A Holy Revelation • Exodus 20

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Last week we began a new section in the book called the Revelation from God.

Where God reveals the 10 commandments, information about the tabernacle & furniture, and various other laws & sacrifices.

2. Current Study’s Overview

Now as we come to chps.20…          we’ll be looking at 3 things:   

1. Law of God: vs.1-17.       

2. Testing by God:  vs.18-21.       

3. Altars for God: vs.22-26.

1. The Preface to the Law Vs. 1-2

In this preamble God establishes 2 things: 

Who He is to Them:  He is the LORD, Yahovah, the Existing One, their God…  Relationship.    

What He did for Them:    He delivered them from the bondage of Egypt…   just as He delivers us.

So in establishing these 2 facts, God in effect validates His authority for the Law He is about to give…

When talking about the Law it’s important to mention a couple of things…

In the Torah there are 3 classifications of laws:          

1. Moral Law:  10 commandments…             

2. Ceremonial Law:  religious conduct…       

3. Civil Law:  crimes & their punishments…

In Ex.20: we have the Moral Law, the 10 commandments…    

which are divided into 2 parts…        the first 4 deal with our Relationship with God…   the last 6 deal with our Relationship with Others…

These Laws, the 10 commandments were not given to make the people righteous, holy or justified…        

Gal.3:11 no one is justified by the law…       The Law was given to:

Reveal Sin:    Rom.3:20 by the law is the knowledge of sin…        

Romans 3:20 NKJV

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Lead us to Jesus Christ:  Gal.3:24 the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ…

Galatians 3:24 NKJV

24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Picture of God:    Rom.7:12-14 the law is holy, just, good, spiritual…  that is what God is…

It was not given to make us holy…  but to show us our need for holiness from God…

2. The Presentation of the Law Vs. 3-17

Now here in Vs. 3-17, God presents the Moral Law, the 10 commandments.

2.1 No Other Gods Vs. 3

One God:  In other words put Me first…      make Me the number one priority in your life.

Everyone worships something or someone… whatever consumes us, drives us, motivates us is our god. 

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

2.2 No Carved Images Vs. 4-6  

look at vs.23…  sad that many religious groups today have so many little statues and carved images that they actually bow down to… 

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about when I was younger santaria...

God is a jealous God…        &      will punish those who hate Him, vs.5b.

In Deut.24: & Ezek.18 We see that children are not punished for the sins of their fathers…   but children will feel the impact of their father’s sins & they will often follow in their fathers footsteps…  We’re Examples.

2.3 Name of God in Vain Vs. 7

vain: empty, worthless…   by not accepting Jesus as Lord you’ve taken the Lord’s name in vain…     or      counted it as worthless…     

Matthew 6:9 NKJV

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Philippians 2:9 NKJV

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

Acts 4:12 NKJV

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

2.4 Keep Sabbath Holy Vs. 8-11

those who only work 5 days a week you better get with it...   Col.2:16 let no one judge…

Colossians 2:16 NKJV

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

For us it’s not about a day but a person…    

Mark 2:28 NKJV

28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

2.5 Honor Your Parents Vs. 12

a beautiful promise attached to this command…  .

Honoring them doesn’t always mean agreeing with them…     but    we can disagree agreeably…

Honor Definition - It means to esteem; to place value on someone.

2.6 Murder Vs. 13 

slay, kill, assassinate…   to take a life without a reason…      this is not speaking of the Death Penalty that God established in Gen.9:6.          which deters crime 100%...

In the Bible, the terms "killing" and "murder" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they do have distinct meanings. The key difference between the two lies in the intent and circumstances surrounding the act.

Murder is the intentional and malicious taking of another person's life. In the Bible, murder is considered a grave sin and a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which states, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13, NIV). This commandment emphasizes the sanctity of human life and the importance of respecting and protecting it.

Killing, on the other hand, refers to the act of taking a life, but not necessarily with malicious intent. Self-defense is one such example. The Bible acknowledges that there may be situations where taking a life could be justified in order to protect oneself or others. For instance, in Exodus 22:2 (NIV), it states, "If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed."

Exodus 22:2 NKJV

2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.

Moreover, the Old Testament contains accounts of wars and battles where the Israelites, under God's guidance, engaged in acts of killing (e.g., the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17). In these cases, killing was not regarded as sinful or immoral, as it was done with a specific purpose and under divine instruction.

2.7 Stealing Vs. 15   

simple, don’t take something that doesn’t belong to you…

2.8 Lying Vs. 16

simple, don’t lie…     John 8:44 Satan is the father of lies…

John 8:44 NKJV

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

2.9 Coveting Vs. 17

be content with who you are & what you have…  Phil.4:11 I’ve learned to be content...

Turn with me to Matt.5: Because Jesus takes some of these laws and applies them to the Heart…

Matthew 15:19 NKJV

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Matthew 5:21–22 NKJV

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:27–28 NKJV

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:33–34 NKJV

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

Matthew 5:35–37 NKJV

35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Matthew 5:38–42 NKJV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Matthew 5:43–44 NKJV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

1. Law of God: vs.1-17.           2. Testing by God:  vs.18-21.          3. Altars for God: vs.22-26.

2.    Testing by God Vs. 18-21

2.1 Vs.18-19

What an awesome sight to see…      the glory & majesty of God …

Moses don’t let God talk to us, we’ll die…   God is too Holy…   too Righteous…   too Awesome…

Now this amazing sight along with the giving of the law no doubt brought the people to a realization that they could never measure up to God…          they could never stand before God… 

APPLICATION: What an important realization to come to…  saying, God I’m not worthy, I’m not good enough…  

that is humility… & that is exactly what God wants from all of us…  because He gives Grace to the humble

2.2 Vs. 20-21

Don’t worry God is only testing you…    to see how you’ll respond to His Glory & Majesty…

APPLICATION: God Tests us as well…            so how should we Respond to God’s Testing…  

James 1:2 NKJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Romans 5:3 NKJV

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

APPLICATION: Why should we respond with Joy…   Glory…    &   Pleasure in our time of testing…

James 1:3 NKJV

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

2 Corinthians 4:15 NKJV

15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

APPLICATION: So God’s testing is not to Burn us out…  but  to Build us up…   not to make us Bitter…  but  Better…

1. Law of God: vs.1-17.           2. Testing by God:  vs.18-21.          3. Altars for God: vs.22-26.

3.    Altars for God Vs. 22-26

3.1 Vs. 22-24 

2 offerings are mentioned here, they will be expanded on in the book of Lev..…

Burnt Offering is an offering of Consecration to be Set Apart it will come in Lev.1:…

Peace Offering is an offering of Fellowship or Communion because it is an offering where some of the meat was held back for the worshipper to eat…  the rest goes to God…   thus Fellowship, in Lev.3:.

The Altar was to made from Earth…   in other words it was to be Natural…  Simple…  Humble…

3.2 Vs. 25  

Let it be natural…     don’t carve it with your hands from the 2nd Commandment in vs.4.…

Don’t build something that is elaborate…  flamboyant…   a monumental structure… 

because now the building is getting all the attention…   Not God…     it’s distracting from God…

Keep it simple…          keep it humble…          so it doesn’t Distract…

3.3 Vs. 26

don’t build it with steps so people won’t see your legs as your walking up…  don’t be a Distraction.

APPLICATION: This is a good idea for all of us…  we need to be careful in what we wear as not to distract others from worshipping the Lord…         

with summer coming up this is an important point…   

1 Timothy 2:9 NKJV

9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,

APPLICATION: This last section is all about not being Distracted:    &  we try to keep the distractions to a minimum…

The building is simple, not fancy or frilly…     very humble…  

Young children don’t come into the sanctuary because they can be a distraction from the Word…

1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

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