Discontentment may seem like a lesser sin because it is entirely inward and is listed last among the Ten Commandments, but it is foundational to the other nine. It is the gateway through which every other sin flows, revealing the dissatisfaction of our hearts with God and His provision. Only a Savior who perfectly delighted in His Father at all times can redeem us from the sin of covetousness and lead us to true contentment, and thankfully we have such a Savior in Jesus Christ.

Lying is one of the easiest sins to commit. There are countless ways to skew, embellish, or omit the truth. Lies are often easy to craft, easy to rationalize, and difficult to detect. They seem like the simplest path to achieve our objectives, but in the end lead to death for ourselves and others. Thanks be to the God of truth for sending His Son of truth to redeem us from our sin and fill us with His Spirit of truth.

The eighth commandment envisions more than refraining from shoplifting and stealing office supplies. It covers wrongfully taking anything that does not belong to us (including intangible things like people’s time and reputation) as well as positively requiring the lawful advancement of our own and others’ prosperity. Most of all, it leads us to a redeemed mindset where we view ourselves not as owners, but as stewards through the grace of the One who purchased us on the cross.

David learned the spiritual truth that when we’ve blown it with God and we’re looking to recover, that there is security in God’s sovereignty, not in our self-sufficiency.

Few topics are more pressing in our day than the epidemic of sexual sin, yet few topics are more rarely discussed in the church due to embarrassment and guilt. Thankfully, God is not embarrassed to address this subject in His Word, and He shows the way to freedom from sexual sin and restored purity through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Since few of us have committed physical murder, we are tempted us to pass over the sixth commandment as being at least one of the ten that we've perfectly kept. But when we understand that the commandment also requires us to actively promote the preservation of human life, as well as holds us accountable for each thought, word, and attitude with respect to anger, we quickly realize our need for a Savior who Himself suffered death so that we might be granted eternal life.

At first glance, the commandment to honor one’s father and mother may not seem as critical as refraining from murder or adultery, but respect for authority is the essential foundation of every healthy family, church, and society. Though we are all authority-resisters by nature, our hope is found in the Savior who always respected His Father in heaven and who extends His perfect obedience to us by grace.

Nearly everything in our culture works against our rest. The frantic, busy pace of our lives runs us down and takes our eyes off the Lord who saved us. But the Lord knows our need for rest, and provides not just any rest, but rest in Himself through the Christian Sabbath, or Lord’s Day. He gives us one day in seven to lay aside our regular dealings and refocus on His glory, finding true rest in the Savior who died for us.

The third commandment is far more than a prohibition against using the Lord’s Name as an obscenity. It grounds our lives in a reverence for God that frees us from triviality as we follow the Savior who perfectly honored the Name of the Lord.