Exodus 20:1-3

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:3

THE ONLY GOD‘Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.’ Exodus 20:3 I do not know whether you have ever noticed the great part which the Commandments play in the instruction of members of the Church of England. In the early days of our English Church every clergyman was commanded to explain the Ten Commandments every quarter. When children come to be baptised the learning of the Ten Commandments and their meaning is placed on the same footing as the learning of the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1

(See the Chapter Comments for more information on the Covenant.) The Proclamation of the Covenant (Exodus 20:1-17 ). Here we have Yahweh’s proclamation of His covenant directly to the people, and not through Moses, something which the people, having experienced it, pleaded that it might not happen again (Exodus 20:19). The fuller explanation then comes through Moses (Exodus 20:22). It will be noted that without being forced these verses cannot be put into chiastic form, stressing how they... read more

Arthur Peake

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

Exodus 20-24, 34. The Codes in Exodus.— Recent study has by many converging lines of argument, based on subject matter, choice of words, relation to the context, idiomatic phrasing, comparison with the historical and prophetical literature, etc., and from an immense accumulation of Biblical facts, proved the extraordinary complexity of the laws in the Pentateuch. Only results can be given here. i. Perhaps the oldest collection is the little code in Exodus 34:17-Ezekiel : * J, all short... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Exodus 20:1

Or, Then, to wit, when Moses was returned into the mount. God spake immediately, and not by an angel. For though an ambassador or messenger may act in the name of his master, yet it is against the use of all ages and places for such to call themselves by his name. As well might an ambassador of France say, I am the king of France, which all men would account absurd, arrogant, and ridiculous, as an angel might say, I am the Lord. All these words, i.e. commands, for so the word is used,... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Exodus 20:2

The only true God, and thy God by special title, having entered into covenant with thee, and chosen thee for my peculiar people, to protect, and rule, and bless thee above all others. God’s authority and right over them is fitly put in the front, as the foundation of all God’s commands, and their duties. Which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt; and so by right of redemption thou art mine. Out of the house, i.e. the place; for so the word house is sometimes used, as Judges 16:21. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Exodus 20:3

Heb. There shall not be to thee another god, or other gods, to wit, idols, which others have, esteem, and worship as gods, and therefore Scripture so calls them by way of supposition, Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Samuel 12:21; 1 Corinthians 8:4,1 Corinthians 8:5; but thou shalt not have them in any such reputation or veneration, but shalt forsake and abhor them, and cleave unto me alone. Before me, i.e. in my presence, in my house or Church, which you are, where I am especially present; and therefore... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Exodus 20:1-3

CRITICAL NOTES.—Exodus 20:1. All these words.] Concerning which observe (1.) That they form the basis of the covenant, of which ch. Exodus 19:3-6 offers the first proposal; chs. 21–23, the detailed sketch; and ch. Exodus 24:1-8, the formal ratification. (2.) That they are all grounded upon the existing relationship between Jehovah and Israel announced in Exodus 20:1; so that THE LAW, par excellence, is itself founded upon redeeming grace. (3.) That thus they may all be united by the principle... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:1-2

Exodus 20:1-2 The Ten Commandments hold a conspicuous position in that prolonged revelation of Himself, of His character, His will, and His relations to mankind, which God made to the Jewish people. They can, therefore, never become obsolete. The changing circumstances of the human race cannot destroy the significance and worth of any institutions or facts which reveal the life of God. I. The Ten Commandments rest on the principle that God claims authority over the moral life of man. He claimed... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:2-3

Exodus 20:2-3 I. This commandment does not tell the Jew that the gods worshipped by other nations have no existence; it tells him that he must offer them no homage, and that from him they must receive no recognition of their authority and power. The Jew must serve Jehovah, and Jehovah alone. This was the truest method of securing the ultimate triumph of monotheism. A religious dogma, true or false, perishes if it is not rooted in the religious affections and sustained by religious observances.... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:3

Exodus 20:3 This was the commandment broken by Adam and Eve in Paradise; they obeyed the voice of the devil, and took him for their god instead of their heavenly Father. Since that time the devil has been called the god of this world and the prince of this world, because men have commonly obeyed him and hearkened to his voice. Even the one family and nation to whom God revealed Himself were quite as unwilling as the rest of the world to serve Him alone, and so they needed this commandment. I.... read more

Group of Brands