Exodus 20:1–20:3 At Mt. Sinai, 150 miles from Egypt, Israel was officially declared a people governed by God,
regulated by His will and set apart to glorify Him. The people had escaped from Egypt two months
before (19:1). They were now to spend eleven months in the vicinity of Mt. Sinai (Numbers … Read more
Exodus 20:4–20:6 The Israelites had just come from Egypt, a land of many idols and many gods. Now they were
forbidden from worshiping idols (v. 3) and from making any graven image (v. 4). “Thou shalt not
make unto thee any graven image” (v. 4). The first commandment points out that God … Read more
Exodus 20:7–20:7 The third commandment is “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (v. 7). The
name of God must be honored and not used irreverently or needlessly. God is holy and reverence
must characterize all of our speech in which His name is mentioned. The Israeli … Read more
Exodus 20:8–20:11 The Sabbath was a day set aside for rest and worship. God commanded a Sabbath because human
beings need to spend unhurried time in worship and rest each week. “Remember the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy” (v. 8). The basis for this commandment is the creation when God cre … Read more
Exodus 20:12–20:12 The first four commandments dealt with our duty to God and now the final six show our proper
relationship with man. All of the commandments include a negative except the fourth and the fifth
(this one). So don’t let anyone convince you that we should never speak out on negatives. … Read more
Exodus 20:13–20:13 “Thou shalt not kill” (v. 13). In this sixth commandment God emphasizes the sacredness of human
life and His own sovereignty over it. He alone has the right to say when it shall end. This means
that a person is not to take his own life as well as to murder someone else. … Read more
Exodus 20:14–20:14 The marriage relationship is the highest and most sacred of human relations. It takes priority over
every other human obligation. This relationship between a husband and wife was instituted in the
garden of Eden - “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall … Read more
Exodus 20:15–20:15 The seventh commandment is “Thou shalt not steal” (v. 15). Stealing is the illegal taking of another
person’s property without that person freely-giving consent. Parents are often woefully lax in their
condemnation and punishment of stealing. The child may begin by just … Read more
Exodus 20:16–20:16 We should be honest in our private dealings as well as in our public statements. In either situation
we “bear false witness” by leaving something out of a story, telling a half truth or twisting the facts.
Probably there is not one of these Ten Commandments more often a … Read more
Exodus 20:17–20:17 To covet is to wish to have the possessions of others. “Thou shalt not covet” (v. 17). This
commandment differs from the other nine in that while they prohibit the act this one condemns
the very desire to act. It reveals to us the hidden depths of our sinful nature. It … Read more
Exodus 19:1–19:13 Three months after the Exodus from Egypt the children of Israel entered the Desert of Sinai and
camped near Mount Sinai (v. 1). We do not know the exact location of Mount Sinai but it is thought
to be Jebel Musa in the Southern part of what is known today as the Sinai Penin … Read more
Exodus 19:14–19:25 Moses told the people to wash their clothes and make
themselves acceptable to worship God in three days (vv. 14-
15). While the people waited at the foot of the mountain a
thick cloud covered it and there came a tremendous sound of
the trumpet from heaven accompanied by thunder and … Read more
Exodus 18:1–18:12 Moses had left his family with his father-in-law Jethro, who
was the priest of Midian when he returned to Egypt. Now they
all joined Moses in the wilderness (vv. 1-5). Jethro apparently
had followed the happenings of his son-in-law, with great
interest and when the Israelites ca … Read more
Exodus 18:13–18:27 The people stood around Moses from morning till evening waiting for him to judge them (v. 13). When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing he questioned why he was doing all the work and letting all the other people stand around and watch (v. 14). Moses answered … Read more
Recent commentaries
Only Worship The True And Living God
Exodus 20:1–20:3
At Mt. Sinai, 150 miles from Egypt, Israel was officially declared a people governed by God, regulated by His will and set apart to glorify Him. The people had escaped from Egypt two months before (19:1). They were now to spend eleven months in the vicinity of Mt. Sinai (Numbers … Read more
Don’t Worship Idols
Exodus 20:4–20:6
The Israelites had just come from Egypt, a land of many idols and many gods. Now they were forbidden from worshiping idols (v. 3) and from making any graven image (v. 4). “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (v. 4). The first commandment points out that God … Read more
God’s Word Not to be used Irreverently
Exodus 20:7–20:7
The third commandment is “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (v. 7). The name of God must be honored and not used irreverently or needlessly. God is holy and reverence must characterize all of our speech in which His name is mentioned. The Israeli … Read more
Sabbath Day Set Aside For Rest
Exodus 20:8–20:11
The Sabbath was a day set aside for rest and worship. God commanded a Sabbath because human beings need to spend unhurried time in worship and rest each week. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (v. 8). The basis for this commandment is the creation when God cre … Read more
Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother
Exodus 20:12–20:12
The first four commandments dealt with our duty to God and now the final six show our proper relationship with man. All of the commandments include a negative except the fourth and the fifth (this one). So don’t let anyone convince you that we should never speak out on negatives. … Read more
You Shall Not Murder
Exodus 20:13–20:13
“Thou shalt not kill” (v. 13). In this sixth commandment God emphasizes the sacredness of human life and His own sovereignty over it. He alone has the right to say when it shall end. This means that a person is not to take his own life as well as to murder someone else. … Read more
You Are Not to Commit Adultery
Exodus 20:14–20:14
The marriage relationship is the highest and most sacred of human relations. It takes priority over every other human obligation. This relationship between a husband and wife was instituted in the garden of Eden - “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall … Read more
You Are Not to Steal
Exodus 20:15–20:15
The seventh commandment is “Thou shalt not steal” (v. 15). Stealing is the illegal taking of another person’s property without that person freely-giving consent. Parents are often woefully lax in their condemnation and punishment of stealing. The child may begin by just … Read more
We Are Not to Bear False Witness Against Anyone
Exodus 20:16–20:16
We should be honest in our private dealings as well as in our public statements. In either situation we “bear false witness” by leaving something out of a story, telling a half truth or twisting the facts. Probably there is not one of these Ten Commandments more often a … Read more
You Are Not to Covet
Exodus 20:17–20:17
To covet is to wish to have the possessions of others. “Thou shalt not covet” (v. 17). This commandment differs from the other nine in that while they prohibit the act this one condemns the very desire to act. It reveals to us the hidden depths of our sinful nature. It … Read more
Israel at Mt Sinai
Exodus 19:1–19:13
Three months after the Exodus from Egypt the children of Israel entered the Desert of Sinai and camped near Mount Sinai (v. 1). We do not know the exact location of Mount Sinai but it is thought to be Jebel Musa in the Southern part of what is known today as the Sinai Penin … Read more
The Lord Visits Sinai
Exodus 19:14–19:25
Moses told the people to wash their clothes and make themselves acceptable to worship God in three days (vv. 14- 15). While the people waited at the foot of the mountain a thick cloud covered it and there came a tremendous sound of the trumpet from heaven accompanied by thunder and … Read more
Jethro Visits Moses
Exodus 18:1–18:12
Moses had left his family with his father-in-law Jethro, who was the priest of Midian when he returned to Egypt. Now they all joined Moses in the wilderness (vv. 1-5). Jethro apparently had followed the happenings of his son-in-law, with great interest and when the Israelites ca … Read more
Jethro Counsels Moses
Exodus 18:13–18:27
The people stood around Moses from morning till evening waiting for him to judge them (v. 13). When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing he questioned why he was doing all the work and letting all the other people stand around and watch (v. 14). Moses answered … Read more