Exodus 20 - The chapter so important that God used all of Chapter 19 to focus Israel’s attention! What’s so special about the Ten Commandments?

• God wrote them in stone
• They summarize every subject in life
• Four commandments are God-ward
• Six commandments are man-ward

Jesus summarized them in Mark 12:30-31, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

God knew that if we were right with Him, we would be right with people. Usually if there is a “people” problem in your life, it is an indicator that there is a “God” problem, too. We must be right God-ward before we can be right man-ward.

FALLACIES ABOUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. The Law always refers to the Ten Commandments.

It does not-It sometimes refers to all of the Penteteuch.

2. We are saved by keeping the Ten Commandments.

No one ever has or ever could keep them. Most people cannot name all ten, much less keep them!

WHY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” The law is to show us how sinful we are and in need of a Saviour.

1ST COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Our tendency is not only to turn away from God, but also to have other gods besides Him! This is called polytheism. God is a jealous God. Just as a husband is jealous toward his wife, God (our bridegroom) is jealous towards us (His bride), and rightfully so. Anything or anyone that comes before God is our god. Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

2ND COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:4-5, “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: 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;”

God wants whole hearted allegiance. He wants us to live and serve by faith . However, man tends to serve only what he can see.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6, “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Everyone has a god:

• Pride makes a god of self
• Covetousness makes a god of money
• Drugs, sex, music, rock groups, celebrities, pleasure, and the Pope are other gods today.

3RD COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:7, “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.”

Vain means “lightly, without thinking, flippantly, or deceitfully.” God’s name in Hebrew was written hwhy. It was mentioned once a year, on the Day of Atonement, by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies. The model prayer says: “hollowed (holy) be thy name.” Leviticus 24:14-16, “Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.” What a penalty! Even phrases such as “Holy (Ghost) Cow!” “O my God!” and “Gee(sus)!” use God’s name in vain.

Cursing

Matthew 5:37, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

Matthew 12:34, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Matthew 12:36-37, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

1 Corinthians 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Colossians 3:8, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

James 3:10, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

We take God’s name in vain when we take the name Christian but deny Him our actions.

4TH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:8, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

This command was covered in detail in Step 40.

5TH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:12, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

This verse is the connection between God and man. Not only are the commandments inspired, but also their order! God has this one listed here because it is not far from the first four. Parents are God’s shadow on their children. When people are wrong with God, they will be wrong with their parents. When wrong with parents, they will be wrong with others.

What does honor mean? It means to give love, affection, gratitude, and respect. God appoints parents. D.L. Moody said “...no man or woman who dishonors father and mother ever prospers!”

Notice other Scriptures:

Exodus 21:15,17, “And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”

1 Kings 2:19, “Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.”

Proverbs 1:8-9, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”

Proverbs 15:5, “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.”

Proverbs 30:11, 17, “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.”

Ephesians 6:1-3, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Colossians 3:20, “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

Judgment

Jacob lied to his father and had much heartache. Samson dishonored his parents by being disrespectful and selfish, and died at the hands of his enemies. Absolom was rebellious toward his dad and died an early death. The prodigal son took a long journey after his attitude toward his dad went sour and ended up eating with the pigs.

The Bible says that in the last days there would be many problems with children. 2 Timothy 3:1-2, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

Note To Parents

Teach your children to honor you. Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Colossians 3:21, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Act honorably. You are rearing future mates for someone. Train them how be compatible with people and have a servant’s heart.

How To Honor Parents

• If still under their roof, obey them immediately.
• If out on your own, weigh heavily their opinions.
• Take care of them in later years. Jesus took care of Mary before He died.
• Praise them.

6TH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.”

THIS DOES NOT MEAN:

Killing of animals:

God commanded animals to be sacrificed. God said animals should be used for food.

Burglars:

Exodus 22:2, “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.”

Capital Punishment:

Romans 13:3, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”

Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

War:

Nothing is wrong with fighting the enemy on foreign soil. God ordered Israel to fight. If they did not defeat the enemy, Israel would have been captured and their hearts turned to the enemy’s gods. It ultimately would have doomed millions to hell.

GOD FORBIDS THE INTENTIONAL TAKING OF LIFE

Murder:

This refers to premeditated murder due to hate.

Suicide:

Whether shooting, poisoning, gassing, or hanging one’s self, suicide is wrong. Demosthenes, Socrates, Cato, Mitherodates, Brutus, Ahithophel, Abimelech, Saul, Samson, and Judas all committed suicide. Surveys show that when there is a decline in religious teachings and belief in the hereafter, suicides go up. There are also more suicides when the emphasis is placed on material things.

Abortion:

Jesus said to “Suffer the little children (Greek: braphos) to come unto me.” Braphos means children born and unborn. John the Baptist “leaped with joy” (a human emotion) inside Elizabeth! Luke 1:41, “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:”

In God’s eyes, a human life begins even before conception. Notice:

Jeremiah 1:4-5, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Psalms 139:13-14, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

Luke 1:15, “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.”

Respect for human life is gone. Today’s philosophy says: If it’s convenient, it’s all right. We are told abortion will curb child abuse. Isn’t it ironic to say “kill the child so he won’t later chance being abused”?

WHO IS GUILTY OF MURDER?

• The dope pusher, who ultimately helps someone die early.
• The bartender that serves drinks for people who will be killed or will kill another person on the highway.
• The rebellious teenager who sends his mother to an early grave.
• The owner of an animal that kills people due to lack of safety precautions.
• The person involved in the liquor and tobacco industry.

WHERE DOES IT BEGIN?

It starts in the heart:

Matthew 5:21-22, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

Mark 7:21-22, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:”

1 John 3:15, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

Before he ever killed Abel, Cain had hate in his heart. “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath” says the Scripture. Never go to bed mad at anyone.

7TH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:14, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

This includes all sex outside of marriage: rape, prostitution, sodomy, incest, premarital, and extramarital.

Proverbs 5:3-6, “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.”

Proverbs 7:6-23, “For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

You reap what you sow. Al Capone, the Chicago gangster who operated over 2.000 houses of prostitution, died of venereal disease. Samson and Absolom had very low morals, and both died young.

When Jesus saves people, He gives them strength to control natural desires. John 8:10-11 says, “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Consequences of Immorality

• Robs us of the peace of God
• Brings guilt
• Stops prayers. Psalms 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
• Damages marriages. A certain marriage counselor revealed that out of 1,038 problem marriages he has counseled, every person had been immoral before marriage.
• Reduces future usefulness
• Reaps its tendencies in the children

Notice the difference between lust and genuine love:

The grass is never greener on the other side of the fence.

What To Do?

Dress modestly.

Keep your mind clean by God’s Word. Psalms 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Guard what you see or read. Psalms 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

8TH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:15, “Thou shalt not steal.”

1 Timothy 6:9-10, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Leviticus 6:1-5, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.”

Leviticus 19:13, “Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.”

Leviticus 19:35-36, “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.”

Proverbs 1:13-15, “We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:”

Jeremiah 22:13, “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;”

Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”

John 12:6, “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

Ephesians 4:28, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

1 Thessalonians 4:6, “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”

Is there anything you have borrowed and not returned? Is there anything you have stolen and not made restitution for? Are you tithing? Malachi 3 says a Christian is stealing if he is not tithing and giving offerings.

9TH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:16, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Romans 1:25, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

1 Timothy 1:10, “For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”

1 Timothy 4:2, “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

2 Timothy 3:3, “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,”

Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Revelation 22:15, “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

The opposite of lying is sincerity. The word sincere comes from the term meaning “nothing concealed” or “without wax.” In ancient Rome, some merchants would take inferior wood, fill the cracks with wax, and sell it as more expensive wood. William Penn said: “Right is right even if everyone is against it-wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it!”

Origins of Lies

John 8:44, “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.”

Nature of Lies

Psalms 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Lying does not have to be learned. It comes naturally. An unsaved person lies because it is his nature. Someone said that the man of courage is never afraid of truth. Lying is a sign of weakness.

Definiations of Lying

• Slander-slanting the truth with an intent to hurt.
• Making business promises that cannot possibly be kept.
• Exaggerating
• Singing a hymn that you do not mean.
• Misquoting people.

There are no white, black, or gray lies. All are wrong

People Who Lie

• Salesmen who overrate their product.
• Doctors who lie to their patients about death possibilities.
• Parents who promise to spank their child and never do.
• Teachers who teach evolution as fact, and pastors who teach false doctrine.
• A healthy employee who calls in sick.
• Wives, employees, and children who lie for their leader.
• People who make promises they do not intend to keep or do not follow through with. Many of these promises are made to God in the hospital, at a funeral, at the wedding alter, or on the death bed.

Some people lie to make themselves look better. They think people will not like them as they are.

Honesty is not the best policy, it is the only policy. Someone said, “If you tell the truth all the time, you never have to remember what you said.” How true!

People in the Bible Who Lied

• Gehazi lied to Elisha
• Samson lied to Delilah
• Isaac lied about Rebekah
• Jacob lied to his father
• Peter lied about knowing Jesus
• Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter

These people were judged for their sin. Some of their lying tendencies were passed down to their children and grandchildren.

Repercussions of Lying

Lying is a “ditch” sin. It is a hard habit to break and eventually becomes a life-style. It is said that years ago in the country of Siam convicted liars had their mouths sewn shut.

Because of the lie of the soldiers at Jesus’ empty tomb, an entire race of Jews have been without the gospel. What damage lying can do!

10TH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:17, “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 word covet means “to stretch or reach after” or “to be greedy of gain.” It is wanting something that is not yours; the opposite of being content. Things rule lives. I Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Coveting is unseen at first because it deals with desires. Desire is an action in an egg (soon to be hatched). Someone said a covetous person is a thief in a shell. People can covet anything-land, homes, security, clothes, reputation, or popularity. Ephesians 5:5, “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” An idolater or covetous person worships money and what it can buy. Gamblers are also guilty of the sin of coveting.

Luke 16:14, “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.” Jesus knew the Pharisees (unsaved religious leaders) were covetous. False prophets are covetous people. II Peter 2:3, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” This explains the extravagance in the life of so many TV evangelists and preachers.

The word lucre (money) is mentioned five times in the New Testament. It is usually called “filthy.”

Who Was Covetous?

• Eve coveted the fruit and plunged the human race into sin.
• Achan coveted a Babylonian garment and lost his life.
• Gehazi became a leper because of covetousness.
• Ahab allowed Naboth to be murdered over a vineyard.
• Lot moved to Sodom because he coveted.
• David coveted Bathsheba and committed adultery with her.
• Judas betrayed Jesus because of covetousness.
• Ananias and Sapphira died in church because they coveted.

Consequences

Besides leading to stealing, covetousness chokes our listening to preaching and Bible reading. Mark 4:18-19 says: “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” There are few wealthy Christians dedicated in their Christian life. Greed gets to them and soon they put their security in things instead of God. There are only three wealthy Christians mentioned in Scripture: Job, Abraham, and Joseph of Arimathea.

Psalms 10:3, “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.”

Proverbs 28:16, “The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10-13, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.”

1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Curing Covetousness

• Confess it as sin
• Begin tithing
• Be a giver (Proverbs 21:26)
• Stay away from covetousness people (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)

Scripture verses are from the King James Holy Bible.
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