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respecting life and family

Deuteronomy 5:16-18

Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as Yahveh your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and so that you may prosper in the land Yahveh your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:17 Do not murder.

Deuteronomy 5:18 Do not commit adultery.

respecting life and family

A trademark of the Israelite community was the care for others. Parents were to be respected and cared for when the roles reversed because of age. The life and dignity of others was to be held sacred. Murder and adultery would be a heinous breech of that respect. Lives and marriages were intended to be long and uninterrupted.

The family relationships envisioned in these commands would reveal the glory of God to the nations, and bring shame upon them for their selfish idolatry based on looking out for number one. In the Israelite community, God came first, then others, then me.

Lord, may our families show off your glory.