{"id":19793,"date":"2022-01-14T22:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-01-15T05:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/exodus-19_14-25-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-01-07T19:14:33","modified_gmt":"2022-01-08T02:14:33","slug":"exodus-20_1-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/exodus-20_1-17\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ten Commandments and Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exodus 20:1-17 Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Exodus 20:1-17.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Exodus 20:1-2 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0And God spoke all these words:
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“I am the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 1:\u00a0\u00a0For the first time the Israelites are hear God\u2019s voice directly.\u00a0\u00a0God\u2019s first words to the Israelites are a declaration of who He is — \u201cI am the LORD your God\u201d \u2013 and what He has done \u201cwho brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Before God came to the Israelites as a lawgiver, God first came to the Israelites as a lifegiver, a Saviour.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Similarly,\u00a0when it comes to all of humanity, God\u2019s first item of business is to save us and give us life.\u00a0\u00a0Once He has done that, His second item of business is to teach us how to live now that we are saved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exodus 20:3-5a (NIV)<\/em>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall have no other gods before me.
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God, am a jealous God\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 3-5a:\u00a0\u00a0God then begins to announce what would become known as the Ten Commandments, although the actual term \u201ccommandment\u201d never appears in the verses describing the Ten Commandments.\u00a0\u00a0Instead, Moses simply says that these are the \u201cwords\u201d God spoke (v1; see also Exodus 34:28).\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s still fine to call them the Ten Commandments in that it shows the importance of these commands that God was giving.\u00a0\u00a0These Ten Commandments would form the basis for all the other laws and regulations that God would give to the Israelites through Moses, and have a special significance that the laws and regulations which would come after do not.\u00a0\u00a0The other laws and regulations which would come after are in many ways derived from and based on these Ten Commandments.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s look at the Ten Commandments now.<\/p>\n

The first commandment is to have no other gods before the LORD.\u00a0\u00a0In other words,\u00a0the LORD deserves first and centre place in our lives<\/strong>, and we are to worship the LORD alone.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The second commandment, which is very much related to the first, is to not make an idol out of anything or anyone, for that would be idolatry.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0The LORD gives a reason for this command: \u201cI, the LORD your God, am a jealous God\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0But isn\u2019t jealousy a sin?\u00a0\u00a0Not when that jealousy is rightly placed.\u00a0\u00a0God was justified to command the Israelites to worship Him alone for, as He had proven over and over to them, He alone is God and He alone is worthy of worship.\u00a0\u00a0As some would put it,\u00a0it\u2019s not so much that God is jealous\u00a0of\u00a0<\/em>other gods as He is jealous\u00a0for\u00a0<\/em>our love<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Exodus 20:5a-6 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n5<\/sup>\u2026punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 5b-6:\u00a0\u00a0What do these verses mean?\u00a0\u00a0I believe the best interpretation is this:\u00a0When we persist in worshiping something other than the LORD, the generations after us will feel the effects of our idolatry, but when we choose to worship the LORD, the benefits extend much longer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exodus 20:7 (NIV)<\/em>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall not misuse the name of the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God, for the\u00a0LORD\u00a0will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 7:\u00a0\u00a0The third commandment is not to misuse the LORD\u2019s name.\u00a0\u00a0Since God has exalted above all things His name and His word (Psalm 138:2),\u00a0since God\u2019s name is holy and precious, to misuse God\u2019s name is a sin<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s why you shouldn\u2019t use the name of God or Jesus lightly.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t say, \u201cOh my God\u201d unless you\u2019re actually praying.\u00a0\u00a0Treat God\u2019s name with reverence.<\/p>\n

Exodus 20:8-11 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0For in six days the\u00a0LORD\u00a0made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the\u00a0LORD\u00a0blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 8-11:\u00a0\u00a0The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy; that is, to set aside of day to rest from one\u2019s work and to do so \u201cto the LORD your God\u201d (i.e. as our worship to God).\u00a0\u00a0God intended that rest and worship would go hand in hand.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s interesting that God put remembering the Sabbath right up there with \u201cdo not murder\u201d, \u201cdo not commit adultery\u201d and \u201cdo not worship idols\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Why?\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s because these ten commandments are not arbitrary or just a way to feed God\u2019s ego.\u00a0\u00a0Rather, like a parent protecting their child,\u00a0God give us His commandments are for our good, not to kill our happiness but to protect our lives, train our maturity and maximize our joy.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Having a regular time to rest from your work is part of that.\u00a0\u00a0The LORD takes this command so seriously that in the Genesis creation account He modeled this command by resting from His work on the seventh day (v11).\u00a0\u00a0Do you have a weekly Sabbath day to rest?\u00a0\u00a0You need to schedule regular rest to be at your best.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exodus 20:12 (NIV)<\/em>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God is giving you.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 12:\u00a0\u00a0The fifth commandment is to honour your father and your mother.\u00a0\u00a0This command is unique in that, as Paul says, it comes with a promise: \u201cthat you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Does this mean that if you die young that you did not honour your father and mother?\u00a0\u00a0No.\u00a0\u00a0In some cases mature Christians die young and immature Christians and unbelievers live much longer.\u00a0\u00a0For example, the first Adam died at 930 years, according to Genesis, whereas Jesus, who is also called the last Adam, died at about 33 years of age.\u00a0\u00a0Yet no one would say that Adam honoured his Heavenly Father more than Jesus did.\u00a0\u00a0So\u00a0to \u201clive long\u201d refers more to the quality of your life on earth than the length of your days on earth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Exodus 20:13-14 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall not murder.
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall not commit adultery.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 13-14:\u00a0\u00a0When it comes to the sixth commandment not to murder, it is important to keep in mind Jesus\u2019 words in Matthew 5:21-26.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus says that rage, uncontrolled anger and unforgiveness can separate us from God as much as actually murdering someone.<\/p>\n

When considering the seventh commandment not to commit adultery (not to have sex with someone you\u2019re not married to), keep in mind Jesus\u2019 words in Matthew 5:27-30.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus says that a lustful thought can separate us from God as much as actually committing adultery.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how high God\u2019s moral standards are.<\/p>\n

Exodus 20:15-17 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall not steal.
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 15-17:\u00a0\u00a0Each of these commands could be a sermon by itself.\u00a0\u00a0For now, let it suffice to say that God commands us not to steal (the eighth commandment), not to give false testimony against a neighbour (the ninth commandment) and not to covet what belongs to others (the tenth commandment).\u00a0\u00a0When we do any of these things, we sin against God and against others.<\/p>\n

The reality is that none of us has obeyed the ten commandments fully.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0All of us have fallen short of God\u2019s standards, and if God\u2019s Word is true and the consequence of our sin is separation from God, we all need a Saviour.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus came and fulfilled all of God\u2019s ten commandments fully on our behalf and then Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Praise God for not just giving us the commandments we need to live, but the Saviour we need to overcome our failure and even death itself.<\/p>\n

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your commandments, which are for our good.\u00a0\u00a0Please help me to obey them.\u00a0\u00a0Thank You even more for sending a Saviour, Jesus Christ, to save us when we had failed to obey Your commands.\u00a0\u00a0You are both our law giver (v3-17) and our life giver (v1-2).\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Exodus 20:1-17.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Exodus 20:1-2 (NIV)
\n1\u00a0\u00a0And God spoke all these words:
\n2\u00a0\u00a0“I am the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.<\/p>\n

On verse 1:\u00a0\u00a0For the first time the Israelites are hear God\u2019s voice directly.\u00a0\u00a0God\u2019s first words to the Israelites are a declaration of who He is — \u201cI am the LORD your God\u201d \u2013 and what He has done \u201cwho brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Before God came to the Israelites as a lawgiver, God first came to the Israelites as a lifegiver, a Saviour.\u00a0\u00a0Similarly,\u00a0when it comes to all of humanity, God\u2019s first item of business is to save us and give us life.\u00a0\u00a0Once He has done that, His second item of business is to teach us how to live now that we are saved.<\/p>\n

Exodus 20:3-5a (NIV)
\n3\u00a0\u00a0“You shall have no other gods before me.
\n4\u00a0\u00a0“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
\n5\u00a0\u00a0You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God, am a jealous God\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19796,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19793"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19794,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19793\/revisions\/19794"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}