By Mike Peek

Answer: The Tenth Commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his. Dear Neighbor, Are you content with all that you have, or do you look at your neighbor and envy what your neighbor has, grieving, even angry that your neighbor has such and such but you do not? The kingdom of God is not in our possessions, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17) To envy and grieve what your neighbor has causes one to bite and devour ones neighbor. (Gal. 5:15) It is from covetousness that murders, adulteries, theft and lying against ones neighbor occurs. This world is a very difficult place to live in and a great deal of bad things happen in it. Some people have a great deal and others have very little. Some people work hard and have little, and others work little and have a lot. However, do not think that this is necessarily the case with your ...

Answer: The Tenth Commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all this is his. Dear Neighbor, Are you content with what you have and are you glad for your neighbor? The Westminster Puritans understood that the tenth commandment requires our full contentment with our own condition and a right spirit towards our neighbor, being glad for him in all that he has. When we are unsatisfied with what God has given to us, this is sinning against God. When we do not have a charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor, this is sinning against our neighbor.  The great commandment is to love the Lord your God with your whole self and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and the prophets depend on these two commandments; (Mt. 22:37-40) therefore, being dissatisfied is not loving God who is the giver of all things and being jealous of your neighbor’s positions is not loving your ne...

Answer: The Tenth Commandment is, "thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." Dear Neighbor, The following two question ask what is required and what is forbidden in the tenth commandment but what is the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment is very often shortened, “You shall not covet.” What does it mean to covet? The Oxford American Dictionary says that the word covet is a verb, which means to “yearn to possess or have something.” Therefore, shortening the commandment can be misleading. To covet, crave, set your heart on, want, wish for, long for, dream of, aspire to, hanker for, hunger for, thirst for, ache for, etc. is not in itself the commandment. The commandment specifies that which belongs to ones neighbor. Jesus said, (Matthew 5:6) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shal...

Answer: The Ninth Commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness-bearing. Dear Neighbor, A citizen of the Kingdom of God walks among men with integrity. All that he does on the earth is right. He speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander his neighbor or do any wrong to his neighbor. The citizen of the Kingdom thinks rightly, speaks rightly and does rightly by his neighbor. (cf. Ps. 15:1-5)  However, in Romans 3:10-18, the apostle Paul wrote of all men: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND ...

Answer: The Ninth Commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness-bearing. Dear Neighbor, Proverbs 14:5, 25 says, A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies. A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous. This morning, in my daily recitation of John’s gospel, I recited John 19:35, “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.” The children of God speak truth because God’s nature is truth and the children of the devil speak lies because it is the devil’s nature to lie. Whenever a person lies, he makes himself a son of the devil, but when he tells the truth, he is a son of God. (Jn. 8:43-44)  Above all else, the Christian must be truthful in all matters, because our Lord Jesus Christ is the truth of God. (Jn. 14:7) How can one represent our Lord i...

Answer: The Ninth Commandment is, "thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Dear Neighbor, Pilot directly asked Jesus: “Are you the the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered but after asking Pilot how he came to this knowledge. Jesus revealed to Pilot that he is in fact a king but his kingdom is not of this world. When Pilot understood that Jesus believed himself to be a king, he asked a clarifying question: “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate then said to Jesus, “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:33-38) What is truth? In Prov 12:17, 19, truth is that which is opposed to falsehood. (EBD) Therefore, conversely, one could say, falsehood is that which is opposed to the truth. Psalm 116:11 says, “All men are liars.” and that is a terrorfying reality because Revelation 21:9 says, “all liars, their...

Answer: The Eighth Commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour's wealth or outward estate. Dear neighbor, The Lord God sees all and knows all. It is therefore prudent for a follower of Jesus Christ to be concerned, not for ones needs only but the needs of other people also.  Yesterday, Darlene and I were traveling and we stopped at a certain place to eat lunch. A man whom we do not know came up to us in the parking lot asking money for some ministry. He claimed to be a follower of Jesus Christ but the man spoke so fast and his only concern was getting what he called donations. I did not give him any money because I did not believe it wise. It is prudent that a follower of Jesus Christ should not do anything that hinders our own wealth. I work very hard taking care of my neighbor in the intensive care unit. It is my job which God gave to me me that I may provide for my own needs and the needs of my household. (cf. 1 Tim. 5:8) I shall not do...

Answer: The Eighth Commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others. Dear Neighbor, The Lord Jesus Christ said to love God with your whole self and love your neighbor as yourself (cf. Mt. 22:37-39) The apostle paul wrote in Romans 13:8-10, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” The commandment requires the hearer to actively seek the best for ourselves and our neighbor. And one should not seek the best for themselves at the expense of his neighbor. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than y...

Answer: The Eighth Commandment is, "thou shalt not steal." Dear Neighbor, The Eight Commandment was first spoken to Israel, by the mouth of God from heaven, at Mount Sinai in the desert, also called Horeb, and written for us in Exodus 20:15.  The Eight Commandment was repeated by Moses in the land of Moab during a sermon that Moses delivered to Israel before his death, and before Israel crossed the Jordan river into the land of Canaan. There Moses expounded the law of God to Israel. Therefore, the Eighth Commandment is recorded for our reading a second time in Deuteronomy 5:19. Deuteronomy means second law, but it is not a second law, it is an expounding of the law for the children of the descendants of Israel, who were saved by God from slavery in Egypt.  The next two questions explain what is required and what is forbidden in the eight commandment. I shall explore how the commandment should be understood in the lives of Christ followers today. Michael Peek Your Servant for ...

Answer: The Seventh Commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. Dear Neighbor, Temptation comes from three sources: Satan, the world and the flesh. Temptation is being carried away and enticed by ones own lust. (Jam. 1:14) Lust is threefold: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. (1 Jn. 2:16) When lust has been conceived in a persons heart, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (Jam. 1:15)  The apostle Paul wrote to flee immorality. (1 Co. 1:18) For this reason, Jesus said, when speaking about adultery in the heart: “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Mt. 5:29-3...

Answer: The Seventh Commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbor's chasity, in heart, speech, and behaviour. Dear Neighbor, The seventh commandment goes beyond the physical act of intercourse. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Mt. 5:27-28)  Jesus was speaking to men whose society was patriarchal but his words are applicable to women as well. It is not enough to maintain physical purity. One must be perfect in every thought, word and deed. Jesus said, “Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt. 5:48) God created man and woman as unique biological persons designed to complete one other. In the beginning God instituted marriage between one male and one female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Therefore, human beings should ...

Question 70: Which is the Seventh Commandment? Answer: The Seventh Commandment is, "thou shalt not commit adultery.” Dear Neighbor, The commandment was first spoken by God, to Israel at Mount Sinai in the dessert. Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. And was repeated by Moses in the second law, Deuteronomy 5:18 You shall not commit adultery. However, its roots, like all the law are from the beginning. Jesus went to the first two chapters of Genesis when discussing marriage.  God created man and woman as unique biological persons designed to complete one other. In the beginning God instituted marriage between one male and one female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Therefore, human beings should not alter or negate what God created, designed and instituted. (Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9) Michael Peek Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Question 69: What is forbidden in the Sixth Commandment? Answer: The Sixth Commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto. Dear Neighbor, It is evident that the commandment forbids suicide and murder but I think that an additional question should be asked because in the text of their answer, the Westminster Puritans gave the answer to an additional question.  Does the commandment forbid capital punishment? The answer is no, it does not forbid capital punishment. If it did, the giving of the sixth commandment would have ablated in the commandment that the Lord God gave to Noah, Genesis 9.6: Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man. After giving the ten commandments that Lord God said to Moses, Exodus 21.12-14: He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, t...

Question 68: What is required in the Sixth Commandment? Answer: The Sixth Commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life, and the life of others. Dear Neighbor, The great commandment in the law is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt. 22:37-39) The sixth command makes the meaning of the second great commandment apparent. Psalms 82:3-4 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. Ephesians 5:28-30 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. To think of other people as oneself requires godly love. One should love oneself and other people equally. I confess that this is di...

Dear Neighbor, Which is the Sixth Commandment? Answer: The Sixth Commandment is, "thou shalt not kill." The text of the Sixth Commandment is written in Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder.” However, it goes much further back in biblical history, for the Lord said to Noah in Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.”  The next two questions speak to what is required and forbidden in the Sixth Commandment. I look forward to exploring how the Sixth Commandment should be understood in the Christian life. Michael Peek Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  ~ John 8:34-36 Dear Neighbor, Earlier this week, the federal government of the U.S.A. enacted into law, June 19th as a federal holiday. I grew up in the state of Texas but I did not understand Juneteenth. I knew it to be a celebration that African Americans in our community held but I did not understand the purpose. Later I learned that Juneteenth was a celebration of the freedom of African descendants who were held in slavery. Juneteenth was first celebrated in Galveston Texas after General Gordan Granger read the general order: "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and...

Question 66: What is the reason annexed to the Fifth Commandment? Answer: The reason annexed to the Fifth Commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment. Dear Neighbor, In Ephesians 6:1-3, the apostle Paul exhorts the children of the church to obey their parents in the Lord because it is right. Then he invokes the fifth commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” He explains in this brief exhortation to the children of the church, it is a commandment for their good, because attached to this commandment is a promise of long life on the earth. In their letters to the churches, the apostles Peter and Paul exhort all believers to submit to whatever authority has been put over them. Some of the authorities mentioned in their letters are fathers, husbands, masters, governors, and kings. The ultimate a...

“Question 65: What is the forbidden in the Fifth Commandment? Answer: The Fifth Commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.” Dear Neighbor, The great commandment, Matthew 22:36-40 is the bases for the whole Law and the Prophets: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” The Ten commandments are subcategories of the great and second commandments. The fifth commandment deals with the category of human authority and the beginning authority in everyone’s life is their parents.  The apostle Paul wrote: “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities...

Dear Neighbor, The Westminster Puritans asked in their shorter catechism: “What is required in the Fifth Commandment?” Answer: “The Fifth Commandment requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.” The proof text given for this answer is Ephesians 6:2-3 “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.” The apostle is stating and applying the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12) in a letter to Christians; therefore, the fifth commandment is applicable in the lives of all Christians throughout all of time. Adding to the proof text Ephesians 6:1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” There are four reasons given that children should honor their parents. First, it is the right thing to do. Second, it is commanded in the word of God. Third, it is in the be...

Dear Neighbor, Question 63: Which is the Fifth Commandment? Answer: The Fifth Commandment is, "honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." The fithth commandment is recorded for us in Exodus 20:12 (NASB) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” I find it interesting that in my writing about the shorter catechism, that this commandment should come during the week proceeding Father’s Day. The next three questions ask what is required in the commandment, what is forbidden in the commandment and what is annexed to the commandment. I am looking forward to thinking about the implication of this commandment for the Christian in the new covenant, as it was mentioned by the Lord Jesus Christ, and the apostle Paul in his letters to the churches. Michael Peek Your Servant for Jesus’ sake