Lesson 10 - 9th and 10th commandment

Question 1

Is lying ever morally justified?

Answer 1

1.) Scripture appears to commend some instances of deception (Exodus 1:15-21; Joshua 2:4-6, 6:17, 25; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25)

2. ) Other instances of deception are presented as morally justified (1 Samuel 16:1-5, 20:6, 21:13; 2 Samuel 5:22-25, 17:19-20; 2 Kings 6:14-20; Jeremiah 38:24-28)
   - - 1 Samuel 16 - going to anoint David, but God tells him to take a heifer to sacrifice and tell them that’s why you’re here
   - - Military Deception
   - - Is it legitimate to draw normative ethical conclusions from narrative texts? In these cases, the context is pretty suggestive.
3. ) God sometimes directly arranges for the wicked to be deceived (1 Kings 22:19-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:11)
   - - 1 Kings 22 - Ahab is deceived by lying prophets
   - - 2 Thess. 2:11 - God is acting in such a way to bring about false beliefs.
4. ) Lying is permitted in exceptional grounds
   - - Not conflict of duties, by prioritizing of duties.
   - - The higher duty takes precedence
   - - The duty to preserve life is more important than speaking truthfully

Question 2

How does the 10th commandment speak on contentment?

Answer 2

The 10th Commandment requires us to pursue contentment (Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Hebrews 13:5)

• • Positive application of the 10th commandment
• • Coveting arises from discontentment (James 4:1-3; Jude 16)
• • Discontentment also invites complaining and grumbling against God (Numbers 11:1-6, 33-34; 1 Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 2:14-15)
• • Contentment consists of harmony between what we possess and what we desire
    a. ) 2 paths
    1. ) Change what you possess
    2. ) Change what you desire