A Deep Dive into Scripture
Now these are the Ordinances which you shall set before them. When you buy a Hebrew slave … When a man sells his daughter … Ex. 21: 1, 2, 7 The first set of laws of the Book of the Covenant, after the introductory altar laws, have to do with slavery. Why this prominence? We … Read more
An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings … Ex. 20:24 We leave the people standing far off and follow Moses up the mountain through the thick darkness, into the presence of God, to hear His will for His people. What follows is a … Read more
Now as all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blast of the shofar and the mountain smoking, they became afraid and trembled. So they took up a position farther away and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we shall die.” … Read more
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17 We are used to thinking of the 10 commandments in the category which scholars call “moral law.” By this is meant that they … Read more
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20: 16 The grand cadence of the first chapter of Genesis is driven by the simple phrase, “and God said…” When God speaks, creation comes into existence, alive with glory. This is called divine fiat by theologians. All following divine “words” in Scripture are but … Read more
You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15 I find myself both appalled and fascinated by Gollum as he sickly coos over his “precious,” the ring he murdered for and stole. When Bilbo comes upon it inadvertently, Gollum wails out “thief!” What makes Gollum so fascinating? Is not he something uncomfortably close to all of us … … Read more
You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20: 14 We begin with the dramatic and sobering words from Proverbs seven, “For she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of dead” (vv. 26-27). “Adultery,” as this English … Read more
You shall not kill. Exodus 20:13 It would seem that of all the commandments, this prohibition against murder is the easiest one to fulfill. After all, comparatively few actually commit this act in their lifetimes. We are aware of our Lord’s expansion of this commandment to include anger and insults (Matt. 5:22), but it is … Read more
Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 We are, to a frightening extent, like God. When God made us in His “image,” he molded us into little models of Himself, in some mysterious way comparable and compatible, body … Read more
Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early … John 20:1 It is clear from the earliest accounts that Christians worshiped on the first day of the week, the day of resurrection (Matt. 28:1, Mk. 16:2,9, Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1, Acts 20:7, I Cor. 16:2). However, we have … Read more