Exodus 20 – They now going to get the rules by which they are to live. 2017

Exo 20:1
Then God spoke all these words, saying,

Exo 20:2

Israel has now been delivered from bondage and they have made a covenant with Elohim. Elohim is now going to give them the rules by which they are to live. These particular commandments give the framework upon which the rest of the commandments are based. Most commentators would agree that the deliverance of Israel from bondage out of Egypt is a picture of our deliverance from the bondage of sin. If that pattern is true, then the ensuing events should be our pattern also. After we are delivered from the bondage of sin, we should follow the instructions of Elohim (Torah) just as Israel was commanded in this chapter. Paul and Peter and Jude tell us this same thing (Romans 6:1-18, 1 Peter 2:16, 2 Peter 2:18-21, Jude 1:4). When we are delivered out of the slavery of sin, we are no longer to to act as if we are still in that bondage. We are to walk according to Torah in the newness of life.

Exo 20:3

This law (as in all of them) is followed by His people throughout Scripture and into today (Rev 22:8-9).

Exo 20:4
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Exo 20:5

The Catholic Church and some other ecumenical churches consider verses 3-5 to all be one commandment. They apparently do this to prevent their artwork that is seemingly worshiped to not be a sin. The Lutheran Church designates verse three to be the first commandment and verses 4-5 to be the explanation of that commandment. They, and the Catholic Church, then split up coveting into two commandments. Strange, but true. The command here is not to make an object of worship of any kind. We cannot make an image of anything that is declared a deity. We certainly cannot make an image of Elohim (Deut 4:12, 15-19). There is some discussion about whether or not this applies to all statues of any kind. That is possible. But the context of the passage states making images of other things that are worshiped. The issue of Elohim visiting the iniquity on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him is an interesting one. Some people claim that Elohim no longer does this because of a passage in Ezekiel 18:1-9 (not shown). But this passage refers to those who hate Him for generations. The sins of the fathers will continue to visit the sons in that case. Yeshua even says the sins of the past generations will fall upon the Pharisees (Matt. 23:34-36)

Exo 20:6

The grace of Elohim continues throughout all time. His grace and mercy were prevalent in that day and in this day also. But the problem for most is that His grace is reserved for those who love Him and keep his commandments (1 John 2:3-7, John 3:21-24, John 5:3, 2 John 1:6).

Exo 20:7
"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

To use His name in vain is to use it frivolously or to use it with no good purpose.

Exo 20:8
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exo 20:9 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

Exo 20:10

Exo 20:11

This is the longest of the commandments. It was instituted at creation (Gen. 2:2-3). It was honored by Israel before Mt. Sinia (Ex. 16:21-30). It was honored by Yeshua and Paul throughout their lives. It is a command for the eunoch and the stranger also (Isaiah 56:1-7). The Sabbath Day will be celebrated after Yeshua returns to rule the world also Isa 66:22-23). This is not a controversial command. It is a fact of Scripture and a commandment of Elohim to His people.

Exo 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

There is no question that we are to honor our father and mother all our lives.

Exo 20:13
"You shall not murder.

Exo 20:14
"You shall not commit adultery.

Many people make the false claim that certain comments in the New Testament can override the Tanakh. If that is the case, then Yeshua rewrote the Ten Commandments (Matt. 5:21-27). Using that same convoluted logic, we can now murder our brother, just so hate is not involved. We can now commit adultery as long as we are blindfolded and do not look at the woman with lust. This is ridiculous, but not any worse that much of the rewriting done by many "christian" theologians.

Exo 20:15
"You shall not steal.

Exo 20:16
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Elohim is the Elohim of Truth and He expects His people to be people of Truth, especially when giving witness of a neighbor or brother.

Exo 20:17
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

While we should work hard

River Valley Torah Assembly
http://rvtorah.com/