The Ten Commandments

But soon after their rescue from Egypt, the Israelites complained to Moses, saying, “You brought us out into the wilderness to die. We have no water and we have no food.”

Showing great mercy, the Lord responded to their doubt by bringing them water. And He also said, “Watch, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and you shall go out every morning and gather it.” He did, and they called it “manna.”

Soon this nation camped around a mountain in the desert of Sinai. Suddenly, there was thunder and lightning on the mountain, and out of a thick cloud, the sound of a trumpet blew so loud that all the people trembled. Then the Lord, cloaked in fire, descended on the mountain, and the whole mountain shuddered.

The Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain and gave him the Ten Commandments.

And the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain and spoke these words to him: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” And as the Lord spoke, He wrote these ten commandments on tables of stone.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols or bow down to them, nor serve them.

3. You shall not use the name of the Lord your God disrespectfully.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not lie about your neighbor.

10. You shall not lust for your neighbor’s house, or his wife, or any thing that is your neighbor’s.

The Lord gave His perfect standard of holiness through these laws, but then He also showed Moses what people must do when they broke those laws.

The Lord said, “You must build an altar and dedicate it to Me. You shall make sacrifice on it and I will bless you. The blood will be a covering for your sin and I will forgive you.”