The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson on the seventh commandment goes with the sermon " Keeping Our Passions in Check."
Temptation is the weed that never leaves our garden. “Ungodly and worldly passions” are the pestering mosquitoes that we can never seem to vanquish from our barbeque. The infant and the octogenarian are forever engaged in skirmishes of self-control. If temptation is a constant, what is our hope of ever defeating it?
Self-control, or what many refer to as “willpower” often operates like a physical muscle. Psychologists often refer to what is called “self-regulatory fatigue” or “egodepletion” as a way of describing the failure to overcome addictions or pathological tendencies (Pers. Soc. Psychol. Revised 2016 Nov; 20(4): 291–310). When we exert energy through our arms to pick up a heavy item or we run long distances with our legs, we know that we can only exert such power for a short time. Then we must rest and recharge. We cannot exert “muscle power” indefinitely. Willpower, like muscle power, is easily depleted. We can train ourselves to have a “stronger will” against temptation, but we are fooling ourselves if we think we can resist temptation by just getting stronger spiritually. Giving ourselves a “break” from temptation or removing ourselves from temptation’s power is a more effective deterrent to temptation than just fighting against the pull of temptation. Finding a way to avoid temptation or to remove ourselves from the presence of temptation may be the best strategy we have for self-control. Self-removal can lead to better self control. Jesus said that instead of “stumbling” or being “scandalized” by temptation, we would do better to remove the sources of or the means to temptation (Mt. 5:29-30). Drastic measures of removal may be the break that we need from temptation’s power.
Sometimes it is impossible to avoid temptation. Even if we cut off and gouge out all the sources of temptation, sometimes we still struggle with urges deep in our own hearts. Willpower is not only like a muscle that needs rest; willpower is also enhanced by proper motivation. Psychologists, again in the study of addiction (cited above), refer to something called a “Centralized Governor (CG).” The theory is that muscles do not really “run out of energy.” Rather, the central nervous system (CG) “tells” the muscles they are about to run out of energy. The theory is that the CG can also “tell” the mind to resist addictive behaviors, even in the face of major ego depletion. Self-control can be aided or energized by just the right message at just the right time from the “Centralized Governor.” Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days. He retreated from as many fleshly pleasures as possible, but the tempter was still able to pester him. When Jesus could no longer flee persistent temptation, he relied upon the motivation of God’s Word. Jesus was able to quote God’s Word and the tempter relented in the face of such truth. Rehearsing Scripture and filling our hearts with God’s Word can help us “say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12). Finding motivation through meditation on God’s Word can be “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps. 119:105) as we navigate away from temptation and toward righteousness. Give yourself frequent “breaks” from the presence of temptation. Fill your heart, your “Centralized Governor,” with God’s Word to motivate you toward self-control and the fulfillment of God’s desires for your life.
Central Message of the Text
Be faithful to God and to one another by being sexually faithful with your body and heart.
Family Talk
Over the last several weeks we have been talking about the Ten Commandments God has given us in Exodus. These commandments are not just rules to follow. They are actually meant to protect the gifts God has given us. This week we will talk about the seventh commandment which is “Do not commit adultery” (vs. 14). So, what gift is God protecting in this commandment? When God created the heavens, the earth and everything on the earth, He said that it was good, but when He talked about Adam being alone, He said, “it is not good.” God gave Adam the gift of Eve knowing that they would need each other to care for all God had given them. When adults get married, the family they become is a gift from God. At the wedding ceremony, the man and woman make promises to love, respect and care for that gift in each other. God takes these promises very seriously and so should we. In 2 Samuel 11, David did not care about what God said about husbands and wives, and his disobedience led to very hard and sad consequences. But just like David needed forgiveness for his sin, so do we. We all fail to keep our promises by failing to do what God asks us to do sometimes. We don’t always love, respect and care for God and the things He has given us. But, just like David asked for forgiveness and God forgave him, so can we. Through Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, all of us can be forgiven when we break our promises. That is God’s promise to us, and the best news ever is that God always keeps His promises!