Speaking the Truth in Love

Speaking the Truth in Love

Love the Lord with All Your Heart (Part 1)

Last week we looked at how Jesus summarized the 10 Commandments into two simple commands (Matthew 22:37):

  1.        Love the Lord with all your heart (Commandments 1-4)
  2.        Love your neighbor as yourself (Commandments 5-10)

 

In this lesson will look more deeply at “Love the Lord with all your heart” by examining the first two commandments of the 10 commandments.  In the next two programs we will finish the deeper look of “Love the Lord with all your heart” by studying the 3rd and 4th commandments. 

 

Exodus 20:1-6

Commandment 1:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” – KJV

“You shall have no other gods before Me”. – NKJV

You shall have no other gods before Me. – NASB

You shall have no other gods before me.  – ESV

Do not have other gods besides Me. – HCSB

You shall have no other gods before me. – NIV

Commandment 2:

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” – KJV

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image” – NKJV
“You shall not make for yourself an idol” – NASB
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image” – ESV
“Do not make an idol for yourself” – HCSB
“You shall not make for yourself an idol” – NIV

What do these commands mean?

  •          Simply – no other Gods, period.
  •          Isaiah 44:12-20 – Foolishness of Man
  •          We may wish to have something physical we can touch and see, but God’s presence is tangible to those who have faith (Hebrews 11:1-3)

 

These commands seem similar, redundant – Why two commands?

  •          Apparently needed: Exodus 32:1-4 – the golden calf was called the God who brought them out of Egypt!
  •          We can be following something today we call the gospel but it is not – Galatians 1:6-7

 

God gives insight to why

Punishment:

 

Reward:

 

Are there examples of these commandments being broken?

  •          Judges 2:10-13 – Baal and Ashtoreths: A generation arose that did not know God, they were in comfort
  •          1 Samuel 7:3 – Baal and Ashtoreths: Cycle of waxing and waning for the Lord, peace and falling away followed by persecution and looking for God
  •          1 Kings 12:28 – Jeroboam: Fear of losing his following due to people traveling in other country, self-centeredness of the King, lack of care for the souls of his people
  •          Many more exist!

 

Key Point:

  •          Teach! Teach! Teach!
  •          Do not allow someone to not know the fundamentals

 

Are these commands part of the new law?

Conclusion:

  •          The old law was put in place to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).
  •          We learned about how God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.
  •          In the same way Christ delivers us from sin today! – Romans 6:1-6
  •          Just as the Israelites had to follow God’s commanded given to the people through Moses so we have to follow Christ’s commands (Hebrews 1:1-4Hebrews 2:1-4) (Exodus 20:6 – John 14:15)

 

 

Next Topic:  Commandment 3: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain”