How does Romans 1:29 connect with the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20? Romans 1:29—A Snapshot of the Fallen Heart “They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, and malice; they are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and hostility; they are gossips” (Romans 1:29). Exodus 20—God’s Moral Bedrock 1. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” 2. “You shall not make for yourself an idol.” 3. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” 4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” 5. “Honor your father and your mother.” 6. “You shall not murder.” 7. “You shall not commit adultery.” 8. “You shall not steal.” 9. “You shall not bear false witness.” 10. “You shall not covet.” How Paul’s List Mirrors the Ten Words • Unrighteousness & Wickedness → Commands 1–4. – Rejecting God’s supremacy leads to every other sin (Romans 1:21–23). – Idolatry of self violates the first two commandments. • Covetousness → Command 10. – Desire for what is not ours is the root of theft, adultery, and more (James 4:1–2). • Malice & Hostility → Commands 5–10. – A heart set on harm abandons neighbor-love (Leviticus 19:18). • Envy → Command 10. – Envy poisons contentment (Proverbs 14:30). • Murder → Command 6. – Jesus traces murder back to angry contempt (Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15). • Strife → Commands 5, 6, 8, 9. – Quarreling fractures families, robs peace, and fosters injustice (Galatians 5:15). • Deceit → Command 9. – Falsehood undermines all relationships (Ephesians 4:25). • Gossip → Command 9. – Whispered slander is a subtle form of bearing false witness (Proverbs 16:28). The Thread That Ties It Together – Romans 1:29 catalogs what happens when people suppress truth about God (Romans 1:18). – Exodus 20 reveals the holy standard they reject. – Paul’s list is the negative photograph; the Ten Commandments are the positive image. – Both passages testify that sin is not merely social misstep; it is covenant breach against the Creator. Living the Contrast • Receive the Law as good and holy (Romans 7:12). • Let the commandments drive you to Christ, who fulfills the Law for us (Matthew 5:17). • Walk by the Spirit so the righteous requirement of the Law is met in you (Romans 8:3-4). |
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