Commentator Benson lists several ways:

“1st, By hypocrisy, making profession of God’s name, but not living up to that profession.

“2d, By covenant-breaking. If we make promises to God, and perform not to the Lord our vows, we take his name in vain.

“3d, By rash swearing, mentioning the name of God, or any of his attributes, in the form of an oath, without any just occasion for it, to no good purpose, or to no good.

“4th, By false swearing, which some think is chiefly intended in the letter of the commandment. [Which Jesus counters with “swear not at all.”]

5th, By using the name of God lightly and carelessly. [Probably the most common. And I think it applies to church folks who glibly sing whatever Christian song is put in front of them without even thinking of what they are saying. It also applies to the “Oh my G…” crowd]

It could be we need to examine this less-explained commandment when we are doing our self -examination and confession to God of our sins.

2. Exodus 20:8. Has God ever “unblessed” the seventh day? Once He pronounces something holy, is it not always holy?

That makes sense to me. The first day of the week certainly became a meeting day early on in the church. A day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and all the works of God. Works. First day was the day of creation of light. Day of resurrection. Day of pouring out of God’s Spirit. Works.

But I never see where the New Testament suggests that the first day was the day of rest. In fact, it was a work day throughout the Empire in those first years of the church. Even that first Sunday church service in Acts was on Sunday evening.

So where is the seventh day replaced by the first as a day of rest in Scripture? Where did God say, the seventh day is not holy any longer, but the first day is?

Happy searching.

3. Exodus 21:2-9. What does God think of one person owning another? (Consider Philemon, also.)

To profess to be speaking for the very Mind of God is preposterous. But I believe that with servant-hood (as opposed to the cruel slavery of which we are aware in our modern times) we must appeal to Jesus Who said that “from the beginning it was not so.”

The Law of Moses was written in the Israelite culture, for God’s people of that day. But having said that, we understand that God never changes His mind about things as we do. He merely allows principles to be put in place that create His justice for the time.

God would prefer that no one owns anyone. That there be no employers and employees. That we all be fabulously and independently wealthy. So it will be one day. So it was in the Garden. But sin has arrived. Things have happened. God sees it and speaks laws to His people that take those things in mind.

Since men do in fact leave their wives, Moses is told, be sure they make a bill of divorcement and not abandon the woman to a life of poverty.

Since men do indeed need help and are willing to pay for it, here are the rules for servants and their masters.

Realism, we call it. Ideally, one man for one woman. Even more ideally, men and women are totally absorbed in God and need no human partner. Ideally. Heaven. Paradise. Yes, it will be that way. But now, if we marry, here are the rules.

And God’s rules are the best anywhere, and were the best in Moses’ day too.

4. Exodus 21:20. Does God allow the beating of a servant/employee?

Shall we talk ideally again? (See prior question.) Ideally there are no servants, no masters. And when there are, ideally they never do anything wrong. And when a correction has to be given, ideally it does not involve anything physical. But in fact, the culture of 2500 years of man’s history had corrupted, and is worse today. So allow what men do, but regulate it. Then, baptize them in the Spirit of God, and let their attitudes toward “their” servants change miraculously. This was Paul’s message to Philemon: Remember, sir, that one you call your servant is now your brother in Jesus. Treat him accordingly.

The Mosaic Law, recall, was written to an unregenerate people. It was a good and pure law but it was written at a purely human level. It was within reach of and understood by, men. But it was, even so, not kept perfectly by any human being. Man needed more than a set of rules, and that is what has come to us in a personal relationship with Christ. In Him we truly have within us the Mind of God, giving us the capability to think God thoughts, like, “how could it be that I think I own some human being?” And “How is it that I should beat my servant when God has truly forgiven me?” and “Why cannot I be kind and generous to those willing to do all this work for me? Who am I?”

Oh, and much more. The royal law of love has replaced the written rules of Moses!

5. Exodus 21:22. Is “Eye for an eye” to be used today?

Ah! Jesus answered that one. Makes it so easy.

First, Moses: “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

Then, Jesus:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”

It’s clear, isn’t it? But it does present another problem. The Law of Moses was surely the law of God. And Jesus is God. And God cannot contradict Himself. It was statements like this that brought those early (and today’s) Christians in direct conflict with sincere Jews who wanted to believe that every Word of God is pure.

Folks, both statements are true. One is viewed through the justice of God, the other through His mercy.

The greatest and easiest way for Christians to understand this is to point out that every person on Earth today and who has ever lived on Earth deserves to go to Hell, and to be sent there by a very just God who decrees it so: The soul that sins shall die. All have sinned. The wages of sin is death.

But though all have sinned, some are Heaven bound, many more are actually in Heaven. That’s because there is a greater Truth called Mercy. Because of what Jesus did, the Father can cancel the death sentence for those who will trust Christ.

He also cancels every law that demands His justice and calls His people to act in pure love and mercy.

Certainly if someone hits you, you have every right to hit them back. But Jesus never acted that way, and He says we shall not either. One Truth triumphing over another Truth!

6. Exodus 22:18ff. Does God believe in the death penalty? Is the Law of Moses applicable to the church? To the governments of men? Does the Spirit of God create obedience in all His children so that the death penalty is never enacted?

In the questions above we have dealt with much of this issue. Remember that the context is Israel, then the greater people of God, and finally the world.

God did indeed condone the death penalty among His people. Herein is the very righteousness of God revealed (before Jesus came). In fact, the entire population of the Earth is experiencing the Death Penalty, and will continue to do so until Death and Hell are cast into the Lake of Fire.

Among the people of God, grace has come. For those who walk in the Spirit, the death penalty is not an issue. We have been delivered from death into His Life, already.

But the big question remaining for Christians living in secular society (and all society is secular – there are no “Christian nations” except the Church Itself.) Do we believe that sin should be punished by death? Yes, of course, for reasons stated above. But if such a sin were committed against us, should we press for the perpetrator to be killed? Should we pursue the case into the criminal courts until we have won our “settlement”?

Again we look to Jesus while He was here. He could have called 10,000 angels. He called none. Yes judgment is coming, and he will be the one to take care of that. Vengeance still belongs to the Lord, not to His people.

Except in these personal things, whether someone receives the death penalty is not really our business. Societies that try to follow God’s laws are usually safer and better places to live, but the taking of someone’s life is not a part of our mission in these days of the Church and grace.