Reading 23 | The Bible in 100 Passages

Monday, October 6, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Exodus 20:1–17

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (NRSV)

Reflection

I remember one of my first exposures to the Ten Commandments as a sevenish-year-old boy at Lutheran school. Although the Commandments were read to us earlier, now it was time for us to memorize them and their meanings and recite them as part of our report card grade. I remember thinking, “Why does God need to tell us things like not to kill folks, not to steal stuff” — even though that one made sense, because someone did steal a lunch bag once. At seven, most of us do not understand that we humans can do some very ungodly things. This seemed inconceivable at the time, because I knew no murderers, very few thieves, and had no idea what adultery is. Also, we weren’t coveting anyone’s girlfriend, because most of us boys were not fond of hanging out with girls yet.

As my Christian journey continued, I learned the context of this God-given gift to the Israelites just freed from Pharaoh’s bondage and now able to do as they pleased for the first time in their lives. They needed guidance (in the hood, we called it “Home Training”), and our loving God gave them guidance to help these newly free Israelites have a way to live happily with each other and in right relationship with God as a new community under God.

I learned that the Ten Commandments provided guidance around these two themes: first, they reveal God’s nature and how humans must behave in reverence to God. Second, the way we must relate to and treat others with respect for their lives, property, and well-being. Our Lord Jesus summed up all ten in just two commands: love God and love each other (Matthew 22:36–40). If we do these things, we will most certainly live a life with fulfilling human relationships and in right relationship with God.

Prayer

Loving God, help us to follow Jesus’ command of love for you and for our neighbors. Also, let us never lose sight that salvation does not come from commandments but from faith in our resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Written by Ken Gaines, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email