July 27, 2025

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Which of the Ten Commandments is the most important?
News
November 1, 2023
Which of the Ten Commandments is the most important?

According to one email I received, the Fifth Commandment is “Humor thy father and mother.” Although humor may help at times, the word is “honor.”

According to one email I received, the Fifth Commandment is “Humor thy father and mother.” Although humor may help at times, the word is “honor.”

Alyssa, age 8, says honoring your parents is especially important “because if you don’t, it will get you into trouble.”

I assume you’re speaking from experience, Alyssa. Taylor, 10, agrees with Alyssa but for a different reason. “If you did not obey your mom and dad, they would stay mad at you, and God would not like that.”

Nor would you, Taylor.

Adam, 11, has a practical reason for honoring parents: “You’ll live longer.” You probably won’t find this in medical journals, but the Bible guarantees it in Deuteronomy 5:16 and Ephesians 6:2-3. Psychiatrists’ offices are filled with adult sons and daughters who have unresolved conflicts with parents.

Laura, 7, has another idea about the greatest commandment. “You shall not lie is the most important because you can get someone else into trouble,” she says. “Your best friend could go to jail,” adds Kaitlin, 7.

How many attorneys would be looking for another job if people told the truth? Although justice in a court of law is often imperfect, the court of heaven is always in session. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape” (Proverbs 19:5).

Not only could a person go to jail for someone else’s lies, but someone could die if falsely accused of murder, which brings up another of the Ten Commandments. Annastasia, 8, says the commandment forbidding murder is the greatest because “you will not only hurt that person’s family, you will hurt God.”

According to Scripture, we are created in God’s image. God is deeply grieved by murder because of its total disregard for the value of his image in another human being.

Robby, 10, says if murderers or terrorists rule, “there will be no happiness in the world because there would be nobody in the world. It would be a sad place.” Murder ruins the lives of children, says Kristy, 10: “A daughter or son could never know their mother or father.”

The greatest commandment, according to many of my friends, is the first: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Nathan, 10, sees this as the foundation of the commandments “because if you don’t believe in God, why should you worry about following all the other commandments?” Laura, 9, says the first is most important “because the Lord is our God, and if he wasn’t, we wouldn’t be here.”

Both Nathan and Laura realize that all standards hinge on God’s existence and righteousness. If God doesn’t exist, who sets the standards? If there is no God, then who rewards the good and punishes the evil?

When religious leaders asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment, he said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Furthermore, he said the second greatest commandment was like the first: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love for God cannot be divorced from love for neighbors. The apostle John summarized this link by reasoning that if God loved us first and demonstrated his love by sending his Son to die for our sins, then “we also ought to love one another” (I John 4:10-11).

Shock someone today by boldly expressing your love.

Point to ponder: God wants your love.

Scripture to remember: Matthew 22:37 previously quoted.

Question to consider: Do you love anything or anyone more than God?

--- Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God three times a week in a free email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAbout-God.org/email.

© 2023 Carey Kinsolving

New HPS Board Member Welcomed
A: Main, Lifestyle...
New HPS Board Member Welcomed
July 26, 2025
Willem Vandenborn is welcomed by Henryetta Public Schools Superintendent Jason Price after he was sworn in to fill the Ward 2 seat on the HPS board. The action came during a special meeting Thursday, ...
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Patrons Bank warns community of rising phone scams
A: Main, Lifestyle...
Patrons Bank warns community of rising phone scams
July 25, 2025
Patrons Bank is urging the community to be on high alert as phone scams targeting bank customers continue to rise across the country - and right here at home.Scammers are spoofing legitimate bank phon...
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Christmas in July is today
A: Main, Main...
Christmas in July is today
July 25, 2025
Downtown Henryetta is set to come alive with holiday spirit and summer sunshine today, as the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce presents its annual “Christmas in July” celebration. The event, scheduled fr...
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Back-to-School excitement builds
July 25, 2025
As summer winds down and the school year quickly approaches, Henryetta Public Schools and Dewar Public Schools are rolling out the red carpet for students and families with a series of exciting back-t...
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Main Street Crossing Temporarily Closed
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Main Street Crossing Temporarily Closed
July 25, 2025
The City of Henryetta has announced that the Main Street railroad crossing is currently closed to all traffic. Residents needing to cross the tracks are encouraged to use the Trudgeon Street crossing ...
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Sales Tax Holiday returns Aug. 1-3
A: Main
Sales Tax Holiday returns Aug. 1-3
July 25, 2025
Shoppers across Okmulgee County and throughout the state will soon get a much-needed break on back-to-school expenses, as Oklahoma’s annual Sales Tax Holiday kicks off Friday, Aug. 1, and runs through...
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Editor Picks
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Historical Museum open Saturday
July 25, 2025
The Henryetta Historical Museum continues to welcome guests through its doors this summer with its special every-other-weekend schedule - and this Saturday is no exception. The museum will be open Jul...
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News
OCEM Report
July 25, 2025
This report is a summary of activities Okmulgee County Emergency Management participated in and does not reflect all activities performed by or participated in by Okmulgee County Emergency Management....
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Plans underway for Okmulgee County Fair
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Plans underway for Okmulgee County Fair
July 25, 2025
Planning is in full swing for the much-anticipated 2025 Okmulgee County Fair, with the event officially set to take place Sept. 4-6 at the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds.Members of the Fair Volunteer Com...
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Lions Club celebrates new members, history and upcoming events
News
Lions Club celebrates new members, history and upcoming events
July 25, 2025
The Henryetta Lions Club held a lively and productive meeting on Thursday, July 17, at The Shack 2.0, welcoming new members, celebrating local heritage and preparing for several key community events o...
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News
Preston Schools announces Child Nutrition Program
July 25, 2025
Preston Public Schools announced they are participating in free lunch and/or breakfast program for the 2026 school year. All students enrolled in the district or the listed sites may participate in th...
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