We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. עֶרְוָה nakedness, being without clothing or covering. It is used 54 times in the Old Testament. When we find our word used to describe a situation that needs to be prevented or remedied. Shem and Japheth cover up their father. Genesis 9:22-23 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father עֶרְוַ֣ת naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s עֶרְוַ֣ת naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father וְעֶרְוַ֥ת naked. God instructs the priests to have special clothes made to prevent their exposure. Exodus 28:42-43 You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their עֶרְוָ֑ה naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs; and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ your nakedness be not exposed on it. God not only is setting this standard of modesty for himself he also commands his people to do the same. We find our word used the most in Leviticus chapter 18. God spells out extensively what is to be expected in family relationships as it relates to our word. Leviticus 18:6 None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives לְגַלּ֣וֹת עֶרְוָ֑ה to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord. This phrase is used 15 times in Leviticus chapter 18. God specifically identifies father, mother, father’s wife, sister, son’s daughter, father’s wife’s daughter, father’s sister, mother’s sister, father’s brother’s wife, daughter-in-law, and brother’s wife. Notice the reasons God gives. Leviticus 18:17 They are relatives; it is depravity. And in our passage God simply says, “I am the LORD”. This reminds me of a few days ago when we looked at God calling us a holy nation. I’ll close with how the Holy Spirit ties this together in the New Testament through Peter. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Our word for today is the contrast of setting up images of silver and gold as part of worship to God. We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. מִזְבֵּחַ altar, a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made. It is used 401 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Since the very beginning we find God’s people building an altar to God most of the time to offer sacrifice to God but few times as a way to remember what God has done. We see Noah doing this right after the flood. Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an מִזְבֵּ֖חַ altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. Abram does this as well. Genesis 12:7-8 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an מִזְבֵּ֔חַ altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. Jacob also builds an altar. Genesis 35:1, 3, 7 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an מִזְבֵּ֔חַ altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”…Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an מִזְבֵּ֗חַ altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone…There he built an מִזְבֵּ֔חַ altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

We see this a lot throughout the rest of the Old Testament. Here are those identified as building an altar to the LORD YHWH: Moses (Exodus 17:15), Joshua (Joshua 8:30), the tribes of Reuben and Manasseh (Joshua 22:10), Gideon (Judges 6:24), Samuel (1 Samuel 7:17), Saul builds an altar (1 Samuel 14:35), David (2 Samuel 24:25), Solomon (1 Kings 9:25), Elijah (1 Kings 18:32), Uriah the priest (2 Kings 16:11), Zerubbabel and priests (Ezra 3:2). Our word is used the most in the book of Leviticus, 87 times, since it is mainly an instruction manual for the priest for the sacrifices of worship. Let’s look at how our word is used in our chapter. Exodus 20:24-26 An מִזְבַּ֣ח אֲדָמָה֮ altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. If you make me an מִזְבַּ֤ח אֲבָנִים֙ altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to מִזְבְּחִ֑י my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’ What I find interesting in looking at this contrast between gods of silver and gold verses an altar of earth or stone is this idea of our effort instead of God’s. When you make idols or gods of silver and gold it takes a lot of work. So people are working hard to make something for God. This would also be the case if we were to use a tool to make God a really nice stone altar. But God commands the people of that time to do neither of these. Instead he wants something that he has already provided. No work of gold or silver or tools on the stone. Just stones that are already stones. This could be emphasizing the fact that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love and obligation for saving us. He has already done the work of saving us and he already loves us more than we will ever know. I’ll close with this thought said well in this passage. Ephesians 3:17-19 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase. אֱלֹ֤הֵי כֶ֙סֶף֙ וֵאלֹהֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב gods of silver and gods of gold. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at our uses. Exodus 20:23 You shall not make אֱלֹ֤הֵי כֶ֙סֶף֙ וֵאלֹהֵ֣י זָהָ֔בgods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. Did you notice the reference that God makes that these idols that people would make are not to be with me. In other words, they have no place next to me as God. In our next usage we see God instructing these idols to be destroyed. And he gives a reason for this. Deuteronomy 7:25 The פְּסִילֵ֥י אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the כֶּ֨סֶף וְזָהָ֤בsilver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. Did you see the explanation for burning these idols? Because God knows that they will trap us and take us away from Him. This is what makes them detestable to God because he loves us and doesn’t want anything to keep us away from him. Idols will always bring shame in the end as we have seen in looking at the other words for idols. The other two uses of our phrase are great examples of this very thing. Daniel 5:2-4 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י דַּהֲבָ֧א וְכַסְפָּ֛א gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. Right after this God himself shows up and Belshazzar has Daniel interpret what God is saying to him. Daniel 5:22-23 But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the וְלֵֽאלָהֵ֣י כַסְפָּֽא־וְ֠דַהֲבָא gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Daniel has to remind him that God humbled his own father because of his pride and now Belshazzar is worshiping idols of silver and gold instead of the true God. And did you catch the contrast that gods of silver and gold can not see or hear or understand but the true God holds Belshazzar’s life in his hand. That is a great reason why to only worship the true God not idols made of all kinds of metals.  I’ll close with this great reminder of what happens when we worship anything and anyone other than the true reality God who alone deserves our praise. We trade the best of life having a close relationship with the true living God and give it up to become darkened and futile in our thinking. Romans 1:21-22, 25 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles… They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today with both the verb and noun forms. The verb יָרֵא fear, be afraid, fear God. It is used 316 times in the Old Testament. Since we have already looked at the verb several times I want to focus on the noun today. The noun יִרְאָה fear, reverence, a feeling of profound respect for someone or something. It is used 44 times in the Old Testament. The noun is used in the sense of respect here is the only example that is not a direct reference to God himself. Isaiah 7:25 As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for יִרְאָה fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run. This is a good example because people would respect the boundary and not go there because of the fear of the consequences of the thorny terrain. All the other 43 uses refer to respecting God because of who he is and what he can do. A good example is the sailors who found out that Jonah was running away from God. Jonah 1:9-10, 12-16 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” וַיִּֽירְא֤וּ This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)…Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. וַיִּֽירְא֧וּ [In the original our word is used twice the translators just have it once. So it is literally They feared the men feared greatly] At this the men greatly יִרְאָ֥ה feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. This is the sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:18-21 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ [this is the word for shaking, trembling that we have already looked at. The word afraid is supplied by the translators to help us understand why the people were shaking] and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not תִּירָאוּ֒fear, for God has come to test you, that the יִרְאָת֛וֹfear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Most of the uses of our word have fearing the LORD or YHWH used 23 times. Here is a good example reminding us where true wisdom comes from. Proverbs 1:7 The יִרְאַ֣תfear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. This is true wisdom because we know to respect the great I AM reality God. Because his name reminds us that whatever God decides to do becomes reality. This is the one a wise person fears, respects and follows. The good news is that this is the best thing for us because God also loves us and has our best interest in mind. I’ll close with this great passage about having God’s respect in our hearts and his desire to always do good for us. Jeremiah 32:40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the יִרְאָתִי֙ fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. חָמֵד desire, take pleasure in, darling, treasure, covet. It is used 21 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of taking a high degree of pleasure or mental satisfaction in. Joshua 7:19-21 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, וָֽאֶחְמְדֵ֖ם I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” We also see our word used to describe the very strong desire that leads one to worship idols. Deuteronomy 7:25 The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not תַחְמֹד֩ covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:17 You shall not תַחְמֹ֖ד covet your neighbor's house; you shall not תַחְמֹ֞ד covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's. Deuteronomy 5:21 Has similar wording just in different order and adds neighbor’s field. This reminds me of the humorous observation the Holy Spirit makes through Solomon in Ecclesiastes about what motives human beings. Ecclesiastes 4:4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

A big part of growing closer to God or maturing in our faith is understanding how God allows what we desire or covet to be taken from us. Psalm 39:11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their חֲמוּד֑וֹ [literally what is dear to them or what they desire] wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath. God does this because it gets in the way of our relationship with him. We see this in Proverbs where the Holy Spirit through Solomon refers to people stuck in loving something or someone more than God as simple ones who need to grow up. Proverbs 1:22-23 How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers חָמְד֣וּ delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. The good news is that because of Jesus saving work on the cross and our accepting it through faith we have the Holy Spirit inside of us. God is greater than our own desires to covet anything or anyone in this life other than God himself. I’ll close with this Messianic Prophecy that reminds us of what Jesus was going to come and save us from. We find our word in this great passage. Isaiah 53:2-6 He had no beauty or majesty to וְנֶחְמְדֵֽהוּ attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר false witness. It is used 9 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at the uses. Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר false witness against your neighbor. The next time our word is used helps us understand why God would make such a command. He identifies it as evil that needs to be purged from His people. Deuteronomy 19:15-21 One עֵ֨ד witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three עֵדִ֖ים witnesses. If a עֵד־חָמָ֖ס malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the עֵֽד־שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ witness proves to be a liar, giving הָעֵ֔ד שֶׁ֖קֶר false testimony against a fellow Israelite, then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Notice the context of the eye for an eye and so on that has been quoted as an acusation that God is brutal and unloving. But this is not the case. The context shows that he is talking to the Judges that they need to be fair and just so that people don’t take the law into their own hands especially allowing people to twist it to cover up their evil. Which is what a false witness is doing. They are using the law to sin against their neighbor which is why God requires their plans to be carried out against them. Most of the uses are found in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 12:17 An honest עֵ֣ד witness tells the truth, but a וְעֵ֖ד שְׁקָרִ֣ים false witness tells lies. Proverbs 14:5 An honest עֵ֣ד witness does not deceive, but a עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר false witness pours out lies. Proverbs 19:5 A עֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. Proverbs 19:9 A עֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. Proverb 25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר false testimony against a neighbor. We find our word on the list as one of the things the LORD hates. Proverbs 6:19 A עֵ֣ד שָׁ֑קֶר false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. I’ll close with David’s prayer to God for protection against his enemies, who are described with our word. Psalm 27:11-12 Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. גָּנַב steal, take away by theft. It is used 40 times in the Old Testament. It is used in a figurative sense to endear someone to yourself. 2 Samuel 15:5-6 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, וַיְגַנֵּב֙ and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel. It is also used in a figurative way in the sense of being deceitful or stealing the truth. Genesis 31:20 Moreover, Jacob וַיִּגְנֹ֣בdeceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. It is used literally in the sense to take without the owner’s consent. God clearly defines our word as a sin. Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; גָּֽנְבוּ֙ they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. When this sin is committed restitution is to be paid to the one whose property was stolen. Exodus 22:1, 12 Whoever יִגְנֹֽב steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep…But if the animal was גָּנֹ֥ב יִגָּנֵ֖ב [literally to be stolen it was stolen this is for emphasis] stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner. 

Exodus 20:15 You shall not תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב steal. We find the exact same wording in both Leviticus 19:11 and Deuteronomy 5:19. History has proven that this commandment is essential to the foundation of any nation because when people engage in it their nation crumbles. It definitely has an attraction to it that must be recognized and rejected. The Holy Spirit speaking through Solomon plainly points this out showing how the voice of lady folly leads many astray. Proverbs 9:16-18 To those who have no sense she says, גְּנוּבִ֥ים “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. 

Our word also identifies the underlying attraction of wealth and its dangers. Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor וְגָנַ֑בְתִּי and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Did you see the connection between how wealth can affect our relationship with God negatively? Jesus spends almost a third of his teaching on worldly resources and warns us of the dangers that are there. He warns us against relying on money and the things money can buy because it can be used by the evil one to disconnect us from God. I’ll close with this great reminder from Jesus. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. נָאַף commit adultery, practice idolatry. It is used 31 times in the Old Testament. God uses this word in a figurative way to describe the unfaithfulness of his people towards him. It breaks God’s heart for his people to worship idols instead of him. Jeremiah 7:9 Will you steal and murder, וְֽנָאֹ֗ף commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known. Ezekiel 23:37 for they have נִאֵ֗פוּ committed adultery and blood is on their hands. נִאֵ֑פוּ They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them. Hosea 3:1 The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an וּמְנָאָ֑פֶת adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

Our word is used in the sense of having sexual intercourse with someone other than a spouse, as a married or betrothed person. God warns of the dangers of this action. Proverbs 6:32 But a man who נֹאֵ֣ף commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. Leviticus 20:10 If a man יִנְאַף֙ commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. Someone who engages in this sin becomes hardened to it being something that is wrong and destructive. Proverbs 30:20 This is the way מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong. 

This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:14 You shall not תִּֿנְאָ֑ף commit adultery. This commandment is repeated exactly in Deuteronomy 5:18. I find it interesting at the end of the book of Jeremiah when the nation is being taken away to exile to Babylon our word is used. It is used to describe one of the reasons why God is allowing this punishment on his people. Jeremiah 29:23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have וַיְנַֽאֲפוּ֙ committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares the Lord. This is a great example why these ten commandments are so important for any nation to follow because they act as a foundation for its future existence and prosperity. I’ll close with how God describes the church which is now the foundation of all nations in the world for their future and prosperity. 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. רָצַח kill, murder, strike down, slay. It is used 47 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in a general way to describe killing so the context that the word is used in determines if it is intentional or accidental. Here are some examples of where our word is used in an unintentional way. Deuteronomy 4:41-42 Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan, that the manslayer might flee there, anyone who רוֹצֵ֗חַ kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life. Deuteronomy 19:4-5 This is the provision for the הָרֹצֵ֔חַ manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone יַכֶּ֤ה kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past— as when someone goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live. Notice how our word is translated as manslayer this is to distinguish it from the word murder because the context shows that we are talking about an accidental death. Our word is also used in the sense of intentional premeditated killing. Numbers 35:16-18 But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a רֹצֵ֣חַֽmurderer. הָרֹצֵֽחַ The murderer shall be put to death. And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a רֹצֵ֣חַֽ murderer. הָרֹצֵֽחַ The murderer shall be put to death. Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. Here we have the very definition of murder when one uses a weapon to hit someone that could kill him if the person dies then the one who killed is a murder. Also notice that even with a lesser dangerous weapon the wooden tool the title of murder is given because the definition is having the knowledge that your actions could kill someone but you don’t stop yourself. This constitutes intentional killing that is different from accidental which is why the translation of our word murder is accurate. This is the sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:13 You shall not תִּֿרְצָ֖ח murder. This exact same wording of this commandment is also repeated in Deuteronomy 5:17. What I find interesting is that one of the best examples of premeditated murder in the Bible is King David. 2 Samuel 11:14-17 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” The motive behind David’s murder was to cover up the truth that he had committed adultery with Uriah’s wife. But as always God knew what was going on. 2 Samuel 11:27 But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. Later God sends the prophet Nathan to confront David of his sin. And the good news is that David confesses his sin and repents. So even though these ten commandments are the foundation of any nation, especially one that claims to be God’s people, God does offer forgiveness when we sin against him. Even the sin of murder. We see this same thing in the New Testament with the apostle Paul who the Holy Spirit describes “was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” Acts 9:1. I’ll close with this encouraging passage about how God could forgive and even use a person with such a past. 1 Timothy 1:12-14 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. כָּבֵד weigh heavily upon, be heavy, burdensome, honored, respect, show esteem. It is used 114 times in the Old Testament. The basic idea to show value. God’s criticism of Eli was that he valued his sons more than God by not correcting their disrespectful behavior toward God. 1 Samuel 2:29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’ We also see God point out how the priests have not honored him by giving offerings not according to his direction and will. Malachi 1:6-7 A son יְכַבֵּ֥ד honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the כְבוֹדִ֡י honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ “By offering defiled food on my altar. Our word is used in showing value by thanking God. Psalm 50:23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings יְֽכַ֫בְּדָ֥נְנִי honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation. It is also used in showing value by giving back resources to God and his work. Proverbs 3:9 כַּבֵּ֣ד Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. This idea of showing value is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 20:12 כַּבֵּ֥ד Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. We honor our parents by showing them that they are important to us. We treat them in a way that shows their direction and will are important enough for us to follow. In the New Testament we see Jesus emphasizes the importance of this commandment when calling out the religious leaders for finding a way around it so they could personally profit off the wealth from parents. Matthew 15:3-6 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Notice how honoring one’s parents includes obeying them which is what we have seen in our word. We value them enough to listen to their instruction and their will and follow it. And did you catch that the Holy Spirit interprets this command as having the promise of enjoying a long life. For God’s people who were living when Exodus was written it was specific to the land that God was going to soon give them. The promised land. For us New Testament people notice the word has been changed to earth instead of land. This is because now there is no geographical center for God’s people today. We are spiritually connected to God through Christ anywhere we live on this earth. We enjoy our life by being connected to God through Christ and having his Spirit living inside of us. I’ll close with this passage where God uses our word to describe his value for his people. Isaiah 43:4-5 Since you are precious and נִכְבַּ֖דְתָּ honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.