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Understanding the Ten Commandments - Introduction
Are the commandments absolute or obsolete?
The LOCATION of the Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus
What is needed for obedience? à understanding + motivation
Exodus does not begin with the Law, but neither does it end with chapter 18
The LANGUAGE of the Ten Commandments
Hebrew, “ten words” (Greek, Decalogue)
The commandments are words spoken by a Person, God, to a world of persons
The ARRANGEMENT of the Ten Commandments
#1-4: our relationship with God
#5-10: our relationship with others
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:36-39 NIV)
Discussion Questions
1) What are some rules you had growing up? Which ones do you still live by?
2) When you think of the Ten Commandments, do you have positive or negative thoughts? Why is that the case?
3) Do most people obey the Ten Commandments? Why or why not? Why are some of the commandments almost universally followed while others are largely ignored?
4) Which of the Ten Commandments are most difficult to follow? Which are easiest? What motivates you to obey them?
5) What does each of the commandments reveal about God and His character?
6) What do you hope to gain from this study of the Ten Commandments?
7) What ONE THING did you learn tonight? How can you apply what you have learned?
Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17 NIV
And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping 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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land 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 give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
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Commandment #1: You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me
God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1-3 NLT)
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1 NLT)
Definition: “gods” are anything to which we give our devotion, service, and energy
“Whatever the heart clings to, whatever thy heart relies upon, that is properly thy god.” (Martin Luther)
Do not follow other gods, the gods of the people around you… (Deuteronomy 6:14 NIV)
What are some “gods” that vie for our attention and devotion? (priorities/passions/practices)
1) Money
2) Pleasure
3) Technology
4) Fame
5) Others’ Opinions
6) Knowledge
7) Issues
8) Substances
9) Work
10) Family
Paul: “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?” (Romans 6:16a NLT)
Jesus: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:33 NLT)
LET GOD BE GOD
There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:6-7 NLT)
Discussion Questions
1) Do you know anyone who doesn’t believe in a Divine Being? What is their reasoning?
2) How are our lives influenced by the “gods” we worship? In what ways do we become like them? Can you give any specific examples?
3) Theologian J. I Packer writes, “Your god is what you love, seek, worship, serve, and allow to control you.” Besides the ones listed, what are some other “gods” in our society and culture? Which one(s) are you most tempted to follow?
4) We all have to balance a variety of loyalties. What are some of the duties and obligations that you have to fulfill? Are any of them in conflict with your devotion to God? How do they prevent you from giving the Lord your undivided loyalty? What could you do differently to ensure God gets first place in your life?
5) Consider this practice: In his book on the Ten Commandments, Stuart Briscoe says, “At the end of each day, ask yourself: Was Jesus Christ my Lord today? Did I serve him faithfully today? Did I love him deeply? Did I worship him exclusively?”
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#2: You Must Not Make for Yourself an Idol
You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected —even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. (Exodus 20:4-6 NLT)
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21 NIV)
Why is the worship of idols so strictly prohibited?
1) It denies the true nature and character of God
- You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol… (Deuteronomy 4:15-16 NIV)
- God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 NIV)
2) The object of our worship is not man-made, but divinely-appointed
- [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God…For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. (Colossians 1:15, 19 NIV)
- Greek, eikon = “image, representation, picture” (cf. icon)
- Keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21 NIV)
- Flee from the worship of idols. (1 Corinthians 10:14 NLT)
- Greek, eidolon = “phantom, shadow”
- We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 NIV)
- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7 NIV)
“An idol is anything or anyone that occupies the place of the one true God in our hearts”
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your heart. (1 John 5:21 NLT)
What may become idols in our lives?
1) Things
- Is there anything you’d be unwilling to give up if God asked you to?
2) Ideas
- An idol can be either concrete or abstract; a physical or a mental representation
3) Elements of the Christian Faith
- e.g. the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:4-9; cf. Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18:4
- Augustine: “Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used and using anything that ought to be worshiped."
4) False Views of God
- Golden calf incident in Exodus 32 (referenced in 1 Corinthians 10)
- When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. (Exodus 33:4b-6a NLT)
- “We want a serviceable God and moderate expressions of religion…Idols are manageable, and we are always looking for a manageable god.” (Ellsworth Kalas)
Discussion Questions
1) When you hear the word “ idol” what images come to mind? Have you ever seen a physical idol being worshiped? Describe what happened and how you felt about it.
2) What role do symbols and objects play in the Christian faith? Are they okay? When do they become “idols?”
3) When you think of God, what images come to mind? How are we to conceive of a God that is a spiritual being?
4) What are some things that become idols in people’s lives? What ideas or concepts do Americans idolize?
5) Have you ever witnessed idolatry in the church? Who or what was idolized or elevated to a place that only God should occupy?
6) What are some misconceptions about God that are prevalent today, both in the church and in society at large?
7) How might you have violated this second commandment and make an idol of any kind? Repent, ask for forgiveness, then go and worship God in spirit and in truth.
