The Ten Commandments
God's Rules
Exodus 20about 2 minutes to read aloud
Three months after Israel left Egypt, they camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. The mountain trembled. A thick cloud covered it, and a trumpet sounded from within.
The Lord called Moses up the mountain. Thunder rolled, and lightning flashed, and the people stood back in fear. The Lord would speak His law in the hearing of all Israel.
"I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt," He said. Then He gave ten commandments — the first four about loving God: Worship no other gods. Make no idols. Do not misuse my name. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
And six about loving neighbor: Honor your father and mother. Do not murder. Keep your marriage promises. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Do not covet what belongs to someone else.
God wrote the ten words on two tablets of stone with His own finger. Moses carried them down the mountain in his hands.
The commandments were not chains. They were the shape of a life that belongs to God — a life that loves Him first and loves the neighbor next door. This is what it looks like to be His people.
Questions to talk about
Where did God give Moses the Ten Commandments?
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God gave the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.
On what were the commandments written?
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God wrote the commandments on two tablets of stone with His own finger.
What do the Ten Commandments teach us to do?
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The first four are about loving God; the next six are about loving our neighbor.
The lesson
God gave His law to teach His people how to love Him and one another. His commands are good, for He is good.
