The first of the remaining six laws of the Commandments begins by saying, “Honor your father and mother,” and it was noted that Yeshua repeated this many times. In Matthew 15:3-9 and Mark 7:9-13 he told the Jews of Roman Palestine that they were breaking this Commandment in mercenary, selfish behavior, refusing to help their parents by citing legal tradition to give gifts or donations to G-D instead. In most cultures, one’s parents were revered, but today there’s too many visible examples of poor parenting and Media-exposed corrupt role models, causing our youth to dishonor older generations, justifiably blaming them for the state of the world.
“Do not murder,” is self-explanatory, for all Life is precious, but the onset of Human life lies moot in discussions concerning abortion rights. Even in nations where “an eye for an eye” still reigns, there’s consideration for self-defense, action in defense of another person’s life, and killing in times of war. It’s also evident that in some countries Capital Punishment is being carried out for offenses that should not warrant death, such as adultery and disobedience of a child. In America, rape, armed robbery and even cattle rustling were once Capital offenses, but Federal law now forbids execution of anyone except for First Degree Murder, with each state enacting its own legal definitions, penalties and sentences. Taking the life of another Human Being is forbidden, pending investigation, adjudication and G-D’s Ultimate Judgement.
“Don’t commit adultery” sounds simple enough, but sex outside of marriage is now a common occurrence in most Western-oriented countries. The Sexual Revolution in America can be traced back to the late 1800’s, and every twenty years or so radical change has evolved, making some indiscretions of each generation become acceptable behaviors in the next. Adultery today can be defined as sexual relations between persons who aren’t married, and the percentage of people in America who’re guilty increases as the years pass. Within every Evil time, some Good prevails, for just as the Sexual Revolution brought disease and damaged psyches, it strengthened the rights of women, making it more equitable to sustain a reasonable, valuable lifestyle, and to make decisions for ourselves concerning our own bodies. The bottom line — our final answer is to G-D, so bring on a Jury of our Peers to cast the first stone.
“Do not steal.” That’s something we’re all guilty of since childhood’s cookies or candy, involving physical things as well as someone else’s time, energy and psychological well-being. We should consider that when we take something from someone we’re increasing our own restitution requirement within G-D’s Karmic Universe. We depend upon law enforcement and our judicial system to give justice to thievery, but stealing and committing adultery go hand in hand with the tenth Commandment, “You shall not covet,” for greed and Ego-Self are primary motivations. There’s a fine line between the things we desire for ourselves and actually wanting something that belongs to someone else. The curse of Media propaganda is that we want more, not just money and material things, but fame and attention from others. Covetousness perhaps has become our most serious offense to godly behavior.
I’ve saved for the end the ninth-listed of the Ten Commandments, “Don’t bear false witness against your neighbor,” because it’s been expanded to “Don’t lie.” Again, lying is something we all do, usually for Ego-protection, especially with what’s considered a White Lie to avoid hurting someone. Most destructive are fabrications that slander someone else, giving false statements that make others look bad, often with intent to make ourselves appear better, to assuage our insecurities and bolster feelings of Self-worth. There are many among us who’re talented in playing mind-games, exacting revenge, practicing the arts of Deception with no conscience towards harm caused others, savoring the adrenaline of Discord. Evil grows vicious and spiteful as G-D’s Love unites Americans in kindness and compassion, giving us strength to endure pandemics, natural disasters and the horrors of gun violence, and to heal.
The Ten Commandments are Spiritual Guides for all Human Beings of Planet Earth so we can live happily among our neighbors and be welcomed into the Paradise of H-S Holy Realm if we abide by them. The United States of America was created to accept people from all over the world, immigrants from every nation, culture and religion. We invite them to become citizens of our “one nation, under G-D, indivisible,” as noted in our Pledge of Allegiance. Yet there are those who still seek to divide us — race, gender, religion, politics, by any negative means possible — even openly, in the Halls of Congress. Therefore we must listen to each other, live and let live, and agree by reason and compromise to maintain our Democratic Republic, truly “by and for” our people, with confidence in our vote.
I began Part 1 of this essay by reciting part of the Jewish Shema (Hear), quoting from Deuteronomy 6:6-9, wherein Moses announced the Ten Commandments to the Twelve Tribes of Ya’akhov (Jacob) who came out of Egypt. These words uphold G-D’s Spirit of Goodness, for HE gives H-S Children “all good things,” if not as we ask for them, then in H-S Way and in H-S Time. It’s in our personal relationships that we’ll be judged, whether we’ve loved one another as HE loves us. The Perfection of G-D’s LOVE was made manifest in Messiah Yeshua, for he was fulfillment of Torah and the Answer to the Prophets who came before and after his life on Earth, a latter one being the Great Prophet Muhammad, who spoke H-S WORD in Qur’an. (Read Mark 9:35-41) Messiah Yeshua doesn’t belong to any one religion, just like the Ten Commandments, but to the entire world through other WORDS He Spoke. (Read John 12:47-48)
To those of you disputing (concerning Yeshua) I say, Come, let’s gather together our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our people and your people, and together we will call down the Wrath of G-D upon all liars. Qur’an 3:61