Read Exodus 20
Highlights:
Ten Commandments and other laws and regulations given. The Law is a mirror that reveals with absolute accuracy and authority what we are and what we should be. God provided His perfect standard for His people to live by.
The Ten Commandments are of utmost importance since they were written with the finger of God (Ex. 31:19). God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God. . . . Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing . . . in heaven above, or . . . the earth. . . . 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. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . . . Honour thy father and thy mother. . . . Thou shalt not kill. . . . commit adultery. . . . steal. . . . bear false witness against thy neighbour. . . . covet (20:1-4,7-17). The Ten Commandments are essential, basic principles for the spiritual and moral conduct of mankind. Without them we have no standard of right and wrong. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9).
We are warned that it is wrong to steal — whether it is done by shoplifting, cheating on income tax, failing to give an employer a full day's work, or to tithe one's income to God. If I love my neighbor, I will not steal his property, commit adultery with his wife, or commit fornication with his daughter. I will protect and respect his loved ones because they belong to God, who commanded: Love thy neighbour as thyself (Matt. 22:39).
Christ revealed that: By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Rom. 3:20-22).
Many have thought they would get to heaven by being good; but they are unwilling to recognize that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (3:23). If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).
If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him (John 14:23).
Thought for Today:
Great peace have they which love Thy Law: and nothing shall offend them (Ps. 119:165).
Christ Revealed:
The perfection of Christ is revealed through the Ten Commandments, for He kept all of them (Ex. 20:1-17). He was perfect and without sin (Heb. 4:15).
Word Studies:
20:10 Sabbath day of rest to honor God; 20:13 kill murder; 21:8 strange nation foreign people; 21:14 presumptuously willfully, overstepping due bounds; with guile treacherously; 21:19 be quit be acquitted, blameless; 21:22 her fruit depart from her the suffer a miscarriage; 22:2 breaking up breaking in; smitten struck with a fatal blow; 22:16 endow take a marriage payment for, pay a dowry for; 22:21 vex wrongfully treat; 22:24 wax become; 22:25 usurer one who loans with interest; 22:31 holy men unto Me special people consecrated to My service.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts in memory of a good friend, Arlene Lindelien • Staff: Dan Murton • Government Officials: Sec. Shaun Donovan (Dept. of Housing & Urban Development), Rep. Bart Gordon (TN), and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA) • Country: Seychelles (79,000) a group of islands in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and India • Major languages: English and French • Religious freedom • 89% Roman Catholic; 8% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Pray the Lord of the harvest to send workers to harvest for Him (Matt. 9:38).
Optional Reading: Matthew 24
Memory Verse for the Week: Proverbs 30:5