Exodus 20:2-6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:6

And showing mercy unto thousands - Mark; even those who love God and keep his commandments merit nothing from him, and therefore the salvation and blessedness which these enjoy come from the mercy of God: Showing mercy, etc. What a disproportion between the works of justice and mercy! Justice works to the third or fourth, mercy to thousands of generations! The heathen had maxims like these. Theocritus also teaches that the children of the good shall be blessed because of their parents'... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

Verse 3 Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this commandment God enjoins that He alone should be worshipped, and requires a worship free from all superstition. For although it seems to be a simple prohibition, yet must we deduce an affirmation from the negative, as will be more apparent from the following words. Therefore does He set Himself before them, in order that the Israelites may look to Him alone; and claims His own just right, in order that it may not be transferred... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Verse 4 4.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. In the First Commandment, after He had taught who was the true God, He commanded that He alone should e worshipped; and now He defines what is His Legitimate Worship. Now, since these are two distinct things, we conclude that the commandments are also distinct, in which different things are treated of. The former indeed precedes in order, viz., that believers are to be contented with one God; but it would not be sufficient for us to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-2

The Ten Commandments-an introductory reminder. Before the speaker of these commandments proceeded to the utterance of them, it was necessary that he should call special and reverent attention to himself. Not one of the words he was about to say could either be understood or obeyed without a constant reference in thought to him who had delivered and arranged them. He did not bring them before Israel as a far seeing legislator might bring such rules as were best adapted to the limitations... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-2

Utility of a course of teaching on the commandments, that Divine law which can never be destroyed. Let those who object to the preaching of morality remember John Wesley's words: " I find more profit in sermons on either good tempers or good works than in what are vulgarly called 'gospel sermons.'" Consider— I. THE DIVISION AND GROUPING OF THE COMMANDMENTS . 1 . Division . We know that there are ten—the ten words—but how are the ten words made up? The modern... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-17

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-17

The ten commandments collectivety. The ten commandments form a summary of our main duties towards God, and towards man. They stand out from the rest of the Old Testament in a remarkable way. 1 . They were uttered audibly by a voice which thousands heard—a voice which is called that of God himself ( Deuteronomy 5:26 ) and which filled those who heard it with a terrible fear ( Exodus 20:19 ). 2 . They were the only direct utterance ever made by God to man under the Old Covenant. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-17

The ten commandments severally. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT . To the Christian the First Commandment takes the form which our Lord gave it—"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all-thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment' ( Matthew 22:37 , Matthew 22:38 ). Not merely abstract belief, not merely humble acknowledgment of one God is necessary, but heartfelt devotion to the One Object worthy of our devotion, the One Being in all the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-18

The moral law-General survey. View this law of the ten commandments as— I. AUTHORITATIVELY DELIVERED . "God spake all these words, saying," etc. ( Exodus 20:1 ). An authoritative revelation of moral law was necessary— 1 . That man might be made distinctly aware of the compass of his obligations . The moral knowledge originally possessed by man had gradually been parted with. What remained was distorted and confused. He had little right knowledge of his duty to God, and very... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:2

I am the Lord thy God . The ten precepts were prefaced by this distinct announcement of who it was that uttered them. God would have the Israelites clearly understand, that he himself gave them the commandments. It is only possible to reconcile the declarations of the New Testament, that the law was given by the ministration of angels ( Acts 7:53 ; Galatians 3:19 ; Hebrews 2:2 ) with this and other plain statements, by regarding God the Son as the actual speaker. As sent by his... read more

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