Exodus 20:1-3

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Exodus 20:1

And God spake all these words, saying,God spake all these words - The law of the ten commandments is a law of God's making; a law of his own speaking. God has many ways of speaking to the children of men by his spirit, conscience, providences; his voice in all which we ought carefully to attend to: but he never spake at any time upon any occasion so as he spake the ten commandments, which therefore we ought to hear with the more earnest heed. This law God had given to man before, it was... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Exodus 20:2

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. I am the Lord thy God — Herein, God asserts his own authority to enact this law; and proposeth himself as the sole object of that religious worship which is enjoined in the four first commandments. They are here bound to obedience1. Because God is the Lord, Jehovah, self-existent, independent, eternal, and the fountain of all being and power; therefore he has an incontestable right to command... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Exodus 20:3

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.The first commandment is concerning the object of our worship, Jehovah, and him only, Thou shalt have no other gods before me - The Egyptians, and other neighbouring nations, had many gods, creatures of their own fancy. This law was pre-fixed because of that transgression; and Jehovah being the God of Israel, they must entirely cleave to him, and no other, either of their own invention, or borrowed from their neighbours. The sin against this commandment,... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1

1. God spake The Creator of man and the world, who has all authority in heaven and earth, is the fountain of law . Many Jewish and Christian expositors affirm that the Sinaitic proclamation of the decalogue was, literally, by the voice of God; that is, “that words were formed in the air by the power of God, and not by the intervention and ministry of angels.” (Keil.) This is thought to be the necessary meaning of Deuteronomy 5:4: “Jehovah talked with you face to face out of the midst of... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1-17

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Exodus 20:1-17. The preceding chapter has furnished an awe-inspiring preparation for the announcement of the fundamental law which here follows. Nothing in all the myths, legends, or histories of law-giving among other peoples is comparable with this sublime issuing of Israel’s decalogue. And the marvelous perfection of this summary of law, the inner excellency, the universal applicability of the several precepts, and their abiding, unchangeable nature, elevate this... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:2

2. I am the Lord thy God Many of the Jews, as we have seen above, regard this verse as the first of the ten words, or commandments, but they are rather of the nature of an introduction, showing emphatically the origin and source of the commandments . As the Eternal God, the I AM of previous revelation, (Exodus 3:14-15,) he appropriately announces his NAME, and mentions the redemption from Egypt as a ground of obligation for Israel to hear and keep his commandments . The singular form of... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, Exodus 20:3. 3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me The rendering before me follows the Vulgate. The Septuagint has πλην εμου , besides me . But the Hebrew words על פני mean rather over against me; in front of me; and the commandment prohibits all recognition and worship of any deity that could be conceived as a rival of Jehovah . A proper conception of the unity of God, and of his omnipresence and other attributes of infinity, necessarily excludes the... read more

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Exodus 20:1

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Exodus 20:2

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Exodus 20:3

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1-17

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:2

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

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