The 19th chapter of Exodus serves as a preamble to the commandments given by God to Israel through Moses in the following chapter. It informs us as to the purpose of the commandments, as well as to the perspective we should have toward them. The average modern person either believes the law is what saves you, that the law is what you have to do in order to receive salvation, or else they believe the law is something we have to get beyond in order to be truly free. But the Bible’s understanding of the spiritual purpose of the law is much more nuanced and much more beautiful.