Verses 1-2 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
This chapter is all about the Ten Commandments. This short list of things to not do would solve all of mankind’s problems if they were adhered to and no further laws would ever be needed. Don’t believe this to be true? Think about it as you read and study the words that God spoke to the Hebrew people.
The Hebrew word “Yahovah” means “the existing One”. Think about that. Not only does God exist, He was the God of the Hebrew people and He is still the God of His believing people today. Is He the God of unbelievers? Yes, because He is the existing One. Unbelievers can deny that God exists, but that does not change the truth that there is One God and that He has always existed and will be the judge of all mankind at the end of time.
Application: The house of bondage for the Hebrew people was the nation Egypt. They listened to the prophet Moses, surrendered to his authority, and allowed God to take them out of the bondage. All people are in bondage of some kind before surrendering their lives to the authority of the LORD. Bondage is sin of all types, unbelief, false religious systems, demonic control, mental illness, addiction, and anything that deprives the individual of peace and joy and freedom. The enemies of all mankind are the flesh, the world and the Devil. The flesh is the lusts that lead to compromise and trouble. The world is the enticements that cause a person to be discontent and to “want what they have”, and for some people, just like the Hebrews, it may be the governmental system they are living under. And the Devil hates all of God’s creation and wants to destroy it. These powerful enemies can lead a person to separation from a holy God with the final destination being Hell. But when a person chooses to repent of their sins of the past and to ask the LORD for forgiveness, and then receive baptism in water and the infilling of the Holy Ghost/Spirit, that person becomes free of the bondage that they have been in and will have peace and joy.
Verse 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
This commandment is pretty clear. A god is anything that a person worships. To worship means to give your heart. In other words, if watching Sunday sports programs on TV is more important than going to church and gathering with God’s people, then the sports has become the god of that person. If working a job to acquire more stuff takes precedence over spending time with family, then money and stuff is that person’s god. For the believer, everything that is thought about in the mind, acted upon with the body, or spoken about with the mouth or with electronic devices should be God centered. After all, He holds the breath of each person in His hands and blesses each person with His bountiful gifts of grace and mercy.
Verses 4-6 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.
This writer does not have any statues or figurines anywhere, not because they are not lovely (in most cases) or not artistic, but because God says not to have them. Images cost money that can be better spent elsewhere, and they take time, the coin of life, because they have to be dusted and kept clean. They can also become a portal for demonic spirits to enter a persons house, office or car and take up residence. Churches are breaking one of the Ten Commandments if they have statues of people or an artist’s representation of Jesus on a cross in their buildings as all of these things are images made by the hand of man.
Think about it. Why does God hate graven images? Could it be that He is the Creator and mankind does not have the right to steal His ideas and replicate them? Most countries have copyright laws to prevent someone from taking another persons ideas or work as their own and making money from doing so. Should not the LORD’s work that He did in six days be protected from being used for financial gain? Could it also be that people are easily led to place greater importance on a religious relic or image than upon the LORD?
So what about photographs, mostly referred to today as images? Are they forbidden also? Each person needs to pray and ask the LORD about this, but this writer does not believe that photos can be classed as graven images as they are flat and not two or three dimensional and they are not graven or created with tools. Also, photography did not exist when the Ten Commandments were given. However, since this writer’s site is full of photos, it is obvious that there could be some bias in this opinion. So when in doubt, don’t do it. If not sure, ask the LORD for His opinion and wait for the answer.
Application: Verse 5 above demonstrates a facet of the character of God. He describes Himself as a jealous God. The Hebrew word used here is “qanna” and it only means “jealous” and it only occurs six times in Scripture. Because of God’s jealously, He stated that He would visit “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me”. What does that mean exactly? Studies have shown that parents who are ungodly and who practice iniquity or sin regularly usually raise children that follow in the parents’ footsteps. These children then raise their children to sin as they do and the cycle continues well into the third and fourth generations of the descendants of the original parents. Likewise, righteous parents usually produce righteous children, and this pattern usually continues down through successive generations. Why does this trend happen? Because God said it would back in the time of the Hebrew’s when the Ten Commandments were given to show mankind how to live successfully on this Earth. The Hebrew word for “visiting” is “paqad”, pronounced paw kad and it means visit, punish, appoint or commit. When God visits, it means He is punishing, appointing or committing something in the lives of people. In the case of the verse above, the concept of a person reaping what they sow is what God promises to those that do not obey His commandments. But to those that obey, He promises to show mercy. Mercy is not giving the punishment that actions deserve. Think about how you, the reader, are raising the next generation and what your behavior and conversation are teaching.
Verse 7 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.
The Hebrew word for “name” used here is “shem” and it is translated as “name” 832 times out of 864 occurrences. However, it also means reputation, fame and glory. So using the name of God in a coarse, worldly manner also affects His reputation, fame and glory. When people curse using the name of God, they desensitize listeners (often children) to the majesty and glory of God Almighty. God becomes a nonentity in the minds of people. This is evil. People do not go around using the name of their favorite sports star or movie star as a means of expressing their emotional state. They do not use their mother’s or father’s name when cursing. But somehow it is OK to use in a disrespectful way the name of the God who gives life and blessings to all mankind. Think about it.
Application: There are hundred of names in the Bible used for God Almighty. But the names most used irreverently by people are God and Jesus, the two names that describe the one true God who is Creator and Savior. Why is this abuse of the name of God going to result in punishment? Because it is only through the name of God in the flesh, Jesus, that people are saved from sin, death and hell, that people are healed of sicknesses and infirmities, that lepers are cleansed, that devils are cast out freeing people from bondage, and that the dead are raised to life again. It is in the name of Jesus that the power resides that is to be used by believers to change the lives of the people in their sphere of influence. Using it wrongly is evil and should not be tolerated by believers. Read the following verses carefully.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 2:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.
John 14:13 And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Hearing an unbeliever abuse the name of the LORD is offensive. Do not be afraid to tell the person how you feel and ask him/her to stop. It may be the witnessing tool needed to start a conversation about the Gospel with that person. Only remember to do so with a loving, compassionate approach. Otherwise, you, the believer, will end up being offensive.
Verses 8-11 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.
To keep something holy means to separate it or set it apart from everything else. The Hebrew people were to acknowledge the sabbath day as different from the other six days of the week and to behave differently on this day. They were not to allow any work on the sabbath and they were to rest. Why? Because they were emulating what God did in that He created or did work six days and then rested on the seventh day. In this way, once a week on the sabbath day they should have remembered their God and all that He had done in the past, in the present, and what He would do in the future. To work or labor or serve refers to what people do to make a living or to provide for their families. It was never intended to mean that a person could not collect their chickens’ eggs or milk their cow. Animals need daily care and attention, and to not give them what they need is a sin. Likewise, children need feeding and dishes still need to be washed, etc. In other words, to not work did not mean to not do the activities of daily living that always are present in each person’s life. This commandment has been taken to extremes by certain religious groups. Banning the eating of chicken eggs produced on the sabbath because the chicken “had to work to lay the egg” is both ridiculous and wasteful. Not drinking or eating on the sabbath day because that leads to elimination and that is “work” is ridiculous. The sabbath day was to be used to give man and beast a rest so that they could be ready for another weeks work. It was never meant to make man and beast miserable. Keeping the sabbath holy was a gift from God to all His creation and it was a time to allow for the contemplation of the goodness of the LORD.
Application: For the believer, every day is a sabbath day and should be full of righteous deeds, righteous thoughts, and righteous communication. The LORD should be the focus of everything. This is not easy to accomplish and takes practice. Memorizing Bible verses and thinking about them during the day is one way to keep the mind on Jesus. Listening to Christian music radio when in the car or office is another way to keep Jesus present in the believer’s thoughts. Praying with thanksgiving or on behalf of others during the day is a third way to keep the mind on the LORD. Be creative.
Today, some churches gather on Saturday and others on Sunday and often there is debate as to which day is correct. Since the church is no longer under the law, but under a New Covenant, it really doesn’t matter. That being said, the Jewish sabbath started at sundown or the evening on Fridays and went to sundown or the evening on Saturdays. So some denominations treat the sabbath as starting at 6PM on Friday and lasting until 5:59PM on Saturday. As such, they gather for church on Saturdays. The apostolic church met on the first day of the week, which on the Western calendar is Sunday. Hence, most denominations gather on Sundays for church services. God looks at the heart. He does not worry about the day of the week. And as stated above, every day is a sabbath for the believer under the New Covenant. The believer is resting in Jesus. It is a spiritual rest. So the day of the week is not the issue. The willingness of God’s people to gather together and worship is the issue. God is not going to keep people out of Heaven because they went to church on the “wrong” day!
Verse 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
This commandment has a promise. If a person wants to live a nice, long life, they need to honor their parents. What does it mean to honor? It means to glorify and respect. Today, unfortunately, there is rampant disrespect for the older generation. They have been termed “useless eaters” by certain segments of society and they are often abandoned by their families and hidden away in nursing homes to die. Because they can no longer work and provide money for employers, for family and for the state, they are seen as having no value. God put this commandment between one that required work to be suspended for a day (no income potential) and one about killing (euthanasia of the elderly or sick in some parts of the world) for a reason. Money and wealth has become the god of this modern world and killing people that are no longer useful to society is becoming acceptable to many. God values all life. He commands people to rest in order to keep healthy physically and mentally, and He commands people to honor, respect and care for their parents or the elderly. If a person wants a long life, they need to be nice to their parents.
Verse 13 Thou shalt not kill.
The Hebrew word used here for “kill” is “ratsach” and it can mean to murder, slay or kill. There are numerous Hebrew words that are translated as “kill”. Examples of these words are “muwth”, “harag”, “shachat”, and “tabach”, to name a few, and they all occur in the book of Exodus. They are used when discussing the killing of both man and beast. So why is the word “ratsach” used in this commandment instead of one of the other words for “kill”? Well, you decide because this writer doesn’t know, but all the words used in Scripture are from God and they all have significance. That being said, perhaps there is a greater scope for the usage of this particular word. Traditionally it is preached as meaning “thou shalt not murder.” But is that the only application of the commandment? And does it only apply to premeditated murder or to non premeditated murder as well? How about self defense killings? And does it apply to the killing of unborn humans? And what about the killing of people during war? Why is this commandment only four words long? Remember that the number 4 pertains to the Earth. Does this commandment encompass all living things on the Earth? On the surface, this four word commandment seems pretty simple, but it isn’t. So if the four words are taken to mean just what they say, that the killing of man and beast living on the Earth is not to be done, then think about the ramifications of such a commandment. The Earth would be a very peaceful and safe place if no killing occurred.
This writer believes the commandment says what it says and that reading into it because of cultural beliefs or practices and/or financial gain has lead to the breaking of this commandment and to God’s judgement upon nations. For instance, Jesus told soldiers in Luke 3:14, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” Think about these words. How can soldiers do no violence when traditionally their very job is to kill people and to break things? Is the military of each country being used properly, for protection against an aggressor, or is the military being used for financial and political gain by people in power?
Although the word “abortion” is not in the Bible, the following verses show what Jesus thinks about children, born or unborn. Luke 17:2 “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Matthew 18:14 “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:5 “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” Throughout the Bible, God used His people to destroy pagan nations that were sacrificing their babies and children to their pagan gods. When sacrificing to Moloch, the child was thrown alive into a fire. Is the abortion practice today a sacrifice to pagan, Satanic gods? Is it killing? Does it bring God’s judgement upon nations? Is the commandment being broken, or is it a woman’s choice?
Where does the activity or “sport” of hunting and fishing fit into this commandment? Verses such as Deuteronomy 12:15 and 21 and Acts 10:13 speak of killing and eating. Providing for one’s family by killing God’s creatures appears to be acceptable to the LORD. Animal sacrifices were used in the Jewish religious system to atone for sin. However, this writer cannot find any verses that condone the killing of the animals that belong to God just for the entertainment value. Trophy hunting is killing needlessly. Perhaps the meat is eaten, but one only has to look at what has happened to the wildlife in Africa to see the devastation of large animals due to trophy hunting and the sale of aphrodisiacs on the international market. With this practice, only the biggest and best are killed, leading to a decline in the genetic makeup of a species. And the killing of abandoned domestic pets (cats and dogs) in animal shelters (idiotic name) is needless killing of God’s creatures as well. So whether you, the reader, like and respect the critters that God created or have no opinion about killing them, perhaps some thought needs to be given to this commandment and some ideas and practices altered as this difficult subject is settled in each believer’s mind. The New Testament records that if one commandment is broken, they are all broken in God’s view. Think about it.
Verse 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
The Hebrew word used here for “adultery” is “naaph” and it occurs 31 times in Scripture, translated 17 times as “adultery”, 8 times as “adulterer”, 4 times as “adulteress”, and one time as “adulterous”. So the meaning is very consistent and very clear and refers to having an intimate relationship with someone outside of the bounds of marriage. A married man or woman who enters into a sexual relationship with someone other than their spouse is breaking this commandment and sinning. A man and woman who are not married legally but who are engaged in a sexual relationship are view by God as being married even though no culturally approved legal marriage has occurred. Why is this so? Because they have exchanged body fluids and “have become one” in the eyes of the LORD. Then when that relationship falls apart and ends and each person finds a replacement partner, they are committing adultery. This is sin. Modern societies condone multiple sex partners and same sex partners, but God does not, plain and simple. There is no getting around this commandment.
Application: Matthew 5:27-28 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Just because a believer is physically faithful to his/her spouse does not mean that adultery cannot occur. Thinking or fantasizing about having a relationship with another person is also seen as adultery by God. Be careful, believer, and do not let your eyes or your thoughts wander to another person. Be satisfied with the partner the LORD has provided for you and obey this commandment.
Application: Luke 16:18 “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.” This statement by Jesus is rarely preached from the pulpit of churches today, but it says what it says and should not be ignored. According to this and other passages in the Gospel books such as Mark 10:11, divorced individuals commit adultery when they divorce and when they remarry. Yet in most establishment churches, divorce and remarriage are accepted and condoned. God’s teachings on the subject are clear: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
Verse 15 Thou shalt not steal.
The Hebrew word used here for “steal” is “ganab”. Stealing hurts the person who loses the money or items stolen. Stealing to meet a serious need shows a lack of faith in God. He has promised to provide all the needs of believers, so there is never an excuse for a believer to steal anything. This includes the towels from hotels or the pens from the bank. Someone has to pay for the replacement of even the smallest, seemingly insignificant item. Don’t be tempted. If there is a need, ask the LORD and He will provide.
Verse 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
To “bear false witness” means to give lying testimony about a person. This includes the spreading of false rumors. This commandment is not limited to the legal arena or courtroom, but applies to everyday communication or statements made about another person that are not true.
Application: Unfortunately, the church is full of imperfect people, some saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and some pretending to be saved. Often gossip abounds and people are hurt by the words spoken by supposedly Christian people. This should not be allowed. Ephesians 5:11 states, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” If you, the believer, encounter a situation in which information is being shared about a person who is not present and able to defend himself/herself, rebuke gently those engaging in such behavior and remind them of this commandment. To gossip or bear false witness is sin. Bearing false witness is unfruitful and evil. It is from the Devil himself. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44
Verse 17 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.
The Hebrew word for “covet” is “chamad” and it means to desire. Envy is closely related to this commandment as being envious of an other’s possessions, position, or wealth can lead to desiring or coveting them.
Application: We live in a sinful, fallen world where things are often not fair and people are not equal. There will always be the rich and the poor and those in between. The Apostle Paul knew this and wrote in Philippians 4:11, “…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Therein lies the key to prevent coveting: be content. Think about it.
Verse 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
The people were afraid of the power of God being displayed and the normal response when afraid is to retreat. Having a healthy fear of God is a good thing, but that fear is not one that should result in retreating from God’s presence. A healthy fear of God is one of respect and awe. The Hebrew people appeared to have the kind of fear that causes separation, not respect.
Verses 19–21 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Moses encourage the people and tried to relieve their fear. Moses was their example. He drew near to where God was.
Application: Believers are to fear God and not take Him for granted. He is all powerful and He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life. He is to be worshiped as King and Savior. Like Moses, believers need to draw near to God. This can be done through studying His Word and communicating with Him in prayer, by obeying His word and doing what He commands, and by sharing the good news of the Gospel with others.
Application: Too many believers today do what the Hebrew people did when on the mountain. The people did not want to hear from or speak to God. They wanted Moses to do it for them. Often the same situation exists in the modern church . Believers want the pastor to study and explain the Bible to them. They want the pastor to pray for them. They do not want to hear from God through His Word or invest the time in prayer. Think about it.
Verses 22-23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
Idolatry became a way of life for the Hebrew people. Yet God warned against it over and over. A statue of gold or silver could hardly represent the power of God displayed to the people that day on the mountain.
Verse 24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
Why an altar of earth instead of an altar of precious metals and jewels? Because the earthen alter was a reminder of the origins of man. He was made from the elements of dirt. He is nothing special and therefore should not elevate himself in his own eyes. Only God is special and worthy of worship.
Application: As you, the reader, move through the Scripture in this study, notice how many things the establishment churches of today do that are contrary to what God commanded and established. It is amazing how the simplicity of the Word of God has been made to be so complicated.
Verse 25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
Not all altars were appropriate if made out of dirt. They could be washed away in a storm or broken down by animals walking over and around them. A stone altar would have more longevity. But to keep it simple, the stones were to be just piled up and not shaped and fitted together. Why did God consider tooled stones to be polluted? Because they were the creation of sinful man. Natural stones were the creation of God.
Verse 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
Underwear was not the thing in the days of Moses as outer garments were long and flowing. It became an invention much later in time. Therefore, anyone going up a staircase of some type would risk exposing themselves to the people gathered below. God thought of everything when giving these commandments to the Hebrew people. He wanted His people to be holy and pure as He is holy and pure.