Law” has two tablets representing the Ten Commandments lying at its feet. In front of the Ronald Reagan Building is another sculpture that includes a depiction of the Ten Commandments. So too a 24-foot-tall sculpture, depicting, among other things, the Ten Commandments and a cross, stands outside the federal courthouse that houses both the Court of Appeals and the District Court for the District of Columbia. Moses is also prominently featured in the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives. ”
at 545 U.S. 677, 688-689, 125 S.Ct. 2854, 2862-2863 (2005).
‘Jefferson and Madison Center’, Bob Ritter
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A view from Rae:
In Washington, D.C. the new Visitors Center’s walls have been kept empty of the mention of God and His Word. Whose idea was that?
When the devil gives orders for a tabula rasa, who’s listening? Who, why, what, where and how do these things ‘happen’? Do you wonder why the media has NOT raised a rucus about this? Perhaps the media believes in itself and is a god to itself–true, not all of the media rank themselves over God. And it often just takes one human to shine an insightful light on a destructive influence omission.
Raise this alarm, and remember the clay from which we were formed when each of us took shape with God speaking the breath of life into us. Let these Visitor Center walls like our other U.S. buildings also cry out the truth of God’s will and His word to those eager to hear. And may “We the people…” hunger for nourishment of our souls. God can–He can make a way where there seems to be no way. Expect our God to continue to do the impossible. I trust God’s heart when I can’t explain His plan!
These commandments, the Bible states, originated when the finger of God wrote them on tablets of stone. Moses was called “the lawgiver” when he carried these tablets down from the mountain top meeting with God, down to the people gathered below–let’s say, in such dire need of direction that Moses threw the tablets and broke them, and returned to correct his huge group of people. He returned to the mountain and got a second set of tablets engraved by God who gave Moses the responsibility of bringing order out of chaos in the group Moses governed, under God.
The law comes now from the Torah–Jewish scriptures in The Old Testament, in Exodus and Deuteronomy, with explanations of the good or the evil that comes when these are obeyed, or disregarded. The Jewish scriptures, the Catholic Bible, and the Protestant Bible regard these God written commandments with fear, honor and respect.
Jesus quoted from the Torah giving credence and veracity to the 10 as being God’s own words.
The New Testament states, “The law was given by Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Jesus, the sinner’s Friend and Advocate, offers forgiveness repeatedly to those who repent of breaking God’s given law–those who want a relationship with God as Father, those who desire truth in their inward parts and ask to be empowered by God’s Spirit, those willing also to walk worthy of God’s invitation to all mankind to return to their Maker, Who is abundantly eager to pardon and set them free of bondage God is calling even today offering a new kingdom. “Come out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the only Son of God’s love. Jesus, Savior of the world, the Living Word of God–Himself; our Creator and expected King. He gently encouraged His disciples saying, “I will be back.” Twelve disciples/apostles turned their times and their world on its head believing He would soon return. He did by His Spirit the day of Pentecost, celebrated by Christians. He will yet appear, as King, and every eye will see Him. Bible prophecy relates that Jesus will govern with a rod of iron, and evil will be chained. Peace will be be the rule, so to speak. Even natural enemies and nature itself will respond to its Creator’s peace edict.
Examples: The lion and the lamb will be friendly when Jesus rules the nations of the world from Jerusalem–and a poisonous snake will not harm a child who lays his hand on the nest of these formerly deadly creatures. Life will rule the planet, and love with justice and mercy will be experienced by a population used to being governed by less competent rulers!
Maranatha! Christians believe He will come again, as He said–God doesn’t lie.
But not yet, because here we are facing another American election in 2010, and doing what we can to bring order to our portion of the planet, with deep gratitude to GOD for a portion of liberty and justice for all. May liberty and justice with mercy be our wise and compassionate and fervent focus. ### Rae