What God says and does reflects who he is. His words and actions flow out of his character, his being, his very self. This includes the rules, laws, and expectations he gives to people.
Consider these questions and answers:
Why is it wrong to lie? Because God is truth.
Why is hate so dangerous? Because God is love.
Why is envy harmful to one’s spirit? Because God is content.
Why does unfaithfulness cause so much relational pain? Because God is always faithful, breaking faith hurts and harms.
God’s principles for humanity flow from his character. When people break his principles, it brings trouble and hurt. God’s principles flow from his person. Trusting him and living by his principles (rules, laws, expectations) brings protection and provision.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that God’s faithfulness should be lived out in actions and thoughts. Not just, “Don’t commit adultery” (Ten Commandment #7 Deut 5:18), but “Don’t even think about committing adultery” (Matt 5:27-28.) Faithfulness is so important to a healthy life, that Jesus encourages taking drastic steps to avoid looking at or acting out sins of unfaithfulness (Matt 5:29-30.) “Chop off a hand” or “gouge out an eye” are exaggerated statements meant to emphasize the importance of doing drastic things to cut out patterns of sin. Making drastic changes to promote faithfulness in mind and deed isn’t necessary just because God made an arbitrary rule about it. God’s expectations follow and flow from his person and character. Trusting God, being faithful to him, and living faithfully in words, thoughts, and deeds reflect his character and bring protection and provision.
Pastor John Riley