Pentecost Season · Proper 22 · Year A
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
The Ten Commandments
October 4, 2026
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
Working Preacher: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis on the Decalogue as covenant that forms community.
CEP: Exodus 20:1-17 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the Ten Commandments and the God who gives them.
Enduring Word: Exodus 20 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the chapter.
Precept Austin: Exodus 20 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse-level study helps, Hebrew word notes, and gathered quotations.
BibleHub: Exodus 20:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on the giving of the Law.
Background & Word Study
Sefaria: Exodus 20 (Hebrew) Sefaria
Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the Decalogue.
BibleHub Interlinear: Exodus 20:1 BibleHub
Hebrew text with parsing for the commandments and the Sinai theophany.
Enter the Bible: Exodus Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Exodus and the Sinai covenant.
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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