The Literal Commandment

"You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people." (Exodus 22:28)

 

The Hebrew word translated in this verse as curse means "to be slight, swift, or trifling". 1

This verse might be more accurately and literally translated as:

You shall not act towards G-d in a casual or disrespectful way.

 

When a child acts towards his or her parent in a way that is merely casual (as they might treat a friend or classmate) instead of with respect then they are acting in this manner.

 

Messiah Says

In Luke chapter 12 Messiah warns His disciples about hypocrisy and says:

"But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5)

 

The "fear" He describes here is not a babbling terror but a reverential awe. In recognizing Who G-d is we should have an abundance of awe and respect towards Him.

 

Pictures of Messiah

This commandment pictures Messiah in regards to the reverential awe and respect with which He addresses the Father in prayer. (See Matthew 6:9-13)

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah neither cursed G-d nor treated Him lightly or irreverently. Yeshua humbled Himself in the sight of G-d and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)

 

Instead of reviling G-d and railing at Him about the task that was set before Him, Messiah prayed humbly and asked "if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39)

 

Traditional Observance

Observance of this commandment is traditionally found in two ways:

1) By literally not cursing G-d or His Name.

2) By speaking and acting towards G-d in a respectful and reverent manner.

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and should not curse G-d.

 

Consider this passage from the book of Revelation:

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10-11)

 

Those who are part of the kingdom of the beast and the anti-christ will blaspheme and curse G-d.

Those who are part of G-d's kingdom will instead honor Him.

 

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Footnotes

1. New American Standard(r) Updated Edition Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries. Copyright (c) 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation. All Rights Reserved. [back]