Lent · Third Sunday in 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
Enduring Word Bible Commentary Exodus Chapter 20 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik walks each of the Ten Commandments with its covenant setting at Sinai.
Commentary on Exodus 20:1-17 Working Preacher
The RCL Lent 3B first reading, read as gracious covenant law rather than mere prohibition.
Exodus 20:1-17 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on the two tables and the beauty of the commandments as words of life.
Exodus 20 Commentary Precept Austin
An in-depth study gathering sources on the Decalogue with Hebrew notes and cross references.
Exodus 20:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic verse-by-verse commentaries on the giving of the Law at Sinai.
Background & Word Study
Exodus | Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Exodus, the Sinai covenant, and the shape of the book.
Exodus 20 Sefaria
The Hebrew text with classical Jewish commentary (Rashi, Ibn Ezra) on the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew text word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for the Decalogue.
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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