Tag Archives: EXODUS

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, NUMBERS

HOW MANY ISRAELITES WHO LEFT EGYPTIAN BONDAGE ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND? — BOB PRICHARD

After being freed from Egyptian bondage, the Israelites made their way to Canaan, the promised land. When they arrived at the border of Canaan, Moses chose twelve men (one from each tribe) to go and spy out the land. After forty days of searching the land, Caleb reported, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it,” but the report of the majority was an “evil report.”  They said, “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we” (Numbers 13:30-31). Only one other spy, Joshua, stood with Caleb against the other ten spies. Unfortunately, the people chose to accept the majority report, and prepared to stone Joshua and Caleb.

God’s anger was kindled against the people because of their faithless decision. He told Moses to tell his murmuring people, “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 14:29-30).

God’s condemnation of their unbelief meant that they had to spend forty extra years wandering in the wilderness. During that time, “all that were numbered … from twenty years old and upward” died in the wilderness. The only exceptions among those who were “numbered” were Joshua and Caleb. It is often thought that only two (Joshua and Caleb) of all the thousands who left Egypt were able to enter the promised land. The group that was condemned to die during the wilderness wandering, however, was those who had been numbered. This would not include the entire population, but was limited to those fighting men who had been numbered (counted for battle). God had told Moses, “Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies” (Numbers 1:2-3). This did not include women or the entire tribe of Levi, who were not fighting men or spies.

When the Israelites arrived again at the promised land forty years later, under the leadership of Joshua, Joshua had to circumcise all of the males, because “All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt” (Joshua 5:4). Numbers 34:17 indicates that not all of the priests and Levites would die during the forty years of wandering, because God told Moses that the high priest Eleazar, the son of Aaron, would join Joshua in dividing the conquered land. Later, after Israel had captured Canaan, “they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun” (Joshua 17:4) to receive their portions of the promised land. Thus Israelites who left Egypt, and were allowed to enter the promised land included Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar, and an unknown number of women and Levites.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS, OLD TESTAMENT

WHAT DOES THE TENTH COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

The tenth commandment deals with an “internal” sin, one that may be known only to God and the sinner. It warns against coveting: “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” (Exodus 20:17). Coveting is an evil desire that leads to other sins. James wrote, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). Death is the ultimate result of coveting. Not every desire is sinful. The commandment gives a summary of basic categories of possessions, and condemns the sinful lusting for that which belongs to others.

The sin of coveting has long plagued mankind. The sin of Adam and Eve was not just in the taking of the forbidden fruit, but their desire to “be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4). After their great victory at Jericho, God’s people were defeated at Ai, because of the covetousness of Achan who saw among the spoils of Jericho an expensive garment, silver and gold, which he coveted. He took them, and brought death upon the Israelites and his own family.

Many have fallen when they coveted. Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard, and lost his life. David coveted Uriah the Hittite’s wife, Bathsheba, and brought tremendous pain on himself, his family, and his kingdom. Paul spoke of the seriousness of covetousness: “What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence [covetous desires]. For without the law sin was dead” (Romans 7:8).

Covetousness, being a secret sin, is betrayed by actions. The life of the tax collector Zacchaeus betrayed his misplaced priorities, put right by his contact with Christ. Many show the hold covetousness has on them by where they place their treasure. Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Many times a covetous heart is revealed by a conversation that speaks only of money and materialism. Christians who cannot get over their worries may betray an attitude of covetousness, because the kingdom of God is not their first priority. Perhaps even worse, the attitude that “the end justifies the means” betrays a heart of covetousness. No doubt Demas tried to rationalize his sinful behavior. Paul lamented, “Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).

Paul warns: no covetous man “hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” Ephesians 5:5). Jesus focused on the heart, “for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19). Avoiding covetousness means trusting God and relying on His grace. 

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS

WHAT DOES THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

The eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15), is unusual among the Ten Commandments, in that almost everyone agrees that it should be followed. It is still violated very often, as society make allowances for those who want to “cut corners,” not realizing it is condoning stealing. Peter tells the Christian, “Let none of you suffer us a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15). Who wants to be known as a thief? 

The commandment deals with “things.” God has given us many blessings, including the right to have and enjoy things. Prohibiting thievery stresses this blessing. The early church experimented with the common holding of all things among the believers, as each “sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, us every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45). The normal situation, however, has been for individuals to possess things. 

There is nothing wrong with having possessions, as long as the possessor understands that everything comes from God and we are merely stewards. Jesus often spoke of the need for us to be good stewards. “And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath” (Luke 12:42-44).

Stealing is common today. Taking the property of others without just compensation, although sometimes legal, is stealing. The misuse and squandering of things, even if acquired honestly is bad stewardship, and thus stealing. Many believe that stealing by “creative bookkeeping,” false advertising, or by stealing through the computer is not really stealing, because “nobody gets hurt,” just the big corporation or government. These things are a clear violation of the intent of the eighth commandment, however. Even if no individual is harmed directly, it is still wrong. Even the frivolous wasting of resources or the miserly holding of resources, such as by Scrooge in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, fits the definition of stealing. 

The Christian who considers stealing because of the pressures of life lacks faith. Jesus taught that we should trust God to provide as we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Christians are tempted to steal sometimes because they are self-centered, rather than being Christ-centered. The very essence of sin is to put our own desires above that of all others. Either Christ or self will rule the heart. If it is self, selfishness will follow. Another temptation to stealing comes from the natural laziness that so many have within them. Man too often wants the easy way out, and stealing offers the lure of gain without work. God expects us, however, to pray, work hard, and trust Him to provide. Jesus pleads for honesty. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Thinking of others will help us pursue the virtue of generosity, and avoid the sin of stealing.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS

WHAT DOES THE SEVENTH COMMAND MEAN TO CHRISTIANS?  — BOB PRICHARD

The message of the seventh commandment is one that modern man seems to have outgrown. The command, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), seems outdated in our sophisticated times. The idea of monogamous marriage seems stifling to many in an era of sexual freedom. Few realize, however, that this command opens the door to true sexual freedom and expression, and is liberating, rather than burdensome. 

The focus of scripture is not on preventing adultery as much as it is in developing fulfilling marriage. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Marriage involves a commitment, both emotionally and physically, and when that commitment is made, the two so joined must remain committed. The seventh commandment also limits sexual intercourse to marriage, and thus forbids it to those who are unmarried. It is strictly a privilege of husband and wife. Sex is not wrong. It is God’s gift. He limits it, however, to the marriage relationship. When God’s gift is misused, calamity results. 

In the Old Testament era, some practiced polygamy. Although sometimes done for humanitarian reasons, such as the care of a widow, or of a brother’s wife, many such as Abraham, David, and Solomon reaped bitter fruit from the practice. Too many today practice “serial polygamy” by taking one mate after another, without considering the consequences. “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. … Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:13b, 18-20). 

Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees, reminding them that adultery is a sin committed with the mind as well as the body. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Jesus considered fornication, or adultery, so serious that it is the one cause for divorce (Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-19). 

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and His ministry included offering forgiveness to those involved in sexual sin, such as the adulterous woman brought before Him. He showed her grace. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). He balanced forgiveness with repentance and a desire to end sin. 

Fidelity in the marriage relationship is important, because it reflects the relationship that God wants to maintain with His people. The prophets equated the fall into idolatry with spiritual adultery. When man lusts after some of the gods of today, such as popularity, power, and sex, he commits spiritual adultery. All are subject to the lure of sin, so we must remain vigilant against all sin, especially the sin of adultery.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS

WHAT DOES THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

We may be living in the most violent time in history. There are more than a million violent crimes in the United States each year, nearly fifty thousand suicides and a million abortions. As minister Owen M. Weatherly commented, “The most crucial problem which men face today is their unfortunate habit of killing one another.” God spoke to Cain after he had murdered Abel, saying, “What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10) In contrast to the violence of today, the sixth commandment says: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). 

Hebrew has at least ten words for killing. The word God chose for the sixth commandment is one rarely used, found only five times in scripture. It refers to the deliberate, violent, premeditated taking of a life, or murder. For this reason, most modern versions, such as the NIV or NASB translate the verse, “You shall not murder.” Jesus stressed that murder begins in the heart: “Ye have heard that it was said to 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 every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).

Did this commandment prohibit all killing? This hardly seems possible, since the very next chapter commands killing under some circumstances. Exodus 21:12, “He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death,” is only one of numerous passages that specify death for certain crimes. God did not contradict Himself, but merely clarified the law. While murder, the taking of the life of an innocent party is prohibited, there must be, at least in certain cases, situations in which the state is permitted, or even required to take life. Under these guidelines, the capital punishment of a convicted criminal could be permitted, while euthanasia and abortion, the taking of innocent life, are always wrong. The forbidding of murder really strikes at the roots of many sins that lead to murder, such as racism, greed, pride, lust, envy, and hatred. It is not practical for the state to pass laws against all of these sins, but the prohibition of murder certainly helps keep them in check. 

While the commandment commands a negative, “Thou shalt not kill,” there must also be implied the positive of preserving life. Jesus taught that we must love our neighbor as ourselves. That means that we will be peace loving, merciful, and caring to all. Paul reminds us, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Galatians 5:14-15). In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned that we are not to retaliate for the wrong doings of others (Matthew 5:38- 42), and that those seeking to please God will not hate others (Matthew 5:43-48).  Jesus gave us the “golden rule,” that “All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12)

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS

WHAT DOES THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12). With this commandment, there is a shift of emphasis from the preceding commandments. There is less direct emphasis on man’s relationship with God, and more on man’s relationship with man. This commandment is foundational for both children and adults, stressing the importance of learning authority, which must begin in the home. Without proper respect for parents and their authority in the home, there will not be proper respect for God and His authority. 

The root meaning of the word honor [honour KJV], in the original language, is “to be heavy, or burdensome.” It is a burden for those receiving the honor to bear it properly, as well as for the giver of honor to give it as it should be given. Parents have responsibility and authority to teach their children about God. This should not be a matter of conceit for the parents, however, but should be a matter of grave concern. Parents should carefully consider what they teach their children, and ask them to do, because the ultimate authority always remains with God. Children should never be asked or expected to do that which is contrary to God’s will. As the apostles said before the authorities, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). 

Parents should be recognized as a gift to us. Children should be thankful for the gift of life through their parents, and all of the good things done by parents for children. Parents deserve loyalty, even when they are less than perfect (we know that only God is perfect). Along with that loyalty and gratitude children give to parents, they also should show their love and concern. Although it might be technically possible for children to honor their parents without loving them, it is certainly not God’s ideal. God loves and cares for His children, and often expresses that through parents. Authority without love often destroys. As Paul said, “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Honor and love go hand in hand. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). 

Paul speaks of this commandment, saying, “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise” (Ephesians 6:2). This commandment offers a promise of blessing. The well being of any nation rests on the well being of the home. If things are right in the home, they will be right in the nation. Home life has incredibly far reaching results. The nation that neglects the home is headed for trouble. 

Jesus modeled obedience to the Heavenly Father, and added richness to our understanding by stressing the love of God as Father. Many of the religious leaders of the day tried to get around their obligations to their parents, but Jesus stressed how important the family is, warning them that their neglect of their parents was “making the word of God of none effect” (Mark 7 :9-13). “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother” (Proverbs 15:20).

BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS

WHAT DOES THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

The fourth commandment says, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11). God gave the Sabbath as a “perpetual covenant” (Exodus 31:17) between the Jews and God. As long as the Jews were a nation, they were to keep the Sabbath. This was not a perpetual covenant with anyone else, however. 

The Sabbath lasted from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. The Jews, especially the Pharisees, treated it very legalistically. They expanded, refined, and codified it until it became an intolerable burden. Jesus fought the popular distortion of the Sabbath by healing on the Sabbath, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” (Matthew 12:8). Jesus kept the Sabbath perfectly, something that no one else ever did. 

This commandment is the only one of the Ten Commandments that Jesus did not repeat for Christians. Jesus kept the Sabbath, but never commanded Christians to keep it. 

Although some try to keep the Sabbath today, none keep it as God commanded it. The Lord commanded that the Sabbath was the day for burnt offerings, and other elements which no one keeps today. Paul says that Christ abolished the law (Ephesians 2:15), and “took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). The first covenant was taken away so that the better, new covenant could be established. “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second” (Hebrews 8:6-7). 

While we are not commanded to keep the Sabbath, there are, however, many eternal principles to be learned from the Sabbath. All Christians should consider their use of time, and the work ethic taught in the commandment, that there are six days in which the servant of God will work. As the wise man Solomon wrote, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6). Paul tried to set a good example for the Thessalonians by working to support himself, giving an example (2 Thessalonians 3:7-12). “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). 

Jesus showed the way to use the Sabbath, not by treating it as a day for idleness, but a day for service, a time for bringing blessings to others. The Christian should do no less with every day given to him. All life should be a rest from evil, and days devoted to God. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Every Christian should evaluate his time to see how much is devoted to God, and how much is devoted to self.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS

WHAT DOES THE THIRD COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

A name is very important, because it represents all that a person is. The third commandment warns, “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” (Exodus 20:7). When Moses asked God what he should say to the Israelites, as he came to lead them out of Egyptian bondage, “God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:14). “I AM THAT I AM” is a form of the Hebrew for “to be,” indicating the eternal nature of God. The Israelites were so conscious of not breaking this commandment that they would not pronounce the name of God at all, instead substituting the word for Lord. 

Words, such as names, have always been important. Jesus warned that the misuse of words could destroy us, because the words indicate what is in our hearts. “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matthew 15:18). James warns that “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:6).

Our words are especially of concern when they involve God and His name. Men often curse God, blaspheme His name, or use His name in profanity. Rather than cursing His name, men ought to hallow His name. The Old Testament punishment for such sins was stoning (Leviticus 24:10-23). This may seem harsh, but Jesus said, “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” (Matthew 12:36-37). Since God’s name is often invoked in the making of vows and promises, such as the wedding vows, it is doubly important that these words be true. 

The sense of this commandment is also broken when men do not respect God’s words. You cannot reject His words, and the things His spokesmen have said, without rejecting God. Jesus told His disciples, “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” (Matthew 10:40). Responding properly to God’s word means obedience to it. Words should match deeds. Paul condemned those whose works were not in accord with God’s word: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16) Jesus spoke of this important connection between our deeds and the word of God, warning, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). 

Peter, referring to the name of Jesus Christ, said “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Surely those who love Him would not want to misuse His name in songs, jokes, etc. His name should be spoken in love and obedience.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, EXODUS

WHAT DOES THE SECOND COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

The second of the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20, gives timeless principles concerning God’s attitude about worship. Christians, who are “delivered from the law” (Romans 7:6-7), learn principles from the Ten Commandments that allow them to live under the better covenant of Christianity (Hebrews 8:6-7) 

The commandment reads: “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; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:4-6). Israel had to understand clearly that God would not tolerate idolatry. 

Idolatry, the worship of a creature, or inanimate object, seems inherently absurd to the modern mind. While modern man might not carve a statue, and then bow before it as ancient man did, he still has his idols, the false gods he worships. The problem of the idolater is not so much the idol as it is the spiritual blindness of the idolater. To place anything above God, whether it be possessions, family, occupation, or leisure activity, is to become an idolater. It has been well observed that sometimes the modern churchgoer may have his true god parked outside the place of worship. 

The command forbids making graven images to represent God to a worshipper. No image can ever “capture” God. As Paul told the Athenians, who worshipped so many gods, including an “unknown god,” “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:29-30). God’s Word must always govern worship to Him, because man has always had a tendency to worship the thing rather than the One Whom it represents. Despite God’s care of Israel, they easily slipped back into an idolatrous way of thinking. On one occasion they took the ark of the covenant into battle against the Philistines, as a sort of “good luck charm,” and wound up losing the ark, as well as the battle (1 Samuel 4). They also began to worship the bronze serpent Moses raised as a symbol of salvation (Numbers 21:4-9), so that King Hezekiah had to destroy it with the other marks of idolatry (2 Kings 18:4). 

The commandment gives a lengthy “enforcement statement,” which stresses that God will not share His people with any other god, but will bless all those who do His will. As Jesus met with the woman at the well, who wanted to sidestep the discussion of her checkered past, He reminded her, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Jesus warned that worship is vain when men worship God “teaching for doctrine the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9). Blessings for future generations depend on proper worship today! 

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, OLD TESTAMENT

WHAT DOES THE FIRST COMMANDMENT MEAN TO CHRISTIANS? — BOB PRICHARD

The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20, form the basis for modern western civilization. In their summary of the proper attitude to God and one another, they provide fundamental concepts that allow people to function in obedience to God. The relevance of the Ten Commandments for the Christian lies in the timeless principles they describe. Paul explained that the Christian is no longer bound by the old covenant, including the ten commandments, because Christ brought the Jew and the Gentile together, “having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:15). In giving His life, Christ was “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2.14). Christians are “delivered from the law” (Romans 7:6-7) to live under the better covenant of Christianity (Hebrews 8:6-7). 

The first commandment emphasizes that God must be first in the life of His children. “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:1-3). As God reminded Israel that He had delivered them from Egyptian bondage, the first commandment demands, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

The Israelites lived in a world of many gods vying for the allegiance of men. God demanded that they recognize Him and Him alone as God. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” is literally “Thou shalt have no other gods before my face.” Just as a woman with two husbands would be unacceptable to either husband, God demands undivided loyalty from all who claim to follow Him. The Jews could not adopt the pagan practices of their neighbors and maintain the purity God demanded. Peter and the other apostles understood the principle, refusing to be silenced by the Sanhedrin, saying, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). In like manner, Christ demanded undivided loyalty from His followers. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37-38). 

The command, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” is also a demand for wholehearted love. God redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage, and today He redeems mankind from the bondage of sin. The magnificence of His creation and the sacrifice of Christ for us shows that He truly is worthy of our love. Jesus summed up the proper attitude to the Father: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’” (Matthew 22:37-39). If we do this, we can truly insure that we put no other gods before Him.