10 Commandments for being a Dad

The Fulfillment of the Law

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen; will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Holy Bible: New International Version, electronic ed., Matthew 5:17-20

5     Moses summoned all Israel and said:

Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. ² The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. ³ It was not with our fathers that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. ⁴ The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. ⁵ (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: The Holy Bible: New International Version, electronic ed., Deuteronomy 5:1-5 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984).

One: Acknowledge the sovereignty of the one God  ⁶      “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ⁷     You shall have no other gods before  me.” Deut 5:6-7

Two: Worship no idols ⁸     “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁹     You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ¹⁰     but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Deut 5:8-10

Three: Do not misuse the name of God ¹¹     “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Deut 5:11

Four: Keep the Sabbath holy ¹²     “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. ¹³     Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁴     but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. ¹⁵     Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” Deut 5:12-15

Five: Honor your father and mother ¹⁶     “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deut 5:16

Six:  Do not murder ¹⁷     “You shall not murder.” Deut 5:17 And Jesus said: ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder,  and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother  will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matt 5:21-22

Seven: Do not have sex outside the marriage ¹⁸     “You shall not commit adultery.” Deut 5:18 And Jesus said: ²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’^a ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” Matt 5:27-30

Eight: Do not steal ¹⁹     “You shall not steal.” Deut 5:19

Nine: Do not lie ²⁰     “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Deut 5:20

Ten: Do not desire what is not yours ²¹     “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Deut 5:21

How does all this relate to being a dad? You teach your sons and daughters more by how you live your life than by what you say. When you acknowledge God and worship only God your children see that as how they should live. When you keep the Sabbath holy your children learn that the Sabbath should be kept holy. Am I saying that you should give up watching NFL games on Sunday? Maybe you could consider it. Am saying that going out for dinner on Sunday is wrong, I’m not. You can read God’s word. It is a hard standard in this world. What would happen if we as believers were to stop doing business on Sunday? No trips on Sunday, no shopping, no athletic events professional or amateur. We are only on number four and already in trouble. What is the cost and what is the reward? Are we ready to be God’s children? Are we ready to be different? Are we ready to be followers of Jesus Christ? Do you remember what God told Moses to tell the people when they went into to the Promised Land? Think about it.