[The law is made for]… lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers …
Summary: Paul’s list of examples of false teachers who violate the law closely parallels God’s Ten Commandments.
If you squint when you look at this passage, it is possible to “see” the law Paul is talking about.
When we talk about God’s Law, the first thing that comes to mind for many of us is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:7-21).
Jesus sums up the entire list this way:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
These few words capture the heart of the Ten Commandments cleanly. So, let’s look at how the actual commandments line up with Paul’s list of people who need the law.
The first commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 5:7) This applies to all people.
The second says “You shall not make for yourself an image [to worship]” (vs 8). This certainly applies to “lawbreakers and rebels.”
The third is, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” (vs 11). It is not hard to imagine the “ungodly and sinful” doing this.
The fourth commandment is, “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy…” (vs 12). This seems to apply to the “unholy and irreligious” exceptionally well.
The fifth commandment says, “Honor your father and your mother…” (vs 16). Paul points us to those who “kill their fathers or mothers.” Ouch!
The sixth command is, “You shall not murder…” (vs 17). Paul’s description of those needing the law in this category is simply “murderers.”
The seventh commandment says, “You shall not commit adultery” (vs 18). Adultery is a sin that involves the misuse of God’s gift of sex. In response to this, Paul offers two examples: “the sexually immoral, [and] those practicing homosexuality…”
The eighth command, or law, is, “You shall not steal” (vs 19). Paul’s example here is “slave traders.” (If that seems a bit odd, consider what slave traders are stealing. Don’t all lives belong to God?)
The ninth commandment is, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (vs 20). To this, Paul simply adds, “liars.”
Finally, the tenth commandment is, “You shall not covet” (vs 21). Here, he includes a specific kind of liar — the perjurer. Once again, we have to squint a bit to see it, but why do people perjure themselves? Perhaps because they are in danger of being caught with something they coveted?
Application: Meditating on God’s Law unlocks a world of meanings we may not have seen before.
Food for Thought: How does the Law help protect the Lord’s sheep?
God’s Word (Law) exposes the path we are on in life. And on a deeper level, exposes the desires of our heart.
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
If our desire is a relationship with God, then we are offered reconciliation with Him through Christ by faith, and His law honors that desire by offering us protective boundaries as to what is and is not against His Will and Glory. Not so we can “toe the line”, or feel justified by compliance, but so we can obey first in our hearts, then in our actions, to pursue His righteousness. In doing so, God sees that we love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. And we will be able to love others as ourselves.
Matthew 22:34-40
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 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. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Thank you, Chris!
I like the way you used the Psalm to frame Paul’s intent here. Yes, the law exposes the path we are on — like taking a blindfold off and finding out we are standing on the edge of a cliff. 🙂
Due to a crazy schedule I don’t have much time today. But I did want to say I enjoyed your devotion this morning. I like how you parsed the Ten Commandments from Paul’s words and I agree that he likely had those in mind as he wrote. And good comments as always CH.
Thank you, Rich!
I hope the peace of God keeps you company as you make your way through the busyness of the day!
How does the Law help protect the Lord’s sheep?
There are two paths written of in the Bible. One is life according to our will, the other is life according to Gods will. We have been placed on earth for a time known only by God, given the opportunity to choose which path we want to walk.
Gods law, His word, has been given to all mankind for our safety, as stop signs, warning signs of a sharp curve just ahead. We can disregard the law, run the stop sign, continue to speed through the curves, but we are going to be placing ourselves in a danger. The choice is ours.
Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Isaiah 30:21, Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’
2 Timothy 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Psalm 27:1, The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Romans 2:15, They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.
Thank you, Ron!
Well said! The “two paths” really do run through all of Scripture!