What does the Bible say we shouldn’t do? part 1

Things the Bible says we shouldn’t do include the following:

• You should not have other gods before God (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 6:4).
• You should not make for yourself a carved image or its likeness to worship and serve it (Exodus 20:4; Deuteronomy 5:8–9).
• You should not take the name of the Lord God in vain (Exodus 20:7; Matthew 5:33–37; Deuteronomy 5:11).
• You should not murder (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13).
• You should not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Hebrews 113:4)
• You should not steal (Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28)
• You should not bear false witness against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 19:5).)
• You should not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor (Exodus 20:17; Colossians 3:5).
• You should not judge (Matthew 7:1-3; James 2:13).
• You should not revile God (Exodus 22:28; Leviticus 11:10–16).
• You should not curse the ruler of your people (Exodus 22:28; Ecclesiastes 10:20).
• You should not afflict a widow or orphan (Exodus 22:22–24).
• You should not take a bribe (Exodus 23:8).
• You should not oppress a stranger (Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33–34; Deuteronomy 24:17).
• You should not eat flesh with blood (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10–14).
• You should not do rituals for the dead (Leviticus 19:28)
• You shall not show partiality in judgment (Leviticus 19:15; 35–36).
• You should not defraud your brother of his wages (Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14–15).
• You should not hate your brother (Leviticus 19:17).

Let us now discuss the above-mentioned points with reference to the Bible.

1. The Bible says we should not have other gods before God

The Bible teaches that there is only one God—the God of heaven, creator of all the things that exist. He alone is to be worshiped, and He alone is to be praised.

In fact, this is the first commandment that God gave the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. We read this in Exodus 20:2–3. During this meeting, we see God introducing Himself to the children of Israel as the one who has delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Then, God strictly warns them against having other gods besides Him. This is what the scripture says

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.”

The same warning is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy 6:9, where Moses reminds the children of Israel that there is only One God, whom they are to love with all their heart, soul, and strength. This is what the scripture says

“Hear, O Israel: THE LORD, OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

The worship of other gods is called idolatry. The Bible tells us that every time the children of Israel engaged in idolatry, God would punish them severely in an effort to turn them back to Him.

For instance, God would cause them to be defeated in battle against their enemies. Other times, God would allow drought in the land. And at other times, God would strike them with pestilences and plagues.

Just like the children of Israel, Christians are called to worship only One God, that is, the God of heaven, who is the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The Bible says we should not make for ourselves a carved image or its likeness to worship and serve it

God also warned the children of Israel against making for themselves carved images and serving them as gods. This is according to Exodus 20:4, which says

“YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF A CARVED IMAGE—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Today, many people, Christians included, have built themselves shrines where they have set up images representing things found in heaven, on earth, and in the waters. Occasionally, you will find the said people flocking to these shrines, where they perform certain rituals that amount to worship of the images. This may include offering ‘special prayers and sacrifices’. The Bible strongly opposes such practices, describing them as idolatry.

For those who choose to disobey this command, God warns of severe punishment for their third and fourth generations (Deuteronomy 5:8–9).

3. The Bible says we should not take the name of the LORD God in vain

Many people are fond of using God’s name in vain. In fact, there are people who swear in the name of God that a given matter is true when, in fact, it is to the contrary. Others take oaths in the name of God but have the least intention of fulfilling the dictates of those oaths.

This is against the Bible, which teaches us not to take God’s name in vain. We find this warning in the book of Exodus 20:7, which says

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

This scripture teaches that God will hold you personally responsible for using His name in vain.

That is why Jesus advises us against taking oaths and instead letting our ‘yes be yes’ and our ‘no be no’ in Matthew 5:33–37. It says

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘you shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘yes be yes’ and your no, no’. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

4. The Bible says we should not murder

Taking away the life of another human being is contrary to what the Bible teaches. This is because man was created in the image of God. This is recorded in Genesis 9:6, which says

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.”

In fact, God gave the command not to murder in Exodus 20:13, which says

“You shall not murder.”

In Leviticus 11:17, God outlined the punishment for killing a fellow man as follows:

“Whoever KILLS ANY MAN SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH.”

Murdering a fellow human being is a criminal offense punishable by the death sentence in many countries.

5. The Bible says we should not commit adultery

Adultery is strictly condemned in the Bible, and those who engage in it are warned to be prepared for dire consequences. The Bible teaches against this vice in various places and we mention but a few

In Exodus 20:14, God warns His people against committing adultery by plainly stating

“You shall not commit adultery.”

Under the Mosaic Law, the punishment for adultery was death by stoning. We read this in Leviticus 20:10, which says

“The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.”

In the New Testament, the writer of the book of Hebrews, in Hebrews 13:4, warned the brethren against engaging in adultery by stating

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

6. The Bible says we should not steal

The Bible strongly teaches against stealing and warns of punishment for offenders. Again, this is among the commandments that God gave Israel at Mount Sinai. We read this in Exodus 20:15, which simply states:

“You shall not steal.”

The Apostle Paul encourages the brethren in Ephesus to abstain from stealing and instead work with their own hands in order to earn a living. We read this in Ephesians 4:28, which says

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

7. The Bible says we should not bear false witness against our neighbor

God strongly forbids making false accusations against fellow men. We find this commandment in Exodus 20:16, recorded as follows:

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

The Bible warns false witnesses of punishment in Proverbs 19:5, which says

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.”

When you read the Bible, you will discover that one of the things that God hates most is a ‘lying tongue’. So, always stick to the truth, no matter the consequences.

8. The Bible says we should not covet anything that belongs to our neighbor

We are also strongly warned against covetousness in both the Old and the New Testament. To covet is to strongly desire or want something that belongs to someone else.

In Exodus 20:17, God warned the children of Israel against covetousness by stating:

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

It is interesting to note that covetousness is one of the things that the Apostle Paul urges the brethren at Colossae to put to death. We read this in Colossians 3:5, which says

“Therefore put to death your members that are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

In fact, in this verse, the Apostle Paul equates covetousness with idolatry. This shows how serious the sin of covetousness is.

9. The Bible says we should not judge others

The Bible teaches us not to judge others. In the book of Matthew 7:1–3, we find Jesus teaching his disciples about not being judgmental against others. This is because there is only one true judge, and that is God. The scripture says:

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but not the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your’ eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

This passage teaches that before we point an accusing finger at others, we should first begin by thoroughly examining ourselves and dealing with our own pending issues before judging others.

The Apostle James also urges against passing judgment on others in James 2:13, as follows:

“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

10. The Bible says we should not revile God

The Bible also warns against reviling or criticizing God. We read this in Exodus 22:28, which says

“You SHALL NOT revile God nor curse a ruler of your people.”

An example is given of a man who cursed God while the children of Israel were in the wilderness on their way to Canaan. On being found guilty, the man was stoned to death in order to serve as an example to other people who would be inclined to act in a similar manner. We find this account in Leviticus 11:10–16, which says

“Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD and cursed, and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan.) Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the LORD might be shown to them.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.’

Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death.’”

11. The Bible says we should not curse the ruler of our people

The Bible also teaches that you should not curse those that God has placed in positions of authority. We read this in Exodus 22:28, and it says:

“You shall not revile God, NOR CURSE A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.”

This is because God has given them the mandate to govern in order to reward those who do good and punish the evildoers. This is according to Romans 13:1-3, that says

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”

12. The Bible says we should not afflict a widow or orphan

Widows and orphans occupy a very special place in the heart of God. This is why the Bible tells us that when you oppress them, God Himself will kill you so that your wife becomes a widow and your children become fatherless. We read this in Exodus 22:22–24. It says

“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.”

Similar sentiments are echoed in Zechariah 7:10, which says

“Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.”

We also see the same exhortation in Deuteronomy 10:18 that says:

“He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.”

Deuteronomy 27:19 actually pronounces a curse upon those who oppress the widow and the orphan:

“Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.”

13. The Bible says we should not take a bribe to pervert justice

The Bible advises against taking bribes, as this affects the proper administration of justice to the parties involved. An officer may receive a bribe from an offender so as to turn a blind eye to available evidence that would otherwise be enough to indict the offender.

The book of Exodus 23:8 tells us 

“And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.”

We read the same instruction in Deuteronomy 16:19, which says

“You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.”

The writer of Proverbs 17:23 airs the same sentiments by stating that

“A wicked man accepts a bribe behind his back to pervert the ways of justice.”

14. The Bible says we should not oppress a stranger

God tells us in His word that He blesses those who entertain strangers and treat them well. Consequently, He instructed the children of Israel to always be hospitable to strangers, mainly because they were also strangers in the land of Egypt.

We read this in Exodus 23:9, which says

“Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

Similar views are shared in Leviticus 19:33–34, which says

“And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.”

Last but not least, Deuteronomy 24:17 also teaches us about handling strangers by stating:

“You shall not pervert justice due to the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.”

In fact, some Bible scholars believe that one of the reasons why the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were wiped off the face of the earth was because of the mishandling of strangers that sojourned in their midst. A case in point is shown by their intention to mistreat the angels who came to visit Lot.

15. The Bible says we should not eat flesh with blood

The Bible teaches against eating the flesh of animals with blood in it. According to the scriptures, blood symbolizes life. So, eating blood translates to eating the life of the animal, an act that God strongly forbids. We read this in several scriptures, including the following:

Genesis 9:4

“But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.”

Leviticus 17:10-14

“And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, eats any blood, I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST THAT PERSON WHO EATS blood and will cut him off from among his people.

For THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.”

16. The Bible says we should not perform rituals for the dead

In some cultures, when a person dies, the relatives of the deceased tend to engage in rituals in honor of the dead. The Bible prohibits God’s people from engaging in such rituals as they amount to worshipping the dead. This is because worship is the preserve of God ALONE. Thus, honoring the dead through rituals is actually a form of idolatry.

God warned the children of Israel against engaging in rituals that aimed to honor the dead in one way or another. We read this in Leviticus 19:28, which says

“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you; I am the LORD.”

Similar sentiments are echoed in Deuteronomy 14:1, which says

“You are the children of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.”

17. The Bible says we should not show partiality in judgment

The Bible teaches that you should not show favoritism when pronouncing judgment over a particular matter. This is especially true when one of the parties involved is rich while the other is poor. Or one of the parties in the case is a senior member of society, while the other is a common man. We read about this in Leviticus 19:15, which says

“You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor or honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness, you shall judge your neighbor.”

18. The Bible says we should not defraud a brother of his wages

The Bible also warns against the exploitation of workers. It says that you should not underpay, refuse to pay, or delay paying your workers after they have rendered their services to you.  We find this exhortation in Leviticus 19:13 as follows:

“You shall not cheat your neighbor or rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.”

Likewise, Deuteronomy 24:14–15 tells us this:

“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you.”

19. The Bible says we should not hate a brother

Hating your brother goes against what the Bible teaches. The Bible says we should walk in love. In fact, the Ten Commandments are said to be summarized into two main ones: you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your might, and with all your strength; and then you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The book of Leviticus 19:17 puts it this way:

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.”

The Apostle John echoes similar sentiments in 1 John 2:9–11 by saying:

“HE WHO SAYS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, AND HATES HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS UNTIL NOW. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But HE WHO HATES HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS AND WALKS IN DARKNESS, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

In fact, according to the Apostle John, whoever hates his brother is a murderer. We read this in the book of 1 John 3:15, which says

“WHOEVER HATES HIS BROTHER IS A MURDERER, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Conclusion

This is part 1 of the article about things the Bible says we shouldn’t do. Kindly click on the link provided below in order to read Part 2 of the article. Remember, the Bible is not about dos and don’ts. Rather, it is about pursuing righteousness as we are led by the Spirit. However, sometimes we fall short of the requirements set out by the scriptures. When this happens, we should always remember that we have a high priest present with God, who is constantly interceding for us before the Father, namely, Christ Jesus. Ours is to confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, repent, and then continue in the good fight of faith until the end. I leave you with this scripture found in Zechariah 4:6, which says

“So he answered and said to me:

‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,

Says the LORD of hosts.’”

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Related Post: What does the bible say we shouldn’t do | part-2

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Prayer to become a born-again Christian

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and hereby ask for your forgiveness;

I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God.

I believe that you were sent by your Father to the earth to save sinners like me.

I now accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.

Come into my heart and baptize me with The Holy Spirit.

Thank you for saving me.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen!”

Congratulations friend! You are now a born-again Christian!

Welcome to the Family of God!

Benediction

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”

(Numbers 6:24-26)

Shalom.

Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/