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The Ninth Commandment: Statutes and Precepts (5)
Leviticus 6.1-5
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “If a person sins and commits a trespass against the LORD by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, 3 or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins: 4 then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering.”
Leviticus 5.4, 5
4 “‘Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters. 5 And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing…’”
We note in these two statutes the blinding power of sin. The law of sin at work within the human soul is so powerful, that if it is not checked by repentance and obedience to the holy and righteous and good Law of God, it can lead us to transgress against our neighbor and not even realize it.
But the Spirit of God dwells in believers now, whereas He did not then. And His work is, in part, to convict us of our sins. When the Spirit brings to mind transgressions against our neighbor – any deceit or lies or less-than-truthful dealing – our duty is to confess, repent, and make any restoration that may be called for.
Moreover, we should offer something to the Lord, some offering of thanks and praise for His mercy and convicting love. Our second passage goes on beyond the final ellipsis to command a sacrifice, designed to restore relations with God as well. Let us remember that whenever we sin against our neighbors, we sin against God as well. While we must ever seek to be restored to our neighbors, we must not neglect to be restored to the Lord as well.
T. M. Moore
The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.