The Ten Commandments – Part 2 (Exodus 20)
Heart of a Shepherd
Mar 28, 2023
Translations
German
Die Zehn Gebote – Teil 2 (Exodus 20)
French
Les Dix Commandements - Partie 2 (Exode 20)
Russian
Десять заповедей. Часть 2 (Исход 20)
Spanish
Los Diez Mandamientos – Parte 2 (Éxodo 20)
Italian
I Dieci Comandamenti – Parte 2 (Esodo 20)
Urdu
دس احکام – حصہ 2 (خروج 20)
Portuguese
Os Dez Mandamentos – Parte 2 (Êxodo 20)
Portuguese
Os Dez Mandamentos – Parte 2 (Êxodo 20)
The Ten Commandments – Part 2 (Exodus 20)
Scripture reading: Exodus 19-20All of Israel witnessed the outward manifestation of God’s heavenly glory as smoke and fire engulfed Mount Sinai. The trumpet blasts warned man, woman, and beast that none dared approach the mount and live (Exodus 19:12-13). Then, out of the midst of the mountain, the LORD was heard saying, “I am the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-Existent God] thy God [Elohim], which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).
Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments were part of the LORD’S covenant with Israel, and the people were commanded to hear, heed, and obey them (Exodus 20:1-17).
The first commandment stated, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Unlike the neighboring nations who worshipped innumerable gods, Israel was to worship one God—Yahweh, Elohim, the True, Eternal, Self-existent One.
The second commandment was, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:4-6). Unlike their neighbors, Israel was not to worship idols or images like Israel’s God. The people were warned that the family would bear the guilt for violating the second commandment and thereby invoke God’s judgment “upon the children” (Exodus 20:5).
The third commandment reminded Israel that the essence of God’s character was summed up in His name. We read, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). God’s name was to be honored and not spoken of lightly or in vain. The name and meaning of Israel’s God was to be hallowed.
The fourth commandment served as a reminder that Israel’s God was Creator, and the Sabbath would serve as a day of rest and a memorial to His handiwork. Of the Sabbath, we read: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: (10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (11) For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11). The Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week, was dedicated to the LORD as a day of worship and rest (Exodus 31:16-17).
The fifth commandment moved the emphasis of the Law and Commandments from man’s relationship with his Creator to his relationship with his fellow man. Israel was commanded, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12). Because fathers and mothers represented God’s authority, sons and daughters of Israel were to honor and revere their parents. Likewise, the elderly were to be honored and revered; any who failed were condemned (Deuteronomy 27:16). The fifth commandment also carried a particular promise and reward--long life (Exodus 20:12b; Ephesians 6:1-3).
The sixth commandment was a reminder of the sanctity of human life: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Because Adam was created in God’s image, the life of man and woman were to be valued as sacred (Genesis 1:27; 2:7, 21-22).
The seventh commandment served as a reminder of the sanctity of marriage. The LORD commanded Israel, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). From the beginning, God established the institution of marriage as a sacred covenant between Himself and the man and woman. It was ordained by their Creator that “man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). As “one flesh,” the bond between the husband and his wife is not to be broken (Genesis 2:24). So sacred is the institution of marriage, that it served in the New Testament as a picture of Christ’s enduring love for believers and the church (Ephesians 5:30-32; Matthew 5:27-29).
The eighth commandment established the right of ownership. It stated: “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15). Thus, to take that which belonged to another (whether by theft or deceit) was a sin against God and man (Ephesians 4:28).
The ninth commandment demanded that truth would prevail. We read, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16). God’s people were to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29), and libel, slander, or bearing false witness was a grievous sin.
The tenth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not covet,” and focused upon desires for that which belonged to another. So we read, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17). Though manifested outwardly, covetousness is deeply-rooted within the heart of man.
The Manner of Worship Required by a Holy God (Exodus 20:18-26)
Having forbidden idols and images of Himself (Exodus 20:4-6; 23-25), the LORD was also concerned about the attitude and manner of those who approached His altar to worship and offer sacrifices. Therefore, steps were forbidden at the altar to preserve a modest, respectful decorum, lest those who worshipped be perceived as immodest (Exodus 20:26).
Closing thoughts:
The LORD’S expectations for Israel’s altar, and His demand for modesty, should be instructive. The priests were commanded to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the holiness of God. There were not to allow “nakedness” (immodesty) to distract those who worshipped the LORD (Exodus 20:26).
Tragically, “anything goes” seems to be the mode of worshippers in the 21st-century church. I fear there is little thought given to the manner or style of worshiping God who is holy.
Questions to consider:
1) Was Israel permitted to have and worship a physical likeness (image) of God? (Exodus 20:4)
2) What were the people promised if they kept God’s Commandments? (Exodus 20:6)
3) Why was Israel commanded to consider the Sabbath a holy day? (Exodus 20:11)
4) What two commandments stressed the sanctity of human life and marriage? (Exodus 20:13-14)
Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith
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