Exodus 19-20
Introduction
The 10 Commandments are just a portion of over 600 laws given by God to Israel. The first 4 commands refer to man's relationship with God and the remaining 6 refer to man's relationship with other men.
God made clear that He had the prerogative to dictate to Israel how they should live because He had delivered them from captivity and slavery in Egypt (20:2).
Before God would give the law, Israel had to first commit herself to obeying (19:5-8) and second had to cleanse themselves before coming before a holy God.
The Purpose of God's Law:
1) To reveal man's sinfulness (Rom. 3:19-20)
2) To demonstrate the repulsiveness of sin (Rom. 7:8-13)
3) To demonstrate God's holiness (Lev. 19:2)
4) To bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24)
5) To preserve Israel from sin
The 10 Commandments reveal God's great concern about the details of life - nothing is outside of His interest or involvement.
I. No Other gods - Polytheism
(20:3) All other gods are false and in opposition to the one true and living God.
Worship of any other god is incompatible with the worship of the god of the Bible.
See Acts 14:15 for New Testament (NT) affirmation
II. No Graven Images
(20:4) The production of images or likenesses of a god is forbidden.
Idols are not to be worshipped or even created - besides doesn't it seem foolish to worship something made by men - something that is subject to man?
See I John 5:21 for NT affirmation
III. Do Not Use the Name of the Lord in Vain - Swearing
(20:7) We are to be truthful at all times and should not need to use the name of the Lord to swear by.
See James 5:12 for NT affirmation
IV. Keep the Sabbath
(20:8) The 7th day of the week was reserved for God. People were forbidden to gather manna, sticks or to light fires on the Sabbath. Traditions developed to the extreme by the time of Jesus so that it was found difficult to even do a good deed on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:5ff).
See Col. 2:16-17. This is the only commandment that was nullified in the NT.
V. Obey Your Parents
(20:12) To honor is to reverence and obey in godly sincerity. Deut. 21:18-21 prescribes the death penalty for dishonoring parents. This is the only commandment that is given with a promise: Long life for those who obey. Both the death penalty and the promise demonstrate the importance of this command to God.
See Eph. 6 for NT affirmation
VI. Do Not Murder
(20:13) Life is sacred - we are made in the image of God (Gen. 9:6)
Anyone who murders destroys the image of God represented in that person (James 3:9).
The death penalty is also prescribed for murder. Note: this is not the same as capital punishment. This command is to the individual and does not include governments who use the "sword" to punish evil-doers (Rom. 13)
See I John 3:15 for NT affirmation
VII. Do Not Commit Adultery
(20:14) This command is to protect marriage and the home. In Matt. 5:27-28 Jesus adds to this command by saying that anyone who lusts also commits adultery.
This is another command which prescribed the death penalty as punishment.
See I Cor. 6:9-10 for NT affirmation
VIII. Do Not Steal
(20:15) Protection of property from dishonest gain.
See Eph. 4:28 for NT affirmation
IX. Do Not Lie
(20:16) Protection of the truth - dishonesty will lead to the breakdown of justice and makes the justice system ineffective. Lying is serious enough to warrant the death penalty.
See Col. 3:9-10 for NT affirmation
X. Do Not Covet
(20:17) Protection of the heart - the root from which covertness and sin come from. This command is important because it reminds us that God is concerned about the heart and our intentions (I Sam. 16:7). Sin usually begins with a wrong thought. It then develops into evil desire which then leads to sinful action (James 1:13-15). Covetousness has a degrading effect on us. It leads to theft, adultery and many other sins.
We are instructed to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:5).
The Law and the Believer
Introduction
The 10 Commandments are just a portion of over 600 laws given by God to Israel. The first 4 commands refer to man's relationship with God and the remaining 6 refer to man's relationship with other men.
God made clear that He had the prerogative to dictate to Israel how they should live because He had delivered them from captivity and slavery in Egypt (20:2).
Before God would give the law, Israel had to first commit herself to obeying (19:5-8) and second had to cleanse themselves before coming before a holy God.
The Purpose of God's Law:
1) To reveal man's sinfulness (Rom. 3:19-20)
2) To demonstrate the repulsiveness of sin (Rom. 7:8-13)
3) To demonstrate God's holiness (Lev. 19:2)
4) To bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24)
5) To preserve Israel from sin
The 10 Commandments reveal God's great concern about the details of life - nothing is outside of His interest or involvement.
I. No Other gods - Polytheism
(20:3) All other gods are false and in opposition to the one true and living God.
Worship of any other god is incompatible with the worship of the god of the Bible.
See Acts 14:15 for New Testament (NT) affirmation
II. No Graven Images
(20:4) The production of images or likenesses of a god is forbidden.
Idols are not to be worshipped or even created - besides doesn't it seem foolish to worship something made by men - something that is subject to man?
See I John 5:21 for NT affirmation
III. Do Not Use the Name of the Lord in Vain - Swearing
(20:7) We are to be truthful at all times and should not need to use the name of the Lord to swear by.
See James 5:12 for NT affirmation
IV. Keep the Sabbath
(20:8) The 7th day of the week was reserved for God. People were forbidden to gather manna, sticks or to light fires on the Sabbath. Traditions developed to the extreme by the time of Jesus so that it was found difficult to even do a good deed on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:5ff).
See Col. 2:16-17. This is the only commandment that was nullified in the NT.
V. Obey Your Parents
(20:12) To honor is to reverence and obey in godly sincerity. Deut. 21:18-21 prescribes the death penalty for dishonoring parents. This is the only commandment that is given with a promise: Long life for those who obey. Both the death penalty and the promise demonstrate the importance of this command to God.
See Eph. 6 for NT affirmation
VI. Do Not Murder
(20:13) Life is sacred - we are made in the image of God (Gen. 9:6)
Anyone who murders destroys the image of God represented in that person (James 3:9).
The death penalty is also prescribed for murder. Note: this is not the same as capital punishment. This command is to the individual and does not include governments who use the "sword" to punish evil-doers (Rom. 13)
See I John 3:15 for NT affirmation
VII. Do Not Commit Adultery
(20:14) This command is to protect marriage and the home. In Matt. 5:27-28 Jesus adds to this command by saying that anyone who lusts also commits adultery.
This is another command which prescribed the death penalty as punishment.
See I Cor. 6:9-10 for NT affirmation
VIII. Do Not Steal
(20:15) Protection of property from dishonest gain.
See Eph. 4:28 for NT affirmation
IX. Do Not Lie
(20:16) Protection of the truth - dishonesty will lead to the breakdown of justice and makes the justice system ineffective. Lying is serious enough to warrant the death penalty.
See Col. 3:9-10 for NT affirmation
X. Do Not Covet
(20:17) Protection of the heart - the root from which covertness and sin come from. This command is important because it reminds us that God is concerned about the heart and our intentions (I Sam. 16:7). Sin usually begins with a wrong thought. It then develops into evil desire which then leads to sinful action (James 1:13-15). Covetousness has a degrading effect on us. It leads to theft, adultery and many other sins.
We are instructed to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:5).
The Law and the Believer
- Remember that all Scripture is profitable (II Tim. 3:16)
- We are no longer under the law but under grace (Rom. 6:14-15; Gal. 5:18; I Cor. 9:20)
- We are not saved by the law (Rom. 3:20)
- Christ brought a new era or dispensation of grace and truth (John 1:17)
The Law is revealing and instructive. It gives insight into the mind of God and helps determine the standard of holiness that He expects from those who follow Him.
