Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments and the Fear of God

Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments and the Fear of God

Chapter With Audio

The Ten Commandments

20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Laws About Altars

22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’

Chapter Analysis

Exodus 20: God Gave the Ten Commandments

Overview

Exodus 20 records the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. After delivering Israel from Egypt, God established the moral foundation of His covenant with the nation. The commandments defined Israel's relationship with God and with one another.

The first four commandments govern man's relationship with God, while the remaining six govern relationships with other people. After hearing God's voice and witnessing His awesome presence, the people were terrified and asked Moses to speak to them instead of God.

The chapter concludes with instructions concerning worship and the construction of altars, emphasizing that God is to be worshiped according to His own commands.

I. Verses 1–2: God Declared His Authority

God Himself spoke these words to Israel.

He began by reminding the people of His grace:

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."

Before giving His commandments, God reminded Israel that He had already redeemed them.

Their obedience was to be a response to His saving grace, not a means of earning His favor.

II. Verses 3–17: God Gave the Ten Commandments

The First Commandment

Verse 3: Worship God Alone

Israel was to have no other gods before the Lord.

God alone deserves worship and absolute loyalty.

The Second Commandment

Verses 4–6: Do Not Worship Idols

The Israelites were forbidden to make idols or worship created things.

God is jealous for His people because He alone is worthy of worship.

The Third Commandment

Verse 7: Honor God's Name

God's name was not to be used carelessly or falsely.

His holy name deserves reverence and honor.

The Fourth Commandment

Verses 8–11: Remember the Sabbath

The Sabbath was to be kept holy.

Israel was to work six days and rest on the seventh, following God's pattern established at creation.

The Sabbath served as a covenant sign between God and Israel.

The Fifth Commandment

Verse 12: Honor Father and Mother

Children were commanded to honor their parents.

This command carried the promise of long life in the land God would give them.

The Sixth Commandment

Verse 13: Do Not Murder

Human life is sacred because mankind is created in God's image.

Murder was strictly forbidden.

The Seventh Commandment

Verse 14: Do Not Commit Adultery

Marriage was to be honored and protected.

Faithfulness reflected God's covenant faithfulness.

The Eighth Commandment

Verse 15: Do Not Steal

God's people were to respect the property and possessions of others.

The Ninth Commandment

Verse 16: Do Not Bear False Witness

Truthfulness was essential for justice and righteous relationships.

False testimony was forbidden.

The Tenth Commandment

Verse 17: Do Not Covet

God prohibited sinful desires for another person's possessions, family, or property.

Unlike the previous commandments, this command addressed the attitudes of the heart as well as outward actions.

III. Verses 18–21: The People Feared God's Presence

The people witnessed:

  • Thunder.
  • Lightning.
  • The sound of the trumpet.
  • Smoke upon the mountain.

Filled with fear, they stood at a distance.

They asked Moses:

"You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die."

Moses explained that God had appeared to test them so that the fear of the Lord would remain before them and keep them from sinning.

The people remained at a distance while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

IV. Verses 22–26: Instructions for Proper Worship

God instructed Israel not to make idols of silver or gold.

He commanded them to build simple altars of earth or uncut stone.

If tools were used to shape the stones, the altar would become defiled.

The altar was not to have steps so that human nakedness would not be exposed.

These instructions emphasized that true worship must be offered according to God's commands rather than human ideas.

Major Lessons in Exodus 20

God's Grace Comes Before God's Commands

God first reminded Israel that He had redeemed them from Egypt before giving the Law. Obedience flowed from a relationship already established by His grace.

God Alone Is Worthy of Worship

The first commandments emphasize exclusive devotion to the Lord, who alone is the true God.

God's Law Governs Both Actions and Attitudes

The tenth commandment demonstrates that God judges not only outward behavior but also the desires of the heart.

The Fear of the Lord Leads to Holiness

God's awesome presence reminded Israel that reverence for Him helps keep His people from sin.

God Determines How He Is Worshiped

The instructions concerning the altar teach that worship must be based upon God's revelation rather than human preference.

Overall Summary

Exodus 20 records the giving of the Ten Commandments, the moral foundation of God's covenant with Israel. After reminding the nation of His gracious redemption from Egypt, God commanded them to love Him exclusively and to live righteously toward one another. The people trembled before God's holy presence and asked Moses to mediate between them and the Lord. The chapter concludes with instructions for proper worship, emphasizing that the holy God who redeemed His people must also be worshiped according to His will.