Question 12 (March 19, 2023)
Q: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
A: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us.
MEMORY PASSAGE: James 2:8
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
Family Teaching Guide
DAY 1:
Recite question and answer then read the memory passage.
The ninth commandment addresses the issue of speaking the truth.
DISCUSS: What does it mean to tell the truth? Why is telling the truth important? We serve a God of truth. God never lies, and only tells the truth and we, as human beings are to reflect him. Sin has damaged our ability to reflect him and because of sin, we lie (give some examples of not being truthful… think beyond explicit and obvious lies). Satan deceived Adam and Eve by lying to them and Jesus said that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. God redeems his people and makes them new. He gives them new hearts so they can reflect him and because God is truthful, we are to be truthful and honor God in that way. There are times when we are tempted to lie because we are in the wrong and telling the truth would expose our sin. At other times, we are tempted to lie because it would give us some advantage or advance us. Even when it is hard, it is always right to tell the truth.
Additional reading: Proverbs 12:9; Col 3:9-10; Proverbs 19:9
DAY 2:
Recite question and answer then read memory passage.
The tenth commandment deals with being content and thankful.
ASK: What does it mean to be content?
DISCUSS: God is the sustainer and provider. Everything we have is a gift of God, from our life and relationships to our possessions. God has given us things to care for as stewards. Coveting is desiring something in a sinful way. Coveting is a result of not being content with what God has given us and not being thankful for what we have. We tend to look around at what others have and desire those things rather than having an attitude of thankfulness for all of the blessings we have been given and seeking to be a good caretaker of those things. The antidote to coveting is thankfulness and contentment with what God has given. Coveting comes from a heart that is not content or thankful. (Consider walking your children through some examples relevant to them of the temptation to covet something that is not theirs and lead them through thinking about what that reveals about their heart. Then help them see all of the good things God has given them that they can be thankful for and point out how that reorients the heart to be content with those good gifts).
ADDITIONAL READING: Romans 13:9; Ephesians 5:5; Proverbs 4:23