Self-defence is lawful but much which is not deemed murder by the laws of man, is such before God. Magistrates and their officers, and witnesses testifying the truth, do not break this command. The sixth commandment requires that we regard the life and the safety of others as we do our own. Careful observers have noted a peculiar blessing in temporal things on obedient, and the reverse on disobedient children. Endeavouring, in every thing, to comfort parents, and to make their old age easy maintaining them if they need support, which our Saviour makes to be particularly intended in this commandment, ( Matthew 15:4-6 ). Also submission to their counsels and corrections. Honour thy father and thy mother, includes esteem of them, shown in our conduct obedience to their lawful commands come when they call you, go where they send you, do what they bid you, refrain from what they forbid you and this, as children, cheerfully, and from a principle of love. The fifth commandment concerns the duties we owe to our relations.
Verses 12-17 The laws of the SECOND table, that is, the last six of the ten commandments, state our duty to ourselves and to one another, and explain the great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ( Luke 10:27 ). The blessing and direction to keep holy are not limited to the seventh day, but are spoken of the sabbath day. The day is blessed men are blessed by it, and in it.
The advantages from the due keeping of this holy day, were it only to the health and happiness of mankind, with the time it affords for taking care of the soul, show the excellency of this commandment. The sabbath of the Lord should be a day of rest from worldly labour, and a rest in the service of God. Sloth and indolence may be a carnal, but not a holy rest. Trading, paying wages, settling accounts, writing letters of business, worldly studies, trifling visits, journeys, or light conversation, are not keeping this day holy to the Lord. Christ allowed works of necessity, charity, and piety for the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath, Mr. 2:27 but all works of luxury, vanity, or self-indulgence in any form, are forbidden. On those days we must do all our work, and leave none to be done on the sabbath day. Six days are allotted to worldly business, but not so as to neglect the service of God, and the care of our souls. The form of the fourth commandment, "Remember," shows that it was not now first given, but was known by the people before. The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. It matters not whether the word of God, or sacred things, all such-like things break this commandment, and there is no profit, honour, or pleasure in them. All light appealing to God, all profane cursing, is a horrid breach of this command. The third commandment concerns the manner of worship, that it be with all possible reverence and seriousness. All kinds of superstition are here forbidden, and the using of mere human inventions in the worship of God. But the spiritual import of this command extends much further. It is forbidden to make any image or picture of the Deity, in any form, or for any purpose or to worship any creature, image, or picture. The second commandment refers to the worship we are to render to the Lord our God. Whatsoever ye do, do all the glory of God. Whatever comes short of perfect love, gratitude, reverence, or worship, breaks this commandment. The worship of creatures is here forbidden. The first commandment concerns the object of worship, JEHOVAH, and him only. It cannot be expected that he should be true to his brother, who is false to his God.
It was fit that those should be put first, because man had a Maker to love, before he had a neighbour to love. Verses 3-11 The first four of the ten commandments, commonly called the FIRST table, tell our duty to God. Whether in the heart or the conduct, in thought, word, or deed, to omit or to vary any thing, is sin, and the wages of sin is death. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all, ( James 2:10 ). It requires perfect, unfailing, constant obedience no law in the world admits disobedience to itself. Its grand demand is love, without which outward obedience is mere hypocrisy. The law is spiritual, and takes knowledge of the secret thoughts, desires, and dispositions of the heart. This law God had given to man before it was written in his heart but sin so defaced it, that it was necessary to revive the knowledge of it. Verses 1-2 God speaks many ways to the children of men by conscience, by providences, by his voice, to all which we ought carefully to attend but he never spake at any time so as he spake the TEN COMMANDMENTS. (1,2) The commandments of the first table.
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