12. Rules for life - Exodus 20:1-17 (Sunday August 3, 2025)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
When a doctor gives you instructions - take this medication twice daily, exercise 30 minutes a day, cut back on sugar - they're not trying to make your life miserable. They're giving you a prescription for health based on deep knowledge of how the human body works. God's commandments are similar - they're not arbitrary restrictions from a cosmic killjoy, but wisdom from our Creator about how human life flourishes best. They are rules for life.
Last week we saw how God with the people He had rescued from Egypt in the fire and smoke on Mount Sinai. Today we will look at the words God spoke direct to the people of Israel on the mountain.
Israel and the Ten Commandments
Israel and the Ten Commandments
In Exodus 19:5, God says, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people; for all the earth is mine."
The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are the specific "voice" that Israel is to obey and the core principles of the "covenant" they are to keep.
The Ten Commandments aren't arbitrary rules but the relational framework that defines what it means to be God's "special treasure".
When God gave the Ten Commandments, He used a format the Israelites would recognize - like a legal contract between a king and his people. It is very similar to the Near Eastern treaties they would have heard of between a ruler of one nation and the rulers of another. But notice the difference: most kings would say 'Obey me because I'm powerful.' God says 'Obey me because I love you and I've already rescued you.' The commandments aren't a way to earn God's love - they're a response to the love He's already shown.
This Suzerain-Vassal form of treaty has six main elements.
Covenants between nations had stipulations about external temporary political arrangements. But the ten commandments are God’s absolute timeless moral standards that He expected of each person who wants to be in relationship with Him.
So what does this mean for us? This means God's rules come from relationship, not domination. They flow from love, not tyranny.
The Stipulations
The Stipulations
The third part, in verses 3 to 17, provide the core obligations and prohibitions that the people must meet to be part of this covenant.
If you count the number of times God says You shall not, or more positively says Honour, or Remember, it comes to 13. But we know that there are only 10 distinct requirements because Moses wrote
13 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
So we must link a few related commands together to end up with 10 from the 13.
The actual word that is most usually translated Commandments in this verse is the Hebrew DEVARIM which means “Word” or “Matter” or “Statement” - it is wider than just “command”. This suggests that the ten stipulations are not simple restricted commands, but principles for covenant living - Rules for Life.
Just why God chose ten we are not sure. The told parents to teach their children these words.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
So maybe one for each finger or toe!
Over the centuries people have divided up these words into ten commands in three main ways:
Protestant/Reformed/Orthodox Christian - what we are most familiar with. This is what early church used, people such as Origen. It was also the Jewish approach from scholars like Philo and Josephus who lived at the time of Christ.
Traditional Jewish. This list was developed later between 200 and 500AD.
Roman Catholic. This list developed from Augustine and was gradually adopted by the Catholic church over the next few centuries.
Positive and Negative
Positive and Negative
Eight of the Ten Commandments are stated negatively, and two commandments are stated positively. But when we think the opposite, that helps to see the principle behind each one.
a. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3) implies that “you shall believe and follow the living and true God.”
b. “You shall not make for yourself [worship] any graven image [idol]” (Ex. 20:4–6) implies that “you shall worship only the Lord, Him and Him alone.”
c. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Ex. 20:7) implies that “you shall always honor the name of the Lord your God.”
d. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8–11) implies that “you shall not neglect nor abuse the Sabbath day.”
e. “Honor you father and your mother” (Ex. 20:12) implies that “you shall not mistreat or take advantage of your father and mother.”
f. “You shall not kill” (Ex. 20:13) implies that “you shall respect and reverence life.”
g. “You shall not commit adultery” (Ex. 20:14) implies that “you shall be sexually pure and faithful.”
h. “You shall not steal” (Ex. 20:15) implies that “you shall be honest.” or even "give"
i. “You shall not bear false witness” (Ex. 20:16) implies that “you shall tell the truth.” - the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth
j. “You shall not covet (Ex. 20:17) implies that “you shall be content with what you have.”
Summary
Summary
The ten commandments formed the foundation of the old testament covenant between God and Israel. To experience the blessing of the covenant, God expected His people to voluntarily keep these commandments out of love.
But they were not just for the nation of Israel. BEcause they are reflections of God’s moral character, they absolute standards for every person created in the image of God. There are no ifs and buts or other conditions that might mean we can dodge them.
Unfortunately, history has shown that human beings - you and I and the people of Israel - fail to keep God’s command, deliberately choosing our own way. Paul says we know the commands are good. But we still choose to disobey.
Jesus and the Ten Commandments
Jesus and the Ten Commandments
Some might say Jesus replaced the requirement to keep the commandments with something new, perhaps stating "love" in some vague way. But the Lord Jesus said He did not come to replace the ten commandments with a new way of living, but to fulfill them:
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
ILLUSTRATION: When a master violinist listens to a student play a difficult piece, they don't say, 'Those notes are too hard - let's lower the standard.' Instead, they demonstrate how the piece should sound and then patiently teach the student, phrase by phrase. Jesus didn't come to simplify God's moral standards. He came to show us what perfect obedience looks like - demonstrating how to 'play' the Ten Commandments perfectly - and then provide the way for us to 'learn the music' of righteousness.
Perfect Obedience
Perfect Obedience
Jesus as the Son of God kept the commands of God perfectly. Jesus said:
29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
This matters for us because when we fail (and we will), we don't have to earn our way back into God's good graces. Jesus already did what we couldn't do. But it also means that when the Holy Spirit prompts us to be honest when it's difficult, or to honor our parents when they're being unreasonable, we're not just following rules - we're becoming more like Jesus.
A matter of the heart
A matter of the heart
Jesus taught that God was not just interested in whether we outwardly kept the commandments. But with what was in our heart.
And so in the passage from Matthew 5 we read earlier:
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.
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.
The ten commandments are to be kept in our heart.
A matter of love
A matter of love
Jesus further said that the motive to rightly keep the commandments is love.
Remember how Jesus replied when an expert in the ten commandments came to ask Jesus what was the most important law?
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
This helps us to divide the ten commandments into two sections:
1-4 = love for God
6-10 - love for one another
Jesus took the standard of love even higher when he said to His disciples:
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Each of the ten commandments is repeated and kept by the Lord Jesus. This implies that if we want to be followers of Jesus, we also must embrace and keep the ten commandments.
So what does this mean for us? This means we can approach God's standards with hope, not fear. Jesus doesn't lower the bar - He provides the way to reach it.
Us and the Ten Commandments
Us and the Ten Commandments
What is the role of the ten commandments to you and I today?
Tells us what is right and wrong
Tells us what is right and wrong
The ten commandments show us clearly what is morally right and wrong for every human being created by God. Even if we have not read the commandments, Paul writes how people know they are right and good.
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
The commandments tell us absolutely what is morally right and good. But we choose not to keep them.
12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
The problem with not keeping the commandments is that we are disobeying and offending our Maker who gave them.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Brings us to Christ
Brings us to Christ
So if the ten commandments are God’s standard. But we keep choosing to disobey. And disobeying brings God’s judgement, what good can they bring?
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The ten commandments show we need forgiveness from God, and that forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Jesus perfectly kept God’s commandments. He unjustly was nailed to a cross. But there God took the judgment we deserve and placed it on Christ so He took our punishment. And God took the perfect righteous state of Jesus and put it on us.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Shows us how to please God
Shows us how to please God
Imagine you're lost in a forest and someone gives you a detailed map and compass. The tools are perfect, but if you don't know how to read them, you're still lost. Before we know Christ, the Ten Commandments are like that perfect map we can't follow. But Jesus doesn't just give us a new map - He becomes our guide. Through His Spirit, He walks with us step by step, helping us navigate the path of righteousness.
The ten commandments drive us to Jesus for forgiveness. But after we trust in Christ the ten commandments are still God’s rules for living. But there is a difference - God gives us a new heart and the Spirit empowers us to obey them.
Each of the ten commandments is repeated in some form in the New Testament writing to the churches.
No other gods:
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
No idols: 1 John 5:21
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Don't take God's name in vain:
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
Remember the Sabbath:
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Honor parents:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:
Don't murder:
15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
When John says hatred is like murder (1 John 3:15), it makes us examine not just our actions but our attitudes - even our social media posts.
Don't commit adultery:
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
Don't steal:
28 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.
Don't bear false witness:
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
When Paul writes 'don't steal,' he adds 'but work honestly so you can give to those in need' (Eph 4:28). That transforms our view of money from 'what can I get?' to 'how can I be generous?'
Don't covet:
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Application
Application
So what does this mean for us? The ten commandments continue to be the standard for Christian living today. But in CHrist obedience becomes joy, not burden. We're not struggling on our own - God's Spirit is our guide.
We will still disobey from time to time. But we remain His children. He calls us as His children to deal with our sin:
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God by His Spirit will gradually change our hearts to become more like CHrist in our obedience to His commands out of love.
When pianists practice scales, they're not just learning notes - they're developing muscle memory so that when they play beautiful music, their fingers know where to go instinctively. As the Holy Spirit works in us, following God's commands becomes less about gritting our teeth and more about the natural overflow of a heart that's been changed.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
A river is most powerful and beautiful when it flows within its banks. It's not confined by them - it's directed by them. When we live within God's commandments, we're not restricted - we're channeled into the life we were designed for. And just as a river brings life to everything it touches, when we live God's way out of love, others around us are blessed too.
When we keep His commands out of love, others will see Jesus in us.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
