Exodus 20:1–17 “We Are Fed by Love and Live by Love”

Exodus 20:1-17 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Good Good Father – Chris Tomlin
• Matt Maher – Lord, I Need You
• Jesus At The Center – FC Music

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• The Ten Commandments | Stories of the Bible – Lesson for Kids
• Doxology | Cross Culture Thailand VBS | Outback Rock VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Love One Another (Yancy/Body Worship) – Kidspring Worship – Song for Kids
• Go Fish – The Ten Commandment Boogie – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Next, God gives the Ten Commandments to Moses. These commandments form the foundational spirit behind all the laws and ordinances that will be given later. The term “Ten Commandments” was developed in later times; in the Bible, they are referred to as the “Ten Words.”

God first declares that He is the One who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, setting them free (v. 2). The Ten Commandments are to be kept as a response to the grace of salvation that God has already given. The Law was never meant to be a means of earning salvation, but rather a faithful response from those who have been saved. Over time, however, people distorted this understanding and turned it into a legalistic religion, using the Law as a tool for salvation.

The original text does not number the commandments as “First, Second…”—that was added later by people. Due to this, there are slight differences in the way Judaism and Protestant churches number the Ten Commandments compared to the Roman Catholic Church.

In Judaism and most Protestant churches, the Ten Commandments are divided into four that relate to God (vv. 3; 4–6; 7; 8–11) and six that relate to other people (vv. 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17). In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church categorizes them as three commandments regarding God (vv. 3–6; 7; 8–11) and seven concerning human relationships (vv. 12–17, with v. 17 divided into two parts). Judaism and Protestant churches consider “Do not make idols” as the Second Commandment. At the same time, the Catholic tradition includes the First Commandment within itself and divides the final commandment into two. The Reformers believed this Catholic restructuring contributed to idolatry within the Church and thus adopted the Jewish structure. The Jewish and Protestant divisions align more closely with the original Hebrew text’s intent.

In terms of content, the Ten Commandments are structurally divided into two parts, with the Sabbath commandment at the center. The first section addresses commandments related to our relationship with God, and the second section deals with our relationships with other people. The Sabbath commandment acts as the bridge between the two. The Sabbath is a day to acknowledge, give thanks to, and celebrate God. When our relationship with God is rightly ordered, our relationships with others also become rightly ordered. This is the order of creation established by God. All human problems—whether internal struggles or societal issues—can ultimately be traced back to a broken relationship with God. To solve such problems, we must return to the root: our relationship with God.

This same structure appears in the prayer Jesus taught us. The first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer (for God’s name, kingdom, and will) focus on our relationship with God. The next three (for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from temptation) concern our life within that relationship. In order to live rightly, we must first be in a right relationship with God.

Meditation:

Through the Ten Words (the Ten Commandments), God clearly reveals the order of life that was established at creation. Every problem in life begins when our relationship with God becomes distorted. Therefore, we must first enter into a right relationship with God. That’s why the first four commandments focus on our relationship with Him. We are to acknowledge the one true God and worship Him rightly.

When our relationship with God is restored, our relationships with neighbors and with all other forms of life can also be properly aligned. The six commandments that follow are the result of faithfully keeping the first four. A person who is in a right relationship with God will honor their parents, will not commit murder, adultery, theft, or bear false witness, and will not harbor greed. This is the way of a blessed life.

God describes Himself as “a jealous God” (v. 5). This is a rhetorical expression that actually conveys the meaning of “a God who loves passionately.” God loves humanity with deep and burning affection. He desires every human being to live fully and blessedly within His created order. That is why He gave the Ten Commandments, and why He commands us to worship Him first and foremost. Only when we do so can we live a truly blessed life.

Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments into two: love for God and love for neighbor. All of God’s laws are summed up in the Ten Commandments, and the Ten Commandments are summed up in these two loves. And if you were to summarize both in one word, it would be “love.” This refers to the perfect and eternal love that was revealed on the cross. It is God’s will for us to encounter that love, to be nourished by that love, and to live by that love. That is why we say the Ten Commandments are fulfilled in the cross.

Prayer:

Lord, who revealed the perfect love of God on the cross, thank You for redeeming our selfish love through that love and for helping us come to know true, perfect love. Help us to grow in that love and to live by it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God gave us the Ten Commandments not to control us, but to guide us into a life filled with love, peace, and right relationships. When we love God first, we learn how to love others well. God’s love, shown perfectly through Jesus on the cross, is the foundation for how we live every day, with love that grows from His heart.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • What are some ways we can show love to God every day?
  • How does loving God help us treat our parents, friends, and others kindly?
  • If Jesus says the Ten Commandments are really about love, what does that tell us about God’s heart?
    
• For Youth
  
  • Why do you think God begins the Ten Commandments by reminding us of His love and rescue (Exodus 20:2)?
  • How does loving God first change the way we see and treat others, especially when it’s hard?
  • What does it mean to you personally to “eat love and live by love” in your school, home, or online life?