_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ The general intent of the ten commandments as a covenant between God and Israel, Deuteronomy 5:1. The commandments, Deuteronomy 5:6. God writes them, and grants the people's request, that he would speak by Moses. 22-28. Exhortations to obedience. 29-33.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses called all Israel_ Moses having in his first discourse, by a general recapitulation of the mercies and providences which had attended them, prepared the minds of the Israelites for further impressions, summons them by their elders and representatives to a second meeting, in which, after repea... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers_ That is, with our remote progenitors, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but with us, their descendants: or if it be understood as spoken of their immediate parents, it means, according to the Hebrew idiom, _Not with our fathers only, but with us also_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord talked with you face to face_ Personally and immediately, and not by the mouth or ministry of Moses; plainly and certainly, as when two men speak face to face; freely and familiarly, so as not to overwhelm and confound you. It may also signify that they beheld a conspicuous symbol of the d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Between the Lord and you_ As a mediator, according to your desire. _The word of the Lord_ Moses does not mean the ten commandments, which God himself had uttered, but the other statutes and judgments following them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am the Lord thy God_ The ten commandments, delivered Exodus 20., are here repeated, with some small difference of words, but the sense is perfectly the same. There being little said concerning the spiritual meaning of the ten commandments in the notes there, it may not be improper to add a few in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt have no other gods before me_ Hast thou worshipped God in spirit and in truth? Hast thou made him the end of all thy actions? Hast thou sought for any happiness in preference to the knowledge and love of God? Dost thou experimentally know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not make any graven image_ Hast thou not formed any gross image of God in thy mind? Hast thou always thought of him as a pure spirit, whom no man hath seen, nor can see? and hast thou worshipped him with thy body, as well as with thy spirit, seeing both of them are God's?... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain_ Hast thou never used the name of God unless on solemn and weighty occasions? Hast thou then used it with the deepest awe? Hast thou duly honoured his word, his ordinances, his ministers? Hast thou considered all things as they stand in relat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it_ Dost thou do no work on this day, which can be done as well on another? Art thou peculiarly careful on this day to avoid all conversation which does not tend to the knowledge and love of God? Dost thou watch narrowly over all that are within thy gates, that they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Honour thy father and mother_ Hast thou not been irreverent or undutiful to either? Hast thou not slighted their advice? Hast thou cheerfully obeyed all their lawful commands? Hast thou loved and honoured their persons, supplied their wants, and concealed their infirmities? Hast thou fervently pray... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not kill_ Hast thou not tempted any one to what might shorten his life? Hast thou tempted none to intemperance? Hast thou suffered none to be intemperate under thy roof, or in thy company? Hast thou done all thou couldest, in every place, to prevent intemperance of all kinds? Art thou gu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou commit adultery_ If thou hast not been guilty of any act of uncleanness, hath thy heart conceived no unclean thought? Hast thou not looked on a woman so as to lust after her? Hast thou not betrayed thy own soul to temptation, by eating and drinking to the full, by needless famili... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou steal_ Hast thou seriously considered that these houses, lands, money, or goods, which thou hast been used to call thy own, are not thy own, but belong to another, even God? Hast thou ever considered that God is the sole proprietor of heaven and earth; the true owner of every thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour_ Hast thou not been guilty of evil-speaking; of needlessly repeating the real fault of thy neighbour? If we see a man do an evil thing, and tell it to another, unless from a full and clear conviction that it is necessary to mention it just... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou covet any thing, that is thy neighbour's_ The plain meaning of this is, Thou shalt not desire any thing that is not thy own, any thing which thou hast not. Indeed, why shouldest thou? God hath given thee whatever tends to thy one end, holiness. Thou canst not deny it, without mak... [ Continue Reading ]
_Out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness_ This was a dispensation of terror, designed to make the gospel of grace the more welcome, and to be a specimen of the terrors of the judgment day. _He added no more_ He ceased for that time to speak immediately, and with that lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why should we die_? For though God hath, for this season, kept us alive, yet we shall never be able to endure any further discourse from him in such a terrible manner, but shall certainly sink under the burden of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Flesh_ Is here put for a man in his frail, corruptible, and mortal state.... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that there were such a heart in them_! A heart to fear God, and keep his commandments for ever! The God of heaven is truly and earnestly desirous of the salvation of poor sinners. He has given abundant proof that he is so. He gives us time and space to repent; by his mercies he invites us to repe... [ Continue Reading ]