Tuesday 30 July 2024
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me." (vs 2-3)
Background
Jesus gave the people a very straightforward summary of the Law when he said: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind " and "Love your neighbour as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-40)
Today’s reading from Exodus contains the traditional ‘Ten Commandments’ of the Hebrew scripture and were given by God to Moses. They can be divided into two parts which are parallel with the two parts of Jesus’ ‘New Commandment’. The first four of these commandments (vs 1-11) are about our relationship to God and the remainder are about our relationships with one another.
We often find the Ten Commandments written on great stone slabs at the front of a church, a reminder that Moses brought them down the mountain on two stones, having met with God. These rules were intended to help this ragged group of former slaves to develop into a cohesive ‘nation’, sharing the same values and worshipping the same God.
It would be possible to write a study on each one of the commandments (and many have done it). In the centuries following the recording of the stories in Exodus, there was unceasing debate between rabbis about how each commandment should be observed in practice. Jesus himself was challenged on his behaviour in relation to some of them, not least the keeping of the Sabbath (the day of rest) which he declared to be made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
To Ponder:
- Which of the commandments do you find the most difficult to understand, to relate to today, or to keep?
- These days the commandments are seldom read in many of our churches. Why do you think that is?
Prayer
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you." Thank you, Lord, for reminding us the way we relate to you is intimately related to the way we relate to our fellow human beings. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Pamela Cram
Pamela worked in several circuits and ecumenical posts in Wales before retiring in the Swansea Valley, where she is involved in a non-denominational community project; a church partnership with a Welsh independent church; and action for Fairtrade.