The Strand Study Bible

GENESIS GENESIS According to James 1:13-16, people “ err ” (deceive themselves) whenever they try to resist temptation instead of avoiding it (Gen 2:17 & 3:1-6 and Mt 26: 36- 41 ). Avoid the “bait” and you can resist the temptation, for lust remains in check as long as you avoid the “bait.” NOTE - In order to master this seventh law ( Thou shalt not commit adultery ), we are going to have to learn to avoid the “bait” that releases the urge to lust, which can lead to adultery. Identify (i.e., watch) what it is or whom it is that makes us lust and beg God to keep from being baited (pray); else prepare ourselves for a wound and dishonor that shall not be wiped away. 8. Do not steal - Job 24:2-10 & 31:39 & Gen 31:1-7,19,30-32 (Exo 20:15) Seeing the Law of Moses (Exo 20:15) was not written yet, how did Job (Job 24:2-10 & 31:39) and Jacob (Gen 31:32) know that stealing was wrong? The answer is simple. The law was written on their hearts (Rom 2:12-15), and they had not seared their conscience (I Tim 4:2) as others did. According to God, there are a number of ways to steal : 126

* To change someone’s wages in order to benefit you is to steal from them (Gen 31:7) * To steal from someone who has stolen from you is still stealing (Gen 31:7,19,30-32) * To cheat someone is to steal from them (Job 24:2) (Deut 19:14 & 27:17 & Prov 22:28 & 23:10) * To hinder someone’s ability to make ends meet is to steal from them (Job 24:3) * To fail to meet a need when it is in your power to do so is to steal (Job 24:4) (Jms 2:14-16) * To take what is not yours just because no one sees you do it is still stealing (Job 24:5a) * To take what is not yours so you and your family can have more is still stealing (Job 24:5b) * To take advantage of poor people is to steal from them (Job 24:6-10) * To borrow from someone and not pay him or her back is to steal from them (Psa 37:21) * To enslave oneself to anyone but God is to steal from God (Prov 22:7) * To take what rightfully belongs to God is to steal from God (Mal 3:8-10)

What does it mean to steal ? It means to take “time” from someone’s life. “Time” is all we humans have in order to measure life. To steal from someone is to take what he or she spent “life” accomplishing. That is why God admonishes the Christian who has stolen in times past to labor in order to give. To labor just to give is to learn to value a person’s “time.” Spend “time” working to meet another’s need and stealing will become difficult. What does it mean to steal ? It means to take what rightly belongs to God. According to Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Psalm 49:16-20 & 50:7-12, I Samuel 2:7-8, Job 1:9-10,21, Ecclesiastes 5:19 & 6:2, Hosea 2:7-8 and I Corinthians 4:6-7, if everything ultimately belongs to God (and it does), then to steal from another human being is essentially to steal from God (Exo 19:5 & Deut 10:14 & Psa 24:1 & I Cor 10:26). NOTE - In order to master this eighth law ( Thou shalt not steal ), we are going to have to learn to work – just to give (Eph 4:28). 9. Do not bear false witness - Job 31:38-40 (Exo 20:16) Seeing the Law of Moses (Exo 20:16) was not written yet, how did Job (Job 31:38-40) know that bearing false witness was wrong? The answer is simple. The law was written on his heart (Rom 2:12-15), and he had not seared his conscience (I Tim 4:2) as others did. To bear false witness against another, for whatever reason, is to attack their character for the sole purpose of injuring them. The Bible has another name for such an action –it’s called slander; being devilish for the purpose of ruining someone, hurting someone, gaining something, or getting even with somebody (Jn 8:44, I Tim 3:11, II Tim 3:1-3, Titus 2:1-3 and Rev 12:9-10). All five of these scriptures have one thing in common –they all use the very same Greek word to describe a certain Spirit (angel) and/ or spirit (attitude). According to I Timothy 3:11, the word ( slanderers ) comes from the Greek word GLDEοOοX9 ( diabolous ). From it the English word “Devil ” is derived. It means, “ to malign ; to falsely accus e” (II Timothy 3:3 and Titus 2:3). “Diabolous” is but one of many names attributed to Satan ( Job 1:6 ). There are several reasons why we bear false witness (why we lie about others): NOTE - In order to master this ninth law ( Thou shalt not bear false witness ), we are going to have to learn to love what’s right (God’s Word - Psa 119:165, and your enemies - Lk 6:27-29) and hate what’s wrong (vengeance - Prov 25:21-22, getting even - I Pet 3:8-12, and the love of money - I Tim 6:6-10). According to Proverbs 12:17 & 14:5 & 21:28 & 25:18, nothing good comes from trying to ruin someone else. 10. Do not covet - Job 31:7-8 & Gen 13:5-10 (Exo 20:17) Seeing the Law of Moses (Exo 20:17) was not written yet, how did Job (Job 31:7-8) and Abraham (Gen 13:5-10) know that covetousness was wrong? The answer is simple. The law was written on their hearts (Rom 2:12-15), and they had not seared their conscience (I Tim 4:2) as Lot did (Gen 13:9-10). According to the Bible, Exodus 20:17 is quoted in the NT two times: Romans 7:7 & 13:9. This word ( covet ) comes from two Greek words: HSL ( epi – upon), θXPο9 ( thumos – passion). These two words combined mean, “ to have passion upon; hence, to long for, lust after, covet, whether things good or bad ” ( I Pet 1:14 ) . When the King James translators translated the tenth commandment (Exo 20:17) in Romans 7:7 & 13:9, they could have easily translated it, “ Thou shalt not lust ,” for it is exactly * We want to ruin someone (Job 1:6-12) * We want to hurt someone (Acts 6:8-13) * We want to hurt God (Gen 3:1-5 and Mt 26:57-60) * We want to get even with somebody (Psa 109:1-5 & I Cor 6:1-8) * We want to gain something (I Ki 21:1-16 and Lk 19:8)