”...for pornos, male-sexers, men-stealers, liars, perjurers, and if any other which is opposing teaching being healthy...”
-What we saw in the previous verse was ways in which people misuse and transgress the first several of what we refer to as the Ten Commandments. Those are generally the front face of the Law, and Paul is simply pointing out some of the more extreme ways in which people miss the mark and show their need not only to be shown what is wrong but also how to get right.
-So in verse 9, Paul addressed extreme disrespect of God (no other gods, no images, don’t misuse God’s name, and set apart a day of rest for Him) and parents (honor your mother and father) and of life (don’t murder). Here he pretty much addresses the rest of the commands. ‘Pornos’ and male-sexers are those who show extreme disrespect for God’s gift of the covenant of marriage and the joys of sexual intimacy reserved therein (don’t commit adultery). Men-stealers of course are showing the ultimate disregard for other people and their stuff (don’t steal, don’t covet), and liars/perjurers are dispensing with the truth (do not bear false witness). Let’s be honest, lest we be pointing one too many fingers in the wrong direction, who among us has never once disregarded the truth? Who among us has never disrespected God or our parents? Maybe most of us have never directly disrespected life by taking it from a fellow human being, but Jesus said anger in my heart towards a brother is just as bad (Matthew 5.21-22). Who among us has never been angry with a brother? Especially that exasperating little brother? Or that badgering big brother? Who among us has never had a lustful thought, or wanted to have something which belonged to another? We all of us have gone astray and have completely missed the mark - not even close - and God gave us the Law to show us just how sinful sin really is. How far short we fall of His magnificent breathtaking glory.
-Sound. Whole. Wholesome. That which is healthy and makes for good health and good, normal, as-intended functioning of the body. Good health in body and mind and spirit would of course be the legitimate goal for any sane individual. Teachers of God’s law at the very least are aiming at health of mind and spirit (or should be, right?). But the sad truth is that you and I each find within us the principle that we are inclined to oppose the very teaching which would make us healthy. Our flesh is in fact energized to do the things which it is told not to do, and it is chronically loathe to do the things which it is supposed to do. It resists and stands in opposition to God’s law in all sorts of ways, manifesting itself differently for each person. The epitome of anti-health! This is the bad news. The Law is good and beautiful to be sure, but it is badly-needed bad news - at least that’s where it starts. Yet that is not even the half of it. There’s also Good News! Read on...
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