The Ten Commandments

Introduction: The Lord is Holy and his people must be Holy.

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt they came to the Desert of Sinai. Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain of Sinai. Then Moses went up the mountain to God, and the LORD said, "This is what you are to say to the people of Israel: 4`You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you as if on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession and you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and told them all the LORD had commanded him to say. The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer to the LORD. Then God said to Moses, "In three days I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will

hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you. Go to the people and have them prepare themselves today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day I will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put a boundary around the mountain and tell the people, `Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain." After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations."

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a

very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. The LORD had descended on Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people not to cross the boundary, to not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish." So Moses went down and told the people.

And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no

other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the

earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold

anyone guiltless who misuses his name. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work but on the 7 th day you shall rest. "Honor your father and your mother. "You shall not murder. "You shall not commit adultery. "You shall not steal. "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or

maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: `You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to

you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold and I will bless you.