In a recent article in the Journal (“Purify Your Thinking,” October 2011, p. 8), the writer explained how she took the commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) and put the idea into simplified wording, applicable to her younger Sunday School students. Basically, she said it meant not to adulterate one’s purity—not to let mortal, human thoughts obscure pure, spiritual thought. As a Sunday School teacher I found it a wonderful explanation, since adultery in a marriage is really breaking down the purity of that relationship. But when we expand the commandment to our everyday thinking about purifying thought, it makes the commandment so relevant and practical to daily life—especially for young children.
This new way of looking at that commandment made me take a look at the depth of other commandments—not just taking them literally, as can be the norm.
The one that came instantly to my mind was the Ninth Commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16). Up to this time I just took it to mean not to tell lies about your neighbor, but when you think about it, what are we doing when we bear false witness? What are we seeing? If we are being a false witness, aren’t we seeing a sick or sinful mortal? Shouldn’t we be a true witness, seeing the child that God created? For me, this truth really opened up that commandment in terms of watching my thought.
