Exodus 20

Ten Commandments Time!

God speaks to Moses, reminding him that he is the God who brought them out of Egypt’s bondage.

  1. We will have no other Gods before him

    1. Not to worship pagan, Norse, greek, etc

    2. Could also go for Idols! Things that take up the mind before him.

  2. No graven images of anything that is like that in heaven, in the earth, or the water

    1. Worshipping idols or physical objects! Big nuh uh.

    2. No regarding the creation of things like painting, statues, etc of God as long as we don’t worship that object.

    3. God tells us he is jealous in a sense that he gets angry at those he created worshipping another irrationally for things he is responsible for.

    4. If this disrespect of God continues down a lineage, they will likely deal with immoral actions

      1. Descendents that do elevate God will not face these natural consequences

      2. Mercy will be showed to the thousands who love and keep his commandments

  3. Don’t take God’s name in vain!

    1. In a way of profanity

      1. “God-damn it”

    2. Frivolously

      1. Using it insincerely or flippantly without thought

    3. Hypocrisy

      1. Saying his name as a point but then doing something against his word

  4. Keep the Sabbath!

    1. On the 7th day, nobody is to work, not even the animals

    2. God rested on the 7th day and so should we

  5. Honor your parents!

    1. Keep peace within a family and society

  6. Don’t murder people

    1. Duh

  7. Do not commit adultery

    1. Double duh

    2. Outside marriage whether your married or not - don’t do it

  8. Do not steal

    1. Triple duh

    2. Physically

    3. Spiritually

      1. Taking away obedience and respect to God that he rightfully is owed

  9. No false witnesses!

    1. Do not lie.

    2. No lying - slandering, tale-telling, false info spreading

  10. Do not Covet!

    1. No desiring what other people have unhealthily

    2. Don’t take what you have for granted

    3. Work for what you want!

The Jews see the lightning and smoke and hear the thunder and trumpet. They stay way back and observe. They ask Moses to tell them what God said. But make sure to add they don’t want to hear it directly from God in fear they will die.

Moses tells them not to fear. That God came to prove the Jews in their reverence for him so they will sin no more.

Moses went up to the mountain again and God tells him to tell the Jews that he spoke with God. And God says that the Jews are to make him an altar not with gold or silver, lest they begin to worship the statue, but one of the earth. Where they will sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. And every place God records his name, he will bless.

They can make an altar of stone, just not carved or worked stone, lest the stonemaker gets credit or worship. Any tool lifted upon a stone has corrupted it.
And they cannot go up the steps to the altar as a human sacrifice! No human flesh allowed!