Revolutionary Leaders

The Big Three

The sixth, seventh and eighth commandments are, "You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:13-15)

If you were to ask some "Joe" on the street to list the Ten Commanments, these three might be the only ones they come up with. Why? Perhaps it's because they seem to be the harshest of the ten. Maybe it's because they are the ones we would never consider violating. Seriously, stealing and murder would land us in jail and adultery...well adultery might land us in the morgue.

What else does the Bible say about The Big 3? What does Jesus say?

As a teenager I had what some would call "sticky fingers". You probably heard it refered to as the "five finger discount". I stole money from parents, relatives, friends and even shoplifted to many times to count. I broke this commandment repeatedly and I'm ashamed of it.

Hopefully you've never done anything like that. Hopefully you're not guilty of breaking this number 8 on God's Top Ten. But what about "borrowing" some answers from a homework assignment or test - cheating? What about downloading movies or music from the internet without paying for it. What about burning a CD you haven't purchased?

Here is an even tougher one. What about neglecting to give your tithes and offerings? Here's what the Bible says in Malachi 3:8-10.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

When we withhold from giving back to God what HE has given us in the first place, we are stealing from Him. We actually end up missing out on the blessings of God. That sounds kind of crazy for anyone to do such a thing but let be honest, it happens all the time.

(FYI - a tithe is 10% of our income, an offering is everything that we give above that)

Murder seems to be a bit more easily defined...or is it? Murder is the taking of another life without cause and justification. We're not talking about killing in times of war or self defence. We're talking about intentional disreguard for human life to the point of taking someone else's life.

Jesus explained this #7 on God's Top Ten in a bit more detail. He showed us that murder begins before the act of killing even takes place.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. (Matthew 5:21-22)

Jesus is challenging us here to look at the heart issue. If I’m angry at someone and I allow that anger to become bitterness, or speak words against them (false testimony) , then I am guilty of murder. That actually makes some of out to be serial killers!

Adultery? That's emotional and sexual involvement with someone who is NOT my spouse. Most teens think that they're automatically free and clear on this one. Students feel that since they're not married, or because they're not having an afair with someone who is married, that they can't possibly be guilty of breaking #6 on God's Top Ten.

Again Jesus takes us to the root cause, the heart of the issue - the HEART.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
(Matthew 5:27-28)

The sanctity of sex is within the confines of marriage, but sexually impurity begins in the desires of the heart. We look, we lust, we covet, we take… What young man from puberty and up is not guilty of that? (Note: Sexual relations of any kind with someone other than your spouse, even if you're not yet married, is technically adultry. They are NOT your spouse, and may never become your spouse, which means that they will become someone elses spouse. Either way you slice it, you're committing adultery.)

Ladies don’t think that you’re off the hook. Paul says "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety" (1 Tim. 2:9) So if you dress in a way that attracts attention to your body, thereby creating temptation for men, and encouraging lust, then you’re just as guilty.

Well, I'm guilty as charged on all accounts. I should have my hand cut off for stealing (they still do that in some countries), I should strapped to the electric chair for murder and have my eyes gouged out for adultry. BUT there's grace - undeserved favour. My breaking of God's Top Ten is why Jesus came and died on the cross.

If you have sticky fingures like I did, STOP. In fact, it's a good idea for to go back and return or repay the things you've taken. If you haven't tithing or giving offering, START today! You'll be blessed!

If you've murdered in your heart due to anger, bitterness, and resentment...FORGIVE and FORGET. Isn't that exactly what Jesus has done for us. Beside, if we can't forgive, we won't be forgiven. Check it out for yourself, Matthew 6:12-15. Settle it quickly. Make it right and move on. (Matthew 5:23-25)

If you've committed adultery due to lust, causing another to lust or having sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse, as Paul says, "put to death lust and sexual immorality" (Colossians 3:5). Quit watching trashy TV and movies. Get off the internet porn sites. Dress modestly and respectfully. Avoid temptation like the plague.

"You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:13-15)