Lesson 13: Conclusion
to the Ten Commandments
Matthew 22:34-40 [34]
But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the
Sadducees, gathered themselves together. [35] One of them, a lawyer,
asked him a question, testing him. [36] “Teacher, which
is the greatest commandment in the law?”
[37] Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [38]
This is the first and great commandment. [39] A second likewise is
this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] The whole
law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Exodus 20:1-17 [1]
God spoke all these words, saying, [2] “I am Yahweh your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
[3] “You shall have no other gods before me. [4] “You shall not
make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the
heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth: [5] you shall not bow yourself down to them,
nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting
the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the
fourth generation of those who hate me, [6] and showing loving
kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
[7] “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for
Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. [8]
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] You shall labor six
days, and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to
Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son,
nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor
your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; [11] for
in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in
them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the
Sabbath day, and made it holy. [12] “Honor your father and your
mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God
gives you. [13] “You shall not murder. [14] “You shall not commit
adultery. [15] “You shall not steal. [16] “You shall not give
false testimony against your neighbor. [17] “You shall not covet
your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,
nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his
donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh
that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and
keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and
with their children forever!
The Main Points for This Lesson:
These commandments are from God. It is
not from man, or invented by men. This is God's law (Psalm 51:4). It
is his standard.
God gives us these commandments for our
good always (Deuteronomy 6:24; 10:13) because he loves us
(Deuteronomy 5:29). Consider the three ways below that these
commandments are given for our good.
One: God's commandments are a mirror to
show us who we are (James 1:23), if we are willing to look honestly.
One purpose of a mirror is to allow you to see yourself so you can
adjust or correct any problems you see, such as your hair, or
clothes, or your dirty face. If you use a mirror, you can correct
these things before you go out in public. You don't get angry with
the mirror if it shows you blemishes. You are glad it can show you
those things before you go out looking like that. God's commandments
show us our sinful actions and our sinful heart. And so they show us
that we need mercy from God. They also show us that we need grace
from God, the power that raised Jesus from the dead, to be able to
conquer the power of sin in our hearts and lives, and to live in
humble obedience to God's commands. Do not arrive at the judgment day
having neglected the regular use of this mirror given by God.
Two: God's commandments are the path of
freedom. God set the people of Israel free from slavery. Then he gave
them the Ten Commandments. As long as they kept them they would
remain free. If they didn't obey or keep God's law, they would soon
end up in slavery again. It is the same today. Whoever sins is a
slave of sin (John 8:34). While we have a part to play, God is the
one who sets us free from slavery to sin. If we love him by obeying
his commandments, we will remain in and walk in freedom. If we turn
from his commandments to love the world, we will soon become slaves
of sin again. The book of Judges in the Bible presents the children
of Israel as in a cycle. They are freed from slavery and oppression.
They walk in their new found freedom for a time. Soon, they return to
a life of sin (in various forms, most often in the form of idolatry).
As a result of their practice of sin, a once free people are found
once again in slavery and oppression.
Three: God's commandments are not
burdensome (1 John 5:3), but lead to life (Matthew 7:14). The world
with sin promises an easy and fun life. It tells you that you can
live however you want. It is a lie. Disobedience to God's commands
brings terrible things into your life and other people's lives, both
in this life and the next. If you follow that path, you will reap
corruption in this life (Galatians 6:8) and destruction in the next
(Matthew 7:13). On the other hand, God does not promise ease, fun and
pleasure. He gives commandments. While it is not always easy, when
you love and obey God you will find peace, health and healing in this
life (Proverbs 3:8,17), and it leads to eternal life in Jesus Christ
(Matthew 7:13-14; 1 Timothy 4:7-8).
Note: We cannot EARN eternal life by
keeping the commandments. We have already earned death by having
broken God's good and holy law. Eternal life is a gift from God
(Romans 6:23). However, he does not give this gift to anyone for no
reason. According to his word, God gives eternal life to those who
love him and keep his commandments (Romans 2:6-8). Eternal life is a
GIFT. Yet, it is a gift that God chooses to give to good and faithful
servants (Matthew 25:14-30).
During the
lesson, we talked about the difference between “earn” and “gift.”
You have to work for what you earn. A gift is free. When do you get
or give gifts? At Christmas and birthdays (that is one condition we
have for giving gifts). Do you give gifts to everyone in the world
who has a birthday? No. We give them to family and friends (that is
another condition we have for giving gifts).
We have
earned death by sinning. How is eternal life a gift? We must enter
through the narrow gate and walk down the narrow path if we want to
reach life. That sounds like work. How is it a gift? According to
God's word, no one can ever say that God owes me eternal life. Nor
can any of us raise ourselves up from death into eternal life. Yet
God gives this gift under certain conditions. Let's remember our
statement about giving gifts to family and friends. How can we be the
family and friends of God, so that he will be willing to give us the
gift of eternal life? In Matthew 12:50, Jesus said that whoever does
the will of his father in heaven is his mother and brother and
sister. (This is not to negate or ignore verses that speak of
believing or receiving. Rather, this presents a larger picture of the
nature of that believing and receiving.)
Suggestions:
Open each lesson with prayer for the
teacher and the students and this class time.
Read through the Greatest Commandment
verses (Matthew 22:34-40) and also the Ten Commandments (Exodus
20:1-17).
As you read through the commandments
with the children, briefly talk about the meaning of each
commandment. Perhaps ask the children to explain them to you as you
read through them. You can also remind the children of the
relationship between “the greatest commandment” (love God and
love your neighbor) and the ten commandments.
You could also ask the children about
any Bible stories they remember related to the commandments from past
lessons.
Consider how to integrate the main
points with the lessons, whether it may be easier to talk about them
before, during or after reading the commandments. I imagine it will
be made a little simpler with the younger children.
John 13:17 (see below) may be a good
verse to emphasize with the children for this lesson. Even children
are content to only know or understand something. While we are trying
to help them to know and understand the commandments, the blessing
comes if they do them.
Close the lesson with prayer related to
the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Stories:
Matthew 22:34-40 – The
greatest commandment.
Exodus 20:1-17 – The giving of
the Ten Commandments.
More Stories and Examples:
Psalm 128:1-6 [1] Blessed is
everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways. [2] For you
will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be
well with you. [3] Your wife will be as a fruitful vine, in the
innermost parts of your house; your children like olive plants,
around your table. [4] Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears
Yahweh. [5] May Yahweh bless you out of Zion, and may you see the
good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. [6] Yes, may you see
your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.
Other Verse:
Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh that there
were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my
commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their
children forever!
Deuteronomy 6:24-25 [24] Yahweh
commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God, for
our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day.
[25] It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all this
commandment before Yahweh our God, as he has commanded us.”
Psalm 51:3-4 [3] For I know my
transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. [4] Against you,
and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your
sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified
when you judge.
Proverbs 3:13-18 [13] Happy is
the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. [14] For
her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is
better than fine gold. [15] She is more precious than rubies. None of
the things you can desire are to be compared to her. [16] Length of
days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
[17] Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
[18] She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is
everyone who retains her.
Matthew 7:13-14 [13] “Enter in
by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. [14] How
narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few
are those who find it.
Matthew 11:28-30 [28] “Come to
me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you
rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle
and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For
my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 12:46-50 [46] While he
was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his
brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. [47] One said to
him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking
to speak to you.” [48] But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who
is my mother? Who are my brothers?” [49] He stretched out his hand
towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my
brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father who is in
heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
John 13:17 If you know these
things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 15:9-11 [9] Even as the
Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. [10]
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even
as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
[11] I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in
you, and that your joy may be made full.
1 Corinthians 13:5 For I
delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for
all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to
him who for their sakes died and rose again.
Galatians 6:7-10 [7] Don’t be
deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will
also reap. [8] For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit
reap eternal life. [9] Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will
reap in due season, if we don’t give up. [10] So then, as we have
opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially
toward those who are of the household of the faith.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 [7] But refuse
profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.
[8] For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in
all things, having the promise of the life which is now,
and of that which is to come.
James 1:21-25 [21] Therefore,
putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive
with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
[22] But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your
own selves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a
doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;
[24] for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what
kind of man he was. [25] But he who looks into the perfect law of
freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of
the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
1 John 5:2-3 [2] By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his
commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
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