Exodus 20:12-17 - God's Basis For Society
- Alan Salwei
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
An orderly society is one that honors God's commandments.
We read through the first table of God's Law yesterday. Today we'll read the second.
Exodus 20:12–17 (NIV)
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Q&A 93
Q. How are the Ten Commandments divided?
A. Into two tables.
The first has four commandments,
teaching us what our relation to God should be.
The second has six commandments,
teaching us what we owe our neighbor.
Summary
Today’s passage is the second portion of the Ten Commandments. While the first four commandments dealt with our relationship with God, these six commandments address how to live in relation with one another.
These commandments were given at Mount Sinai, instructing the Israelites how to live into God’s moral expectations for His people. God’s morality is unchanging. While directed towards the Israelites, these commands are relevant and meant to be followed by all of God’s people.
As these commandments turn from our relationship with God to our relationship with our fellow man, God begins by addressing our relationship with our parents. The command to honor your father and mother is an anchor for a healthy society. This is also the commandment that comes with a promise, if the Israelites are faithful in honoring their parents their days will be long in the land the LORD is giving to them.
The following commandments are foundational for a functioning society. Nations have laws against murder and theft, while the commands against adultery and coveting emphasize the importance of faithfulness in our relationships with one another.
Dig Deeper
In the book of Exodus, we find events that God used to test the people as well as examples of God’s provision. Earlier this week we covered how God miraculously fed millions of Israelites each day with bread called manna and then made water burst forth from a rock so the people had water to drink.
While these commandments were given to the Israelites for them to follow and obey, they are also another means of God’s provision. This is especially apparent in these final six commandments which speak to how to live in relationship with one another. How we treat one another can make the difference between a peaceful society and complete anarchy.
If you are paying attention to recent events in the United States, then you are aware of the deeply rooted divisions between different groups of people. Each person is different than every other person to ever live, we have different thoughts, ideas, and beliefs.
While not everyone will agree with one another, are we treating each other well? In these final six commandments we are provided with guidance on how to live in relationship with one another. During his adult ministry, Jesus addresses many of these commandments and the spirit behind them. He taught that it was not enough to not murder, but we also must not harbor anger towards one another in our hearts.
Are you living within God’s commands regarding your relationship with others? Do you follow not just the command, but the spirit behind the command by not harboring anger towards others, even those with viewpoints you find disagreeable? Find time to consider how you are, or are not, following these commands, as our love for God can be seen in how we love others.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who created us to live in good relationships with Him and our neighbors;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will honor God's commandments for a godly society in the way you treat others;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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