Commandments 5, 6, and 7

Commandment five tells us to honor our parents. Commandment six tells us not to murder. Commandment seven tells us not to commit adultery.We can fulfill these commands by obeying our parents and grandparents, protecting and helping others not to get hurt and keeping the promises we make to others.

Romans 3:20 says the law was given to reveal our sin. 1 John 1:9 tells us the law is given to show us our need for a Savior to cleanse us from our sins. Although Christ fulfilled the law, He did not put an end to our need to be obedient to it (Matthew 5:17-20). We still have responsibilities toward God and others as followers of Christ (Romans 6:22; 1 Peter 1:14-16). God’s first four commands in the Ten Commandments show us how we are to conduct ourselves before God. The next six commandments have to do with how we are to relate to others. When we have the right relationship with God; we will be able to love and serve others (Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13).

The fifth commandment is to “Honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12). To honor someone is to prize highly, care for, show respect for and obey (NIV Study note for Exodus 20:12). David Guzik writes that honoring our fathers and mothers “is an essential building block for the stability and health of all society. If the younger generations are constantly at war with older generations, the foundations of society will be destroyed.” Warren Wiersbe adds that in Old Testament times, the Jewish children were taught to respect age and to care for the older generation.  Gray hair was seen as a crown of glory (Proverbs 16:31). The consequence for attacking or cursing parents was death (Exodus 21:15, 17; Proverbs 20:20). The Law stated that parents were to be respected. This was shown by rising in the presence of the elderly (Leviticus 19:3, 32). Children were admonished to listen to the teaching and instruction of their father and mother (Proverbs 1:8; 23:22). If a child dishonored, mocked or scorned obedience to their parents, he would be cursed (Deuteronomy 27:16; Proverbs 30:17). We see this command repeated in the New Testament. Paul wrote to the
Ephesians that children were to obey their parents and honor them (Ephesians 6:1-3). Even adults who were not parents were to be treated as fathers and mothers (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

The promise in Old Testament times for obeying this command was a long life in the Promised Land (Exodus 20:12). As the Promised Land did not apply to New Testament believers, Paul generalized this by saying obedience would result in things going well for the children and that they would enjoy long life on the earth (Ephesians 6:3; Deuteronomy 5:16).

The sixth command says, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). There is a distinction between killing and murder. The NIV study Bible notes that murder here refers to the “premeditated and deliberate act” of taking a life and David Guzik adds that it is done without legal or moral justification. Self defense or accidental deaths were not grounds for capital punishment (Exodus 21:12-14; 22:2).

Warren Wiersbe writes, “Life is a gift from God, and only He has the authority to take life. Because we’re made in God’s image, murder is an attack against God (Gen 1:26-27; 9:6).” Jesus explained the heart of this commandment. Murder can have its beginning in anger which was also
prohibited (Matthew 5:21-26). David Guzik says, “We can wish someone dead in our hearts, yet never have the ‘courage’ to commit the deed. Someone may not kill from lack of courage or initiative, though his or her heart is filled with hatred.” We are not only to physically protect human life, but also keep an attitude of love toward others.

The seventh commandment is “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) Adultery is “a sin against God as well as against the marriage partner” (NIV study note for Exodus 20:14) For the Jews, adultery was considered a capital crime (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). Warren Weirsbe writes, “The family is the basic unit of the nation, and faithfulness to the marriage contract is the foundation of the family.”

The New Testament condemns adultery also. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness. . .” (Galatians 5:19) We are also told that it is the will of God that we abstain from sexual immorality, showing self control and not giving into the passion of lust (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). Paul wrote that qualifications for a church leader included being the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6). This did not mean a church leader had to be

married, but if he was, it was expected he would maintain a faithful, monogamous married life (NIV study note for Titus 1:6). “But more than the act itself, Jesus carefully explained the heart of this commandment” (David Guzik).  We can commit adultery in our hearts and minds by lusting after another even if we do not have the courage or opportunity to act on it (Matthew 5:27-30). We are to be physically and emotionally faithful to our spouse.

We can fulfill these commands by obeying our parents and grandparents, protecting and helping others not to get hurt and keeping the promises we make to others.

We cannot, however, obey these commands on our own. By fulfilling the law, Jesus made a way for us to obey God’s commands in Him. We are set free from sin’s condemnation when we accept Christ as our Savior. God then gives His Holy Spirit to those who believe in Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to obey God and fulfill the righteousness of the law. Because we have been saved and have been given the Holy Spirit, we desire to please God by obeying His commands (Romans 8:1-9).

Quotes taken from:

-NIV Study Bible, Zondervan

-The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, The Complete Old Testament; “Exodus 20:1-17”, pp. 182-183

-David Guzik, “Study Guide for Exodus  20”, Blue Letter Bible