The ten commandments are essenctially a call to become like God in character, in other words they are a call to discipleship.
The language of ‘that shall not’ is an interesting shift in that perhaps the heart of it (as Jesus taught) is if you have a ‘right relationship’ with me, that is a right, redeemed and rescued heart, this is what your life (character) will look like.
These commandments (words) shall characterize your life
Jesus teaches the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount
On the Structure
Exodus 20:1–2 (EBC Ge-Le (Rev)): The resulting outline would be as follows: (1) Right Relations with God (vv. 2–7), (2) Right Relations in the Worship of God (vv. 8–11), and (3) Right Relations with Society (vv. 12–17
