From Deliverance to Duty: The Terms of the Covenant

The Ten Commandments, or the Decalogue, are found in Exodus chapter 20. After miraculously delivering the Israelites through the Red Sea, God brought them to Mount Sinai (or Horeb). God did not give them the law so that they could be saved; rather, He gave them the law because they had already been saved. The commandments were the standard for how the people of God should live as His covenant nation.

I. The Setting of Awe and Fear

The giving of the law was accompanied by a terrifying display of God’s glory and power: the mountain was covered in thick smoke, with thunder, lightning, and the sound of a very loud trumpet.

• A Holy God: This scene emphasized that the God who delivered them is a holy, majestic, and terrifying King. The people were afraid and asked Moses to speak to God on their behalf, a distinction that foreshadowed the need for a mediator between a holy God and sinful humanity.

• The Preamble: Before listing the commands, God identified Himself with their experience of salvation: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2) The foundation of obedience is recognizing Who God is and what He has already done for them.

II. The Two Sections of the Law

The Ten Commandments are generally understood to be divided into two sections, reflecting the greatest commandments that Jesus later summarized: loving God and loving neighbor.

Commands 1–4: Loving God (Duty to God)Commands 5–10: Loving Neighbor (Duty to Man)1. No other gods before me.5. Honor your father and mother.2. No idols (no images to represent God).6. You shall not murder.3. Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.7. You shall not commit adultery.4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.8. You shall not steal.9. You shall not bear false witness (lie).10. You shall not covet (desire what belongs to others).

• The Scope of Sin: Jesus later taught that the law goes beyond outward actions to include the attitude of the heart. Hatred is like murder (Matthew 5:21–22), and lust is like adultery (Matthew 5:27–28). The commands are not merely suggestions; they are a perfect, all-encompassing reflection of God's righteous nature.

III. The Law's True Purpose

The Ten Commandments were ultimately not given as a path to salvation (no one can perfectly keep them), but for three essential purposes:

1. To Reveal Sin: The law shows us God's perfect standard and exposes our total inability to meet it. “Through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

2. To Restrain Evil: The law establishes a civil and moral order in society, restraining the worst impulses of human sin.

3. To Lead Us to Christ: The law acts as a "guardian" (or tutor) to lead us to the person who did fulfill it perfectly: Jesus Christ. The law demonstrates our need for a Savior (Galatians 3:24).

Applying the Truth Today

For the new Christian, the Ten Commandments are the mirror that reveals the difference between God's perfection and our sinful nature. We are delivered from slavery to sin not by keeping the law, but by God’s grace through Christ.

Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved. We are now called to love and serve God, not in fear of the law, but out of thankfulness for our salvation, with the Holy Spirit enabling us to live in a way that truly reflects these commandments.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. The Moral Mirror. Which of the Ten Commandments, particularly the ones that focus on the heart (e.g., coveting, lust), reveals your own personal greatest struggle with sin?

2. Sabbath. The command to remember the Sabbath is unique. How does regularly setting aside a day for rest, worship, and devotion help you remember that God is the provider, not your own labor?

3. Perfect Fulfillment. Since Jesus is the only human who ever kept all Ten Commandments perfectly, how does the knowledge of His perfect righteousness encourage you when you fail to meet the standard?

Your Reading Guide

To grasp the awesome display of God’s power, read the introduction to the commandments in Exodus 19:16–20. Next, read the commands for loving God in Exodus 20:3–11. Finally, read the commands for loving your neighbor in Exodus 20:12–17.