In this chapter, God informs the Israelites of the 10 commandments:
6-21:
- “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have any other gods besides me.”
- “Do not make an idol for yourself in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ iniquity to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.”
- “Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.”
- “Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you. You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Do not do any work – you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or donkey, any of your livestock, or the resident alien who lives within your city gates, so that your male and female slaves may rest as you do. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”
- “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and so that you may prosper in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
- “Do not murder.“
- “Do not commit adultery.”
- “Do not steal.”
- “Do not give dishonest testimony against your neighbor.“
- “Do not covet your neighbor’s wife or desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
32-33: “Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or the left. Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.
I realize that although I think I’m a good person and can say that I would never do any of the above, I also realize that it is more than just the actual act. It is what is in our thoughts.
Today, I want to go beyond the words of the 10 commandments and understand the true meaning behind them. I want to recognize when any ill thoughts cross my mind. I find myself tested quite a bit by others. Please give me patience during these encounters to recognize my thoughts and to think and talk to you before responding.