Question:
“What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
Answer (Kids in bold):
“Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us.”
Memory Verse:
“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.”
– James 2:8
Commentary:
Question 12 of the New City Catechism summarizes the 9th and 10th commandments. These two commandments bring restraint to our deceptive hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) by focusing on our words, which are the outward window to the soul (Matthew 12:34), and our inner thoughts and motivations, which are at the root of our relationships with God and our neighbors.
The 9th commandment reads, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” In the narrow sense, bearing false witness is legal terminology that prohibits the giving of false testimony in a court of law (Exodus 23:1-3). We swear “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God,” and our reliability and trustworthiness as a witness depends on this truth-telling. In the wider sense, however, this commandment is meant to guard us from all sins of the tongue against our neighbors: lying, deceiving, misleading, exaggerating, flattery, gossip, slander, rash judgment, and condemnation, to name a few!
Instead, we are to love our neighbor (James 2:8) by promoting openness and honesty in our relationship (Ephesians 4:25), and by defending and honoring their good name (Proverbs 22:1). We are the people of the God of Truth (Isaiah 65:16) who are to speak the truth in love to every person, in every life situation, and in every circumstance (Ephesians 4:25,29). Ultimately, we have been commissioned with the word of truth, the Gospel, and are called to be faithful witnesses to Christ in the proclamation of that truth to a lost and dying world (Colossians 1:5-6).
The 10th commandment reads: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17). It deals not so much with our outward disobedience (as do the other commandments), but with the inner mindset and heart disposition that lie behind our wrong words and deeds. We covet when our desire for something becomes so strong that we will not be satisfied without it – even if it doesn’t belong to us (or is forbidden to us). When covetousness is embraced in the heart, it surely leads to violations of the other commandments.
We might be consumed by an envy that leads to stealing, or a lust that leads to adultery, or a jealousy that leads to murder (Matthew 15:19). It is a heart craving that is shameful, idolatrous, and malignant to our souls. Are we content with what God has entrusted to us, or are we covetous? We might easily deceive ourselves as to our true desires and intentions, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and judges our inward thoughts and motives (Hebrews 4:12). The remedy for covetousness is contentment in Christ, for in Him alone (Philippians 4:11-19) will our heart desires be fulfilled (1 Timothy 6:6). He satisfies the longing soul (Psalm 107:9)!
Resources:
Prayer:
Lord of All Truth, help us to reflect your goodness in word and deed. You know all things. Nothing is hidden from you. You give good gifts and withhold no good thing from your children. May your truth be on our lips and contentment be in our hearts. Amen.