Exodus 20:12-26

There are three parts to today's passage (Exodus 20:12-26).

A. Commandments that relate to both God and man. (12-17)

B. The people's fear and Moses comfort to them. (18-21)

C. God's command for Israel to build an altar where they could worship God. (22-26)

The last six commandments:

A. Honor (revere) (burdened with) your parents. Blessing: "Your life may be long in the land God is giving you" Bottom line is God blesses those who honor their parents. It's caring for our parents. It's allowing ourselves to have that deep caring for our parents, and doing what is right in God's sight!

B. Do not murder. What I found interesting was the reminder I came across that there is a distinction between murder and kill. We are instructed not to kill without any legal reason. This only makes a difference if there was a point of having to do it to protect ourselves if we were gravely in danger. It opens up the verse and reminds me that there is a difference...

C. Do not commit adultery (see Matt 5:28). D. Do not covet or steal (see Eph 4:28). E. Do not lie to our neighbors. These all really boil down to a heart issue at some level.

Israel and Moses:

The Israelites were very fearful, hearing God's mighty voice, air filled with smoke, seeing great thunder and lightening, sounds of the trumpet. Moses comforted them. How could he comfort them? He knew God's love. How did he know the love of God? Moses had a relationship with God!  The fear of God would keep them from sinning against God.

Altar:

Israel saw God and His might for themselves. God commanded them to make no idols, but worship the Lord alone. God called them to make a specific altar that would not be defiled: a place where they could worship God, sacrificing to Him, and God would come to them and bless them.