Deuteronomy 5:17-21 - The Decalogue The Basis Of The Covenant, The Essence Of The Whole Law, And The Condition Of Life And

SECOND TABLE OF THE LAW : praecepta probitatis .

In the enactments of the second table there is a progression from the outward to the inward. First, sins of deed are prohibited, such as murder, adultery, and theft; then sins of word , such as injury of a neighbor's good name by false testimony; and finally, sins of the heart , which do not come into open manifestation, such as covetousness and evil desire. The "commandment" is thus seen to be" exceeding broad" ( Psalms 119:96 ). So that only the man "who hath clean hands and a pure heart, and who hath not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully," shall "ascend into the hill of the Lord, or stand in his holy place" ( Psalms 24:8 , Psalms 24:4 ).