| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And God spake all these words, saying, |
God spake all these words – The first tables of the Law were prepared and written by the Lord himself. This represents how man in his creation was a perfect image of his Creator. R5298:6
God's original law to man was given in Eden, written in Adam's heart, in the sense that he was created in the divine image. R5286:3
The Decalogue has a depth of meaning not seen until Jesus "magnified the law and made it honorable." (Isa. 42:21) R5286:2
Jesus gave the Law to Moses as the representative of the Father. R5622:5
The Law given at Sinai has been the basis of all laws since. SM380:T
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| 2 I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. |
Which have brought thee – Showing that the Ten Commandments were given only to Israel after the flesh. R1726:5, R971:4
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| 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. |
Thou shalt – The Decalogue is a brief synopsis of the whole Law. A45
Neither the angelic sons nor the New Creation are under the Sinaitic Law, or need it. F365
No other gods before me – Mighty ones, my equals. E40
God shall have first place in the human heart. Any division of the heart or strength or mind or soul violates this commandment. R5286:3
We shall not permit wealth or anything else to take away our minds from the Lord. R5094:5
Idolizing husbands, wives or wealth is idolatry. R5071:5, R4014:4
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| 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any form of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: |
Any graven image – God would not have any symbols before his people, but have them worship him in spirit and in truth. R5627:3, R3038:2, R5298:1
With spiritual Israel even fathers, mothers, wives and children might take the place of the Lord in our affections, as well as idols of wealth, social and personal ambition, etc. R3038:2, R3753:3
Under the earth – Not subterranean waters, but the seas which are below the level of the "dry land" called the earth. R1813:2
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| 5 thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, |
Bow down thyself to them – Shaw-kaw, worship. Not a prohibition of reverence to the honorable, but against image worship or worship of any rival gods. E73
The Jews did not err in doing reverence (shaw-kaw) to angels who came in Jehovah's name. B73
Am a jealous God – Who wants all of our affections, confidence and trust. This is for our good and is not selfishness on his part. R3038:3, R4789:2
God's jealousy is just and is sure to bring to the sinner a just punishment. R4789:2
The impropriety of jealousy is when it leads to bitterness and other like qualities to which the fallen human mind is subject. R4789:2
Upon the children – Does not represent anger, bitterness, resentment, selfishness, but the law of nature, under which, in wisdom, God has placed humanity. R3038:3-4
The doctrine of the ransom is linked to the doctrine that condemnation passed to Adam's posterity through the channel of natural birth. R2668:2
Unto the third and fourth – Contrary to Darwin, deviations from the species prototype are corrected in the course of three generations--N. Y Times. R4859:6*
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| 6 and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. |
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| 7 Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. |
Not take the name – This command was given to Israel only, who had come into relationship with God through the Law covenant. Many of the Jews tried very hard outwardly to keep the Ten Commandments. R5404:2
Although this commandment was not given to spiritual Israel, the spirit of it applies to us. Let us, therefore, walk circumspectly, that we bring no dishonor to that hallowed name, but honor it in our every thought and deed. R5404:6, R4014:5, R3038:5, R1527:6
In vain – Lightly, frivolously, or in any other than a sacred or reverential manner. R3038:5, R1527:3
"Thou desirest truth in the inward parts." (Psa. 51:6) "Let every one that namethm iniquity." (2 Tim. 2:19) R1527:3
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| 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. |
The sabbath day – The fourth commandment was never given to the Church. R5072:1
A higher thought than that of physical rest is given to the Church. The seventh day typifies the rest of faith for the people of God. R5071:6, R5360:1, R4015:1, R1499:4
Typically, the thousand-year day, the Millennial age. Then humanity will be at rest from Satan and from sin. R5071:6, R5640:5, R1499:4, R91:6*; B40; Q607:4
We should neither consider ourselves under Mosaic Law nor repudiate the Sabbath entirely. R3752:2
Spiritual Israel keeps Sabbath every day-resting in the finished work of God, resting from our own endeavors to justify ourselves. R3753:4
Let our homes be the most quiet, let no sound of labor or worldly pleasure be heard on the appointed day of rest. R3753:6
Keep it holy – As a day of rest, and no more. R4995:3
Whoever abides in Christ is a sabbath-keeper. R5071:6
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| 9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; |
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| 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: |
The seventh day – Not the first day. If this commandment is binding at all it is binding as stated and cannot be changed. R1727:2
The prominence of the seventh day holds good in the week of creation, the ordinary week and the week of thousands. R91:5*
No matter how the first day of the week, Sunday, was originally set apart as sacred, it contains a great blessing. R2534:5, R2535:1
We advocate observance of Sunday because: (1) we would not wish to see it fall into disuse; (2) we would not lead others to violate less-enlightened consciences; and (3) to maintain proper religious influence with neighbors. R2535:4, R3753:5
Typified a coming blessing to spiritual Israel. OV250:5
The Christian's rest is not of one day, but of all; well-illustrated in the seventh day which typified it, for seven is the symbol of completeness. R543:6
Not do any work – It does not say to cease from ordinary work and engage in religious work; but prohibits all kinds of work. R1727:1, R971:5
As soon as we begin to believe we begin to enter into this rest which need never end. "We which have believed do enter into rest." (Heb. 4:3) R3753:4
This rest was merely typical and prophetic of the coming restitution peace and blessing. OV118:3
Our rest in the Lord is as complete as is our belief in him. He who believes fully, rests fully; he who only believes partially, rests but partially. R2534:4
While never losing sight of his real sabbaths, the spiritual Israelite nevertheless should avail himself of any arrangements of nominal Christendom favorable to his spiritual resting. R2534:5
While chiefly a type, experience proves that such a rest is necessary from the physical standpoint. R2534:6
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| 11 for in six days Jehovah made the heavens and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and sanctified it. |
The LORD made – Not creation but preparation for use. R300:1*
Rested the seventh day – Letting humanity measurably take its own course in sin, leaving all the work of restitution to be accomplished by Christ in his reign. R975:4
Because in his plan everything was fully arranged for--"the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Heb. 4:3) R975:4
But it does not follow that God's rest day was a 24-hour day, nor that he rested in the same sense as the Israelites were commanded. R1731:3
Jesus said, "The Father worketh hitherto, and (now) I work." (John 5:17) R975:4
A higher thought than that of physical rest is given the Church. The seventh day typifies the rest of faith for the people of God. R5071:6, R5360:1, R4015:1
Blessed the sabbath day – Type of the greater sabbath-the heavenly. Q759:3
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| 12 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. |
Honour thy father – Although always deserving of consideration from their children, the degree of respect must depend upon the character of the parent to some extent. R5287:3
The parents are, in the divine arrangement, the priests of God in respect to their children. R5287:5
Sunday Schools may weaken the respect of the children for the parents and may release the parents from an appreciation of their responsibilities toward their children. R5287:5
Extending beyond the childhood obligation to obey, the duty of honoring parents extends from the cradle to the grave. R2024:3
Absalom is a distinguished example of dishonor to a father, and the resultant cuffing off in the prime of life. R3262:1
If our forefathers were monkeys, as so many now teach, why should we have much honor or respect for them? R4019:3
To the spiritual Israelite, this would mean our Father in heaven. R4019:3, R3044:6
And thy mother – Showing that man and woman are joint-inheritors of the earthly dominion. R1553:6
To the spiritual Israelite, this would mean God's original covenant with Abraham, typified by Sarah. R4019:5, R3044:6
Long upon the land – Children obedient to parents are more inclined to obedience to country and Creator. Such obedience would be favorable to old age. R3044:6
The fact that the Jews did not dwell long in the land given them is evidence that they did not keep this commandment properly. R3044. 6
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| 13 Thou shalt not murder. |
Thou shalt not kill – Any malice, hatred or anger is of the murder spirit. R4019:6, R5286:3
We are not to have an angry spirit of murder, restrained merely by fear of consequences. R5287:6
Life is to be prized, not jeopardized. R5287:6
Nothing in this commandment forbids the killing of animals when necessary, nor the execution of criminals. R5287:6, R4019:5, R3045:1
Murder is always wrong; killing is sometimes right, sometimes duty; but the destruction of birds, beasts and fishes wantonly, or for sport, is wrong. R3045:1
To take another's life is wrong, except when God's own Law demands it. SM352:1
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| 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. |
Not commit adultery – "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matt. 5:28) In other words,the spiritly hindered by circumstances and conditions, is in God's sight as serious, as criminal, as to have really done that wrong. R4020:4, R5286:3
Purity, no adulteration, is the divine requirement. R5288:1
As the Lord's betrothed, the Church is to be uncontaminated, unadulterated, separate from the world. R3045:3
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| 15 Thou shalt not steal. |
Thou shalt not steal – A proper recognition of the property and rights of others, covering every form of theft, both public and private. R4020:4
Applies to defrauding another in any manner, depriving him of rights, liberties, or a good name, as well as of money or property. R3045:3
Including untruthful advertisements, misleading information, or misrepresentation. R3045:4
Includes making false tax returns, avoiding payment of customs duty and failure to give agreed upon services to employers. R5288:1
The worst form of stealing concerns the Scriptural instruction, "speak evil of no man. (Titus 3:2) R5288:1
To do so is wrong, unjust. SM352:1
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| 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. |
Bear false witness – Even by a nod of the head, the shrugging of the shoulder, or by silence. R3045:5
The spirit of this injunction may be violated, and is violated every day not only by misrepresenting the goods we sell, or the goods we wish to buy, but in a thousand ways of slandering a neighbor. R5288:4
To do so would be an injustice. SM352:1
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| 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's. |
Shalt not covet – Covetousness is a heart disease which has to do with every other crime; for all sins have their basis in selfishness. R5288:4
Covetousness is an enviousness of the possessions of others and a desire to appropriate them for ourselves. R4021:4
Covetousness is like drinking the salt waters of the sea, which only increase the thirst. R2340:6
Covetousness first led Satan to disloyalty and sin. R3046:1
Not a desire to prosper as well as one's neighbor, but to possess the possession of our neighbor. R2340:1
The climax of all commandments respecting our relationship to our fellow-man. R4021:4
"Godliness with contentment (absence of covetousness) is great gain." (1 Tim. 6:6) R3046:1
Covetousness is wholly foreign to the spirit of Christ. To the extent that the spirit of Christ dwells in his members they will be free from it. R971:3, R1726:4
Only one covetousness is encouraged – "Covet earnestly the best gifts (1 Cor 12:31) – the gifts of divine grace which robs not others, does not make God poorer. R2340
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| 18 And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. |
Noise of the trumpet – Type of the seventh trumpet. D630
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| 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. |
Said unto Moses – The typical Mediator between God and Israel. R4537:1, R2858:6
Representing Jesus, the Mediator "between God and man," the world. R4537:4; A79; B255; D630
Moses undertook to bless Israel by mediating for them with God the Law covenant, but failed because they were unable to keep the Law of God perfectly. R4537:1
Lest we die – Because we cannot stand even a reflection of the spiritual glory of the Lord. B131
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| 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not. |
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| 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. |
Where God was – All of this was typical. R5294:3
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| 22 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. |
The children of Israel – Who typified the world of mankind. R4537:1
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| 23 Ye shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. |
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| 24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee. |
Peace-offerings – Type of entire consecration to God during the next age. T98
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| 25 And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. |
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| 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon. |
Go up by steps – We cannot come to Christ by steps. We must come as we are and come at once. R101:5*
Nakedness be not discovered – When we try to break off old habits and be good by ourselves climbing up a few steps and coming to Christ-the shame of our nakedness appears. R101:5*
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