“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-15
Memory Verse: And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:1-3
Introduction:
God brought the Israelites out of slavery and out of bondage in Egypt. He also brought them out of the spiritual bondage to false idols. He did this to make Israel a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. God through Moses in Deuteronomy 7 says this very well. It was not because the Israelites were more numerous that the LORD loves them. Instead, it is because the LORD their God is the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments and repays those who hate Him.
It is very appropriate for God to speak plainly as He begins the Ten Commandments. He begins with “I am the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:1). By this God declares His authority to enact this law. He asserts Himself to be the only object of worship. They are to obey these commandments because God is the LORD, the creator of the universe. He is worthy of worship. He rewards obedience and punishes disobedience.
He was their God and in a covenant relationship with them. Today, through Christ, baptized believers are in a covenant relationship with Him. We also are to obey because He brought us out of our slavery to sin just as He took the Israelites out of the land of Egypt (John 8:34). By redeeming us, we owe our service to Him. With Christ having rescued us out of bondage to sin, He is entitled to the best service that we can give to Him (Luke 1:74).
The first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). It is concerned with the object of our worship. It is to be the LORD God and Him only. The Egyptians had many gods and so did other neighboring nations. Disobedience to this commandment for us is when we give glory and honor to any creature which is due to God only. Pride makes a god of self. Covetousness makes a god of money and possessions. Sexual sins make a god of the human body. Whenever something is loved, served, or feared more than God, we will in effect make it a god.
The last words of the commandment are “before Me.” By this, God makes it clear that He will know if we put other gods before Him and also that He will not overlook this sin.
Lesson Questions:
- What did Jesus say was the first and great commandment of the law? Mark 12:28-30
- Why should God be reverenced and worshipped? Deuteronomy 4:39; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 45:22-23; 44:6; Revelations 1:8; 15:3
- Are we able to comprehend the power and wisdom of God? Jeremiah 10:12-13; Isaiah 45:5, 12
- Given our position compared to God’s, what should be our attitude toward Him? Job 40:3-5; Isaiah 55:8-9; James 4:14
- How did the first commandment get broken before Mount Sinai in Genesis 31:19, 30?
- What was David’s reason for worshipping God alone? 1 Chronicles 16:23-27
- What statement regarding other gods does Paul make? 1 Corinthians 8:4-6
- How was the rich young ruler breaking the first commandment? Luke 18:18-23
- Before his conversion, was Zacchaeus disobedient to the first commandment? Luke 19:8-10
- What does Jesus say of worshipping the god of mammon? Matthew 6:19-24