I’ve spent 17 blogs going over the 127 commands from God in the Bible as listed in my Willmington’s Bible Guide. I would be remiss if I did not list the original ten commandments God gave to Israel at Mount Sinai after the exodus from Egypt. We should keep all of God’s commandments at the forefront of our minds and especially the original ten commandments.
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:3 – You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make any graven image.
Exodus 20:4 – You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the sea.
All of the people of ancient times engaged in polytheism, the worship of many gods. To represent these gods people made idols of wood, metal and stone to worship. Monotheism, the worship of one god, came about when the true God made Himself known to Abram, who He chose to be the father of God’s people, who would later be known as Israel. Our God is a jealous God, not wishing to share His glory with fake gods made of wood, metal or stone.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Exodus 20: 7 – You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
This doesn’t mean just cursing God. It means being disrespectful to the Lord in any way in your speech, thoughts or deeds. This is just the opposite of what we refer to as the “fear of the Lord” which means to look upon God with awe and reverence and respect. If you slip up immediately ask God to forgive you.
4. Remember the sabbath, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8 – Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
The Jews celebrate their sabbath on Saturday, the seventh day of creation when God rested. Christians celebrate their sabbath on Sunday, the first day of the week because Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday. The resurrection is our blessed hope because it means we too will one day be resurrected in like manner to be with the Lord forever in heaven. Jews and Christians both worship the Lord on their respective sabbaths. Man was not made for the sabbath, the sabbath was made for man. Either designated day of worship is pleasing to God.
5. Honor your father and mother.
Exodus 20:12 – Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long.
6. You shall not kill.
Exodus 13 – You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:14 – You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
Exodus 20:15 – You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness.
Exodus 20:16 – You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.
Exodus 20:17 – You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
Adultery is such a grievous sin in God’s eyes it’s mentioned twice in God’s original ten commandments. In the commandment “you shall not covet” God specifically mentions adultery with another man’s wife as one of the things we are not to covet. God also makes adultery a separate commandment by itself so we get the message. There are large sections of the Bible that specifically address the sin of adultery, primarily in the Psalms.
Witnessing for Christ