Lenten Season · Third Sunday of Lent · Year B
Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments
February 28, 2027
Overview & Insights
“And God spoke all these words… you shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1–3)
Most people have some awareness of the Ten Commandments as a set of rules or laws but are less familiar with the significance of their relational context. Interpreters have also frequently examined the commands (law) in isolation from the narrative of Exodus 1–19. In the biblical context the commands are not abstractions of ethical principles. They are woven into a specific account in which the Lord had delivered, forgiven, redeemed, and formed the people. In the preceding chapter, the Lord had invited them into a special relationship as a “kingdom of priests” in relation to the world (19:5–6), and the people had accepted this invitation. The formation of Israel as the people of God began with their dramatic deliverance from bondage and continues in Exodus 20–23 with the giving of the first Sinaitic laws. The laws provided boundaries and instruction that protected and sustained the freedom introduced by the exodus.
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Commentary
Commentary on Exodus 20:1-17 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary reads the Ten Commandments as covenant terms that keep a liberated people free (RCL Year B match).
Exodus 20:1-17 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary placing the Decalogue in service of the gospel during Lent.
Enduring Word Commentary: Exodus 20 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse treatment of each of the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep verse-by-verse study collating multiple conservative commentators and word notes on the Decalogue.
Exodus 20:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on the giving of the Law gathered on one page.
Background & Word Study
Exodus 20 - Sefaria Sefaria
Hebrew text of the Ten Commandments with classical Jewish commentary and translation.
Exodus 20:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew word-by-word interlinear with parsing and Strong's numbers for the Decalogue.
Exodus - Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary book introduction on Exodus, covenant, and the shape of the Sinai narrative.
The 10 Commandments as Wisdom BibleProject
Theme video framing the commandments as God's wisdom for a flourishing covenant life.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What are these commandments?
Exodus 20 gives the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue) at Sinai, the heart of the covenant: love of God in the first commands, love of neighbor in the rest. They come as gift to a people God has already redeemed from Egypt.
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