The Ten Commandments are as valid today as they were when God gave them to Moses on Mt. Sinai in Egypt 3,500 years ago. As you already know, God never changes!
He is the same "yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8).
God is not restricted by time, only we are. He always was; He has no beginning and has no end; He is eternal.
Contrary to modern day, secular beliefs, these Commandments are not meant only for those in biblical times, but for all who are alive now, and for those who are to come. Jesus said:
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but fulfill". Mt. 5:17
In the following verses in Matthew, up to the 48th verse, Jesus confirms the timeless application of the Ten Laws. Before we begin our study of the Ten Commandments, let’s have a brief glimpse of what transpired just before they were given.
The Hebrews were captive and held in slavery to the Egyptians for about 400 years. They cried out to the Lord for a deliverer and God sent Moses. Pharaoh would not release them so the Lord sent ten plagues upon the Egyptians (Ex. 7-11).
As these plagues were ravaging Egypt, the Hebrews had God’s sovereign protection as they lived in the land of Goshen. Only the land of Goshen was not effected by the first nine plagues. The last plague was the death of all the firstborn.
The Lord gives instructions to Moses as to how the Hebrews were to protect themselves from the angel of death that would strike all the firstborn. The Passover is instituted in Exodus:
Exodus 12: 7, 13 "And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it…..Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."
Hence, the Hebrews put blood on the lintels and doorposts.
By this act, they were proclaiming that they belonged to God. The blood had to come from a male lamb in its first year. It was to be perfect, without blemish.
(This is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The blood of the lamb covered over them just as the blood of Jesus covers over us).
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It was this final act that released them from captivity….just like us. The Hebrews were released into the wilderness. The Lord parted the Red Sea for them and supplied them with "bread from heaven", "manna".
Then the Lord told Moses to let the people know He would speak to him on Mt. Sinai and it is there that He gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The whole story is found in Exodus, chapters 7-20.
Scripture reveals the delivery of the Ten Commandments in the book of Exodus 20:1-17 and in Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
The first four Commandments deal with our relationship to God.
COMMANDMENT #1 – "I am the Lord your God,….you shall have no other gods before Me."
Ex. 20:2, 3; Hosea 13:4
Ex. 20:3. "No gods before Me" – in My sight, in addition to Me or in opposition to Me.
I am sure that none of us worship Buddha or Mohammed or Hindu gods which number over one million, but if we are involved in Astrology, Tarot cards, Ouija Boards, seeking out to Mediums etc.; we are trusting in idols. You might say, "not me", I’m pure, I’ve never done any of those things. But, do you make other things more important than Him; do you place too much importance on T.V, sports, wealth, social status, fame or even our own good works? God won't share His worship.
Deut. 6:14, 15, "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you)…." 2 Kings 17:35, 36; Jer. 25:6, 35:15.
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COMMANDMENT #2 – "You shall not make for yourself a carved image"
Ex. 20:4. Israel was surrounded by peoples who worshipped images called gods. Since no human effort could represent God accurately, He forbade creating any image of Him. This made the Israelites unique. We certainly don’t have idols around the house, but are there people we idolize and put ahead of God? Our spouses, our children, celebrities?
Ex. 20:5. God is jealous of our love,
Ex 34:14 "(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)." Deut. 4:24; Josh. 24:19; Nahum 1:2.
People have tried to worship angels. Angels are only messengers and servants of God. In the book of Revelation, John the apostle tried to bow down to an angel and he was chastised, Rev. 19:10. People tried to worship Moses but Moses himself will accuse them. (Jn. 5:45). There is a two lesson study on angels in Topic 5.
COMMANDMENT #3 – "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain".
Ex. 20:7. His name should not be misused. His name and character are inseparable. His name is Holy. He is so holy that He dwells in unapproachable light.
1 Tim. 6:15, 16 "…He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power, Amen."
Using the Lord’s name loosely was punishable by death. See Lev. 24:10-16.
Lev. 19:12, " You shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord."
- To blaspheme the Lord - address with irreverence; revile; abuse.
- Blasphemy – the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.
- To profane – to treat something sacred with abuse, irreverence or contempt; serving to debase or defile what is holy.
He is the Great "I AM" (Ex. 3:13-15). All that we need to exist in this life is in "I AM". Come to Me with your every need, says the Lord. All that you desire is met in Me! I AM that I AM!
It is a very sad thing to see the Lord’s name used in cursing all the time.
In watching a movie or sitcom, you experience His name being abused over and over again. Just saying, "oh my God", is abusing the holiness of God and using His name loosely and in vain.
Many get into the habit of using His name, Jesus, Jesus Christ or even
God, as an exclamation….. for effect.
1. The Ten Commandments, although enlightening, are not for today.
a. True b. False
2. Putting blood on the lintels and door posts…..
a. Kept the angel of death from their home b. Proclaimed they belonged to the Lord c. Is the beginning of the Passover d. All of the above
3. The first four Commandments deal with…
a. Sin b. Adultery c. Our relationship to God d. Stealing
4. Being involved in Ouija boards, astrology, Tarot cards etc. are a sign that you are….
a. Putting these things in place of God b. Broadening your horizons c. Open minded d. Close minded
5. Which Commandment in the text displays the Scripture that says, “for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”?
a. Commandment 1 b. Commandment 2 c. Commandment 3 d. Commandment 4
6. Which Scripture says, “You shall not go after other gods….”?
a. Ex. 20:2,3 b. Hosea 13:4 c. Deut. 6:14, 15 d. None of the above
7. In Exodus 20, which verse says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”?
a. Verse 4 b. Verse 5 c. Verse 6 d. Verse 7
8. Where in Old Testament Scripture does it tell us that using the Lord’s name loosely was punishable by death?
a. Lev. 19:12-14 b. Lev. 24:10-16 c. Ex. 34:14 d. Ex. 20:22
9. Blasphemy is….
a. The act of insulting or showing contempt for God b. To treat something sacred with abuse c. To treat something sacred with irreverence d. To defile or debase what is holy
10. When Moses asked the Lord what His name was, what was His reply?
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