The Ten Commandments
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 09/29/2024
Foundation Scriptures:
Exodus 20:1-17
1. Love God.
a. The Ten Commandments, that were handed to Moses, were the basis of the covenant God made with Israel and are still relevant today.
b. Jesus and the apostles affirmed all the commandments but one.
c. Jesus shows us that sin is not merely external, but springs from the heart.
d. Exodus 20:3 KJV –– Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
e. Jesus told us: “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” (Mt. 22:37-38).
f. And He added: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Mt. 22:39-40).
g. If you walk in love, you will always do right by others.
2. No Idols.
a. Exodus 20:4-5a KJV –– 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: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them…
b. Idolatry is a work of the flesh and part of the old carnal nature that was nailed to the cross with Jesus (Gal. 5:20).
c. Believers are commanded to walk in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
d. And to give up all idols and idolatrous practices—which includes covetousness and the lusts of the flesh (Acts 21:25; Col. 3:5).
e. Idols can be idols of gold or silver, or an idol of the heart—whatever you worship—and which means more to you than God.
f. You cannot serve God and mammon (Mt. 6:24; Lk. 16:13).
3. Respect His Name.
a. Exodus 20:7 KJV –– 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.
b. Do not swear, blaspheme, or use God’s Name in an unrighteous way.
c. Jesus told us that blasphemy, lies, and slander against the Holy Spirit, and His works, shall never be forgiven (Mt. 12:31-32; Mk. 3:28-29; 7:22; Lk. 12:10).
d. Colossians 3:8 NKJV –– But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
4. The Sabbath.
a. Exodus 20:8 KJV –– Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
b. The Sabbath (meaning rest) is the only command not promoted in the New Testament.
c. Jesus is Lord of the sabbath, and He declared: “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mt. 12:8; Mk. 2:27-28).
d. Every day for us is a day to worship God and do good works.
e. Sunday (or whatever day you choose) is a day to regularly worship together as a Body—which we should always do.
f. The laws concerning food, drink, feast days, the sabbath, etc., were only types and shadows of things to come and had only symbolic value—but the reality, the substance, belongs to Christ (Col. 2:16-17).
g. We are encouraged to follow our conscience concerning these things, remembering that, ultimately, we give an account to the Lord (Rom. 14:1-12).
5. Honor Parents.
a. Exodus 20:12 KJV –– Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
b. Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV –– Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
c. In the last days, evil, ungodly people will be proud, disobedient and disrespectful to their parents (2 Tim. 3:1-2).
6. Do Not Murder.
a. Exodus 20:13 KJV –– Thou shalt not kill.
b. Jesus repeated the command not to kill or murder another person (which includes unborn babies).
c. The sin of murder proceeds from the heart and includes hating your brother in your heart.
d. 1 John 3:15 NKJV –– Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
e. Peter reminds us that a Christian does not murder or steal, etc (1 Pet. 4:15-16).
7. No Adultery.
a. Exodus 20:14 KJV –– Thou shalt not commit adultery.
b. Adultery is a work of the flesh, along with fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness, etc. (Gal. 5:19).
c. Jesus confirmed this command and added: “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:27-28 NKJV).
8. No Stealing.
a. Exodus 20:15 KJV –– Thou shalt not steal.
b. Ephesians 4:28 NKJV –– Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
c. As a Christian, not only should you not steal, but you should work so you can give!
9. No False Witness.
a. Exodus 20:16 KJV –– Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
b. We are warned multiple times in the New Testament against lying about someone or giving a false testimony (Rom. 13:9).
c. And yet people do this all the time when they slander others or gossip about them.
10. Do Not Covet.
a. Exodus 20:17 KJV –– 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.
b. Do not be envious or jealous or want what other people have.
c. God has enough to go around for everyone.
d. Hebrews 13:5 NKJV –– Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
e. Work hard, be a giver, and put your trust in God—He will bless you abundantly and meet your every need.