The eighth commandment is a straightforward commandment that condemns theft, but it does more than that. It exhorts us to understand property ownership, be good stewards, and—most importantly—give cheerfully because God has cheerfully given so much to us.

Marriage is a comprehensive, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman, created by God for our good and for the expansion of the kingdom of God on Earth. We guard marriage, not because it is inherently fragile, but because it is precious. Marriage is harnessing powerful desires that are capable of tearing human society apart. These desires are so potent that we bind them with covenants and oaths before Almighty God, and seek to channel them in fruitful directions that build families, households, societies, and civilizations. Marriage is the foundation and seedbed of society.

The sixth commandment might even be the most popular of all the commandments. When it comes to the Hebrew word translated “murder” in verse 13 there’s actually not an exact correlation in English. In fact, in the old King James Version, the Hebrew word is translated “kill” — “Thou shalt not kill” — that’s how I first learned this commandment, but for us in English, we usually think differently about the words “kill” and “murder.” And I’m going to try to explain how we do this: Kill is a broader category, and murder is a narrower one. We use “kill” and “murder” to mean different thing — “kill” is broad, “murder” is narrow — and when it comes to the Hebrew word in verse 13, it’s sort of in between those. The Hebrew word means something narrower than our word “kill” but broader than our word “murder.” For a definition, basically, the Hebrew word for “murder” refers to the ending of life that is unlawful or forbidden, whether it is intentional or accidental.

Honoring father and mother, as we’ll see, is much bigger than childhood obedience. That’s just the beginning. It’s not less than that. But it is more.

This is our fifth message on the Ten Commandments, and today we move from the so-called “first table” (the first four, which are expressly Godward) to the “second table” (the last six, which are more horizontal, toward fellow humans).

Of the last six commandments, there is something appropriate about “honor your father and your mother” being the hinge from the first table to the second. Dad and Mom are very much like God to young children. It’s Dad and Mom that they know first, and learn to honor first, and in doing so, they are learning to honor God.

So, here’s the plan for this morning: Let’s walk the path from the cradle to the grave, more or less, as we consider what it means to honor father and mother, not just in childhood but throughout life, and how it extends into all areas of life. As with the first four commandments (and as we’ll see with the remaining five), there’s more to it than first meets the eye, and how the ripple effects go out into all of life.

So this morning in Exodus 20 we’re looking at the fourth commandment to “Remember the Sabbath” and I want to say right from the start that this commandment is not confusing — it’s as easy to read as the other nine commandments, however, when it comes to actual practice, this commandment is the most controversial. There is debate here not so much on the commandment itself, but on how we apply it, and when we apply it, and in what ways it’s different for us as Christians than it was for Israel.

The fourth commandment is a different commandment from the others because, two reasons: 1) Its application has changed in redemptive history; and 2) in the Gospels we see how the Pharisees abused the Sabbath — and we’re going to look at both of these — but my macro goal for this sermon is simply to show you that the fourth commandment counts. It matters! And we should not ignore it. So here’s the plan. I would like for us to look at two things: 'What is the Sabbath?' and 'How do we remember it?'

The Lord is jealous for our affections. He is uniquely worthy of our love. Our attitudes and deeds ought to reflect the truth that Yahweh is supreme. For this reason we are commanded: Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.

Only worship Yahweh. That's the first commandment. The second commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them.” In summary, the first commandment is to only worship Yahweh, and the second commandment is to only worship Yahweh in the way of Yahweh.

The first commandment is about the who of worship; the second commandment is about the how of worship. Only worship Yahweh in the way of Yahweh. And it’s that simple.

Today we continue our series through the book of Exodus, but with a little twist. The story thus far has led us to Mount Sinai, where the presence of God descends in fire and smoke, thunder and lightning and a trumpet blast in order to make a covenant with his newly delivered people. The rest of Exodus is devoted to the terms of that covenant—the laws and statutes that were to govern Israel’s life as God’s holy nation and royal priesthood (as well as some narrative sections detailing how the people respond). In fact, Israel will be in and around Sinai for the rest of Exodus, Leviticus, and halfway through Numbers, learning from Yahweh what he expects of them as his people.

We ought to read the Ten Commandments as the instructions of a loving Father to his firstborn son. These commandments show what God’s character is like—what he cares about and values, how he loves and what he prioritizes. And they do so, in order that God’s son—his people—will come to resemble and reflect him, to share his priorities and values, to join him in his loves and hates. In reflecting on the Ten Commandments, we’re seeking to understand the heart and character of our Father as he instructs us in how to live for our good and his glory.

One author writes: "I have often said that the sole cause of man's unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room." The writer writes this sentence as a lament to the busyness that surrounds him. Everyone is hurried, preoccupied, and distracted. We fill their lives with stuff, and then give the rest of their time in pursuit of the ability to acquire more stuff. Most of our energy is given to the attainment of things we do not yet have rather than the enjoyment of things we already have — and it’s an epidemic — and it is a spiritual problem. One writer has said "hurry is a form of violence to the soul." Because we cannot crowd our lives without crowding our hearts. Which means, if we’re honest, the space in our hearts is as jam-packed as the inn of Luke 2:7. We’ve got no room for a king.

"Yahweh is the Author. He is the Creator. He is the author of the story, and we are his characters. He is everywhere and everywhen. He hears and knows everything. He sees, he hears, he remembers his covenant, and he acts in faithfulness."