The Ten Commandments

February 7

Exodus 19-20

Psalm 18:43-50

Proverbs 4:14-17

Matthew 24:1-14

The Ten Commandments

“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything…. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy…Honor your father and mother…You shall not murder…You shall not commit adultery…. You shall not steal…. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor…. You shall not covet.” Exodus 20:3-17 NIV

So much controversy surrounds the Ten Commandments. For decades they were proudly displayed in courthouses throughout our country as the principles on which our legal system was founded. Now they have been taken down and cast aside as narrow-minded and offensive. If we examine them, we see that they pretty much cover everything. The first four deal with our relationship with God. If we recognize that He and He alone is God, we are not to allow anything to come before Him, we respect Him and His name, and set aside time regularly to spend worshipping and seeking Him, then most everything else will fall into place.

The next six commandments deal with our relationships with other people. If we honor others and treat them with respect, do not take what does not belong to us, and are always honest, our lives will be much simpler and happier. The principles God gave the Israelites are not a set of rules that we must follow to be saved. Rather, they are guidelines He has given us that will help us live a full and meaningful life that is filled with joy and peace. John 10:10 says, “I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (NIV) We would do well to examine them and apply them to our lives and not discard them as antiquated or only intended for the children of Israel.