Exodus is the book that tells of the formation of a national group from a collection of slave

laborers in Egypt. Joseph led the children of Israel into Egypt to escape famine in Canaan. Moses
led them out hundreds of years later to escape what had become bondage and abuse under the
Pharaohs. A forty-year journey to the Promised Land included a stop at Mount Sinai where
Moses received the Law: The Ten Commandments.

These Commandments came at a time when the Israelites were gelling as a people, which would
represent God to the world. Hundreds of years in the polytheistic culture that was Egypt had no
doubt dulled their sensitivity to the one true God: YHWH. As a tribe of nomads, living as one
large community, they needed some basic rules of conduct and a belief in a higher power than
Moses who would enforce them.

The Ten Commandments given to Moses are these: (abbreviated form)

1. You shall not worship any other god but YHWH.

2. You shall not make a graven image.

3. You shall not take the name of YHWH in vain.

4. You shall not break the Sabbath.

5. You shall not dishonor your parents.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not commit perjury.

10. You shall not covet.

Many Christians will say that the “You shall nots” are too negative and that we need to be more
positive since the revelations and teachings of Jesus. These ten teachings are not the old clothes
of Judaism, but have been relevant to human relationships throughout the ages.

1. The first Commandment forbids us to put anything before God. It applied to the Jewish people
then as the gods of their neighbors often tempted them: The Baals and the Asherah poles. It
applied to Germany sixty years ago where god was a god of racial purity. It can apply to us in
our modern world where acquisition is the god of the day. God is demanding that first of all, we
give Him prominence.

2. Commandment number two includes an explanation in the expanded version found in Exodus
20. It describes the types of images that might be made and…“you shall not bow down to them
nor serve them.” No image of God will ever be found in a Synagogue and the Romans were
astonished to find no statues in the Holy of Holies when they destroyed the temple in 70AD.
“For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” The wholeness of God cannot be captured in a
picture or statue. God will not tolerate images, which might replace Him as an object of worship.

3. What does it mean to take God’s name in vain? It’s an attitude problem. Many use God’s
name daily because they have a poor vocabulary. God’s concern here is with respect for “the
name”. God’s very name represents who he is; His power, nature and character. It is a powerful
name and should be spoken with respect. To take God’s name in vain is to discount His position
and authority.

4. Some of the Commandments can be turned into positive statements: Remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy. There are whole denominations that have been created over interpretations of
this command. What is its purpose? In the circumstances where it was given, to a nomadic
agricultural society, one could work every day. 24/7 is expected of the ambitious today. Maybe
there is a natural rhythm to life where we need one day out of seven to recuperate and rest for the
next six days. This commandment has protected workers from unscrupulous masters for
centuries. The day of rest was originally Saturday. The early Christians decided to use Sunday.
St. Paul said that we shouldn’t judge each other over Sabbaths. We need to take one day off per
week. It’s good for us.

5. Honor your father and mother. This commandment has a promise attached. “…that your days
may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Family is important. If we
continue honoring our parents through our life, our children will see us and hopefully get the
message. It is one key to an orderly society.

6. Do not murder. Did God have to say it? Murder must refer to people taking the law into their
own hands and killing. It cannot refer to war or capital punishment. These are dealt with
elsewhere in the Bible. The Children of Israel waged great wars in God’s name. This
commandment refers to our personal responsibility for the death of others. It is a rule for the
individual.

7. What does adultery mean? It means what it always meant; cheating on your spouse. Jesus
carried it one step further when commenting on this commandment. He said, “whoever looks at a
woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt.5: 28) In our
age of easy access to sex, the commandment applies to much that goes for entertainment in the
year 2000.

8. Do not steal. We all know what that means and we don’t rob the bank or the supermarket.
Where most of us need help is in the “gray” areas like income tax returns, lotteries and expense
accounts.

9. Perjury is usually translated as “false witness”. When we’re called to testify in court we are
asked to swear on a Bible that we will be honest. What is the value when so many today do not
even believe that the Bible is God’s word? To be caught lying in court is perjury. The ancient
Hebrews answered to judges and I expect that this injunction meant more then and helped the
judges to administer justice. Gossip and slander must fall under this heading.

10. Do not covet anything that is your neighbors’. This is greed and envy, focusing on what
others have and what we don’t have. This is the one commandment that is hardest to obey. We
see things every day that we want. It’s the basis of our commercial society. “Create a need then
fill it.” is the lesson taught to new salespeople.