The Two Commandments Series

The Two Commandments

Exodus 19-24

CHCC: April 5, 2009

INTRODUCTION:

There was a Gallup Poll taken in 1990 which indicated that only 47% of the adult population in the United States knew more than five out of ten of the commandments. In fact, more people claimed to live by the ten commandments than those who knew what they were.

Before we talk ABOUT the 10 commandments, step one is to know what they are. None of us need to leave here without knowing what the 10 commandments are … they are printed in the Sermon Notes today. Let’s read together…

"Then God spoke all these words, saying 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.

You shall not make for yourself an idol.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet anything that is your neighbors.

Moses didn’t show up in Egypt with two stone tablets and say, "If you guys will agree to obey all these commands, God will deliver you from Egyptian slavery." Notice the verse that comes before the 10 commandments. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

First God Saved … THEN He Commanded.

1. The 10 Commandments are a document of grace

Have you ever heard anyone say, “The God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath while the God of the New Testament is a God of love.” If you actually READ the Old and the New Testament you find that the God who revealed himself to Moses as the great "I AM" is the same God who revealed Himself through Jesus in the New Testament.

The God of the Old Testament shows the same overwhelming love and grace as the God of the New Testament. Look how God introduced himself to His people. "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." God introduced himself as SAVIOR in the Old Testament as well as in the New.

The main difference is that the Old Testament tells a long history of God’s gradual revelation of Himself to individuals and then through the Nation of Israel. In the New Testament, the “mystery” is revealed … the promised Messiah arrives.

Since today is Palm Sunday we sang Palm Sunday related songs and involved the children in a Palm Sunday related program, But right now I am working on a new class for Vision International Univ. dealing with the way the Jewish feasts commanded in the Bible point to Jesus Christ. My study revealed to me that the palm branches and Hosanna’s we usually relegate to Palm Sunday were actually related to the events in the fall festival called the “feast of Tabernacles” It is at this feast that people wave tree branches and shout Hosanna (Lord, save us!) Therefore, the people who celebrated Christ’s entry into Jerusalem were taking a part of the fall festival, and using it to honor Jesus in the time of the Spring festival. This was an odd departure from the usual protocol.

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Mark 11:9

Hosanna! Means Save now!

2. The 10 Commandments fit within the 2 commandments

Matt. 22:36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.

Exodus 20:2-11, (summary)

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Matt. 22:39And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Exodus 20:12-17 (summary)

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet anything that is your neighbors.

Jesus was not just another rabbi among thousands. He was unique in so many ways, And here in Matthew’s gospel he reveals his ability to cut through the fog of legalism to give the essence of all law by boiling everything down to its most basic parts. He was able to take the Decalogue (10 commandments) and condense them to two simple rules. Love God and love others. If we are able to obey these simple admonitions we will wind up keeping the whole law.