- There are some ceremonial precepts in this chapter, but most
of these precepts are binding on us, for they are explanations
of the ten commandments. It is required that Israel be a holy
people, because the God of Israel is a holy God, ver. (2). To
teach real separation from the world and the flesh, and entire
devotedness to God. This is now the law of Christ; may the Lord
bring every thought within us into obedience to it! Children are
to be obedient to their parents, ver. (3). The fear here
required includes inward reverence and esteem, outward respect
and obedience, care to please them and to make them easy. God
only is to be worshipped, ver. (4). Turn not from the true God
to false ones, from the God who will make you holy and happy, to
those that will deceive you, and make you for ever miserable.
Turn not your eyes to them, much less your heart. They should
leave the gleanings of their harvest and vintage for the poor,
ver. (9). Works of piety must be always attended with works of
charity, according to our ability. We must not be covetous,
griping, and greedy of every thing we can lay claim to, nor
insist upon our right in all things. We are to be honest and
true in all our dealings, ver. (11). Whatever we have in the
world, we must see that we get it honestly, for we cannot be
truly rich, or long rich, with that which is not so. Reverence
to the sacred name of God must be shown, ver. (12). We must not
detain what belongs to another, particularly the wages of the
hireling, ver. (13). We must be tender of the credit and safety
of those that cannot help themselves, ver. (14). Do no hurt to
any, because they are unwilling or unable to avenge themselves.
We ought to take heed of doing any thing which may occasion our
weak brother to fall. The fear of God should keep us from doing
wrong things, though they will not expose us to men's anger.
Judges, and all in authority, are commanded to give judgment
without partiality, ver. (15). To be a tale-bearer, and to sow
discord among neighbours, is as bad an office as a man can put
himself into. We are to rebuke our neighbour in love, ver. (17).
Rather rebuke him than hate him, for an injury done to thyself.
We incur guilt by not reproving; it is hating our brother. We
should say, I will do him the kindness to tell him of his
faults. We are to put off all malice, and to put on brotherly
love, ver. (18). We often wrong ourselves, but we soon forgive
ourselves those wrongs, and they do not at all lessen our love
to ourselves; in like manner we should love our neighbour. We
must in many cases deny ourselves for the good of our neighbour.
Ver. (31): For Christians to have their fortunes told, to use
spells and charms, or the like, is a sad affront to God. They
must be grossly ignorant who ask, "What harm is there in these
things?" Here is a charge to young people to show respect to the
aged, ver. (32). Religion teaches good manners, and obliges us
to honour those to whom honour is due. A charge was given to the
Israelites to be very tender of strangers, ver. (33). Strangers,
and the widows and fatherless, are God's particular care. It is
at our peril, if we do them any wrong. Strangers shall be
welcome to God's grace; we should do what we can to recommend
religion to them. Justice in weights and measures is commanded,
ver. (35). We must make conscience of obeying God's precepts. We
are not to pick and choose our duty, but must aim at standing
complete in all the will of God. And the nearer our lives and
tempers are to the precepts of God's law, the happier shall we
be, and the happier shall we make all around us, and the better
shall we adorn the gospel.
aws.