VIC – Exodus 20 is a look at the Ten Commandments. Thunder and fire were some of the trappings of God introducing the Ten Commandments to his people. They weren’t exactly excited about the news.
Fear and Trembling
Yes, you heard that right. God’s people were NOT excited to hear God share with them the Ten Commandments. They were scared. God didn’t just give them Ten Commandments. He attached a carrot and a stick to them. If God’s people kept his laws they would be blessed. If they did not keep God’s laws they would be punished. AND this punishment would carry down through generations. We can see this happen when there are parents who struggle with their kids. The children don’t do well. Generational abuse is real. This isn’t God’s fault, but it is a reality when people go against God’s good plan for their lives.
Numbering Troubles
What is the 6th Commandment? The answer is that it depends. I know that if you were raised Lutheran there is a little part of you that might be offended. You know that the 6th Commandment is protecting God’s gift of sex. If you were raised in a home that used reformed theology, you would say that the 6th Commandment is protecting God’s gift of life! Who is right? Why the discrepancy? This has to do with how the first two commandments are numbered. Some Christians combine the first couple commandments – You shall have no other gods AND You shall no make any graven images (or idols). Others, like our Lutheran church do not.
What does this mean?
Looking over the Ten Commandments might seem a little under whelming at first blush. This is why Martin Luther expanded the meaning of the Commandments just like we find them in Scripture. One examples is murder. Our God tells us that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s study, VIC – Exodus 20, The Ten Commandments.
Please click HERE for the Bible class slides.