This small group Deuteronomy 5:16-33 Bible study guide contains commentary, discussion questions, cross-references, and application to encourage life change. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Deuteronomy 5:16-33 Bible Study – Ten Commandments – Person To Person Commands
II. The Ten Commandments Part 2 – Our Relationship with People (16-21)
Discussion Questions
• What does it mean to honor parents?
• What is the difference between honoring and obeying?
• What benefit is associated with honoring parents?
• Why is long life more likely if one honors his parents? Is it guaranteed?
• What is the difference, if any, between murder and killing?
• What does this command show us about God’s nature?
• Who has the right to take a life?
• What are some forms of murder that the world tends to accept as moral?
• What did Jesus say about murder and the heart?
• Define adultery.
• What does this command show us about God’s nature?
• How is God’s definition of adultery (seen throughout Scripture) different from the world’s definition?
• What did Jesus say about adultery?
• What is stealing?
• What are some methods of stealing that are common in the world?
• Define “lying.”
• What is often the motivation for lying?
• What does this command reveal to us about God’s character?
• When, if ever, is lying morally acceptable to God?
• What do you think God would say about “white lies?”
• What does it mean to covet?
• What is the problem with coveting if it doesn’t hurt anybody
• What are some side effects of coveting?
• What is the root cause of coveting?
Cross-References
Matthew 5:21-22 – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matthew 5:27-28 – “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Proverbs 20:20 – If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
Proverbs 30:17 – The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.
Ephesians 4:28 – Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Matthew 15:19 – For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Honor your father and mother –
Deuteronomy 5:16 – Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
The fifth commandment starts off a new section focused on our horizontal person-to-person relationship. The very first command given in regard to how we are to treat people is to honor our parents. That is significant.
God established a clear authority structure for society. That begins with the family. The family unit is the core ingredient for social stability. Without respect for authority, order will break down. Chaos and anarchy will follow.
This instruction reminds us of God’s character. God is a God of order.
1 Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:40 – But all things should be done decently and in order.
These verses refer to conducting an orderly church service. However, they demonstrate God’s orderly character.
Children who grow up without learning to respect their parents are not likely to respect other authorities, including teachers, police officers, bosses, and the government.
Paul teaches that in the last days people will be “disobedient to parents” (2 Timothy 3:1-2). It is a mark of a society that has rejected God’s authority. We can see this in the world today. Disobedience to parents is endemic. The family is under attack. There is an agenda to undermine the authority of the parents. It is seen in many ways. One is in many modern-day movies, which depict the father as a fool and the rebellious child as a hero.
While children are required to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1), every person is commanded to honor their parents.
Reflect – What is the difference between obedience and honoring? Are adults required to obey their parents?
To honor one’s parents mean to show respect and consideration to them. Note that it doesn’t say to honor only “good parents.” Some fathers and mothers are not worthy of honor. However, their children should still respect them because of the position they hold.
Western society views independence as very important. One of the results of this is that often parents are not honored. In the child’s zeal to pursue his own freedom and life, he may cast aside his duty to his parents and view them as a trivial thing.
There are two sides to this instruction. The first is to avoid dishonor. Here are some ways people may dishonor their parents.
• Speaking ill of them.
• Cursing them.
• A disrespectful tone of voice or volume level.
• Ignoring them.
• Disregarding counsel.
• Not taking care of them financially (1 Timothy 5:8)
Believers should intentionally do things to show honor to their father and mother. Here are some practical ways to do this.
• Communicate with them. That may require initiating a video chat with them from time to time.
• Speak to them respectfully.
• Ask about their well-being.
• Reach out to ask counsel about important decisions.
• Share with them pictures, videos, or news about your life.
• Make sure that they are well taken care of physically (1 Timothy 5:8).
Application – What is a practical way you can show honor to one or both of your parents in the coming week?
One unique aspect of this command is that it is accompanied by a promise. The Lord says that it will “go well with” those who honor their parents. God has designed this world so that honoring one’s parents naturally results in a healthier and longer life. Think about it. Generally, parents will tell their children to eat healthy, exercise, and avoid harmful habits such as drugs, alcohol, and immorality, etc. There are very few convicted criminals who are in prison as a result of following their parent’s advice. Most are there because they did not listen to their parents.
God has appointed parents as his representative over the family. Even bad parents will typically give good advice to their kids because they desire their children to have good lives and avoid the problems that they themselves fell into.
Reflect – Share some examples of Biblical characters who either did or did not honor their parents and the results.
2. You shall not murder – Murdering is irreversible and is an act against people made in the image of God.
This command reminds us that God is the creator of life. He values life. All people are made in the image of God. The Lord is the one who gives and takes away life. Murder is usurping God’s authority over life.
Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Every person is made in the image of God. That fact is what gives every life value in God’s sight. Humans are given a special position in God’s created order. He makes us stewards over His creation. We have a soul. He breathed into us the breath of life.
God is the one who gives life, and He is the one who has authority to take it.
There is no valid excuse for murder. Many times, murder is committed when people take the law into their own hands. They either forget that every person will one day stand before a holy God and be judged by Him or are not patient enough to wait for God to deal with it. Those who commit murder usurp God’s role as the judge by prematurely instituting their version of “justice.”
Romans 12:19 – Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
All life is in God’s hands. When people usurp that authority, it is a serious violation against God’s character. Therefore He instituted capital punishment, giving people the authority to execute justice on murderers.
Genesis 9:5-6 – And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
Unlike some think, this command is not lowering the value of life. It raises it. If human life was not valuable, capital punishment would not be necessary. The sacred worth of human life demands a strong reaction against those who take it wrongfully.
According to the Old Testament law, even an unintentional killing would require the banishment of the one who did it to the city of refuge (Deuteronomy 4:41-43).
The command not to murder is simple, right? Do not murder. We’re not murderers, right?
Many people will claim they are inherently good because they think they keep this commandment.
It is common for people to say things similar to, “I am a good person and should get to heaven. After all, I’ve never murdered anybody.”
That is a very low bar to clear, but have we even met that minimum standard?
Jesus further expounded this command to show that it is not merely an external rule that is important but an internal attitude.
Matthew 5:21-22 – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
1 John 3:15 – Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
In God’s sight, harboring hatred for others in our hearts is equivalent to murder. The New Testament raises the bar. We are called to higher standards than those in the Old Testament, not lower.
The very law that many use to justify their own goodness reminds us that “there is none good, no not one” (Psalm 14:1-3).
Other Bible passages show us that there is breadth to this command. David murdered Uriah though he never lifted his own finger against him. He arranged to have Uriah killed in a war. The priest and Levite who passed by the wounded man on the road in the parable of the good Samaritan would have been partially culpable for his death. Their sin was one of omission instead of commission.
For a positive example, we can see that David refused to raise his hand against Saul. The opportunity was there. Most would have considered him justified to do so. But he rightly believed that Saul was God’s anointed. David waited for the Lord to deal with him rather than take matters into his own hands.
There are also types of murder that have become culturally acceptable in some parts of the world.
• Abortion
• Euthanasia
Both of these are wrong. They are taking a life created in the image of God. This is a right reserved for God.
Reflect – What is the opposite of murder?
Jesus said that the Old Testament law can be summarized as loving God and loving your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). He backed up His words when He expressed forgiveness for His murders while they were in the act of wrongfully crucifying Him.
Application – How can we deal with bitterness and anger in our hearts?
Repeatedly playing back others’ wrongs against us in our minds creates a ripe breeding ground for hate. We must take control of our thoughts by praying to God for help and refusing to allow our thoughts to go down the path toward hate and revenge.
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
Murder is the fruit of a heart filled with bitterness. I have seen Christians staring “death daggers” at people they are angry with. Instead of focusing on the fruit, we need to look at the root.
Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
3. You shall not commit adultery – Sexual purity is a topic that is often repeated in the Bible. Because immorality is one of the most widespread and destructive sins, God frequently warns against it. It is a sin people struggled with in ancient times and still struggle with today.
Adultery is a sin against the sanctity of marriage. The strict definition includes a married person having sex outside of marriage or a single person having sex with a married person. When we go deeper, we see that all forms of sexual sin go against God’s character.
This command reveals God’s holiness. Marriage is a sacred institution established by God (Genesis 2:24). Throughout the Old Testament, God compared the sin of idolatry with prostitution because His people violated their covenant with God. It is so beautiful that it is used as a picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5). The church will “marry” the lamb (Revelation 19:1-10).
Marriage is sacred and is to be honored.
Hebrews 13:4 – Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Sex is a beautiful thing created by God to bring two people together in intimacy and self-sacrifice. God instituted marriage as the proper place for this expression. Sex is wonderful when properly exercised within the boundary of marriage but is a rebellion against God’s perfect design and sin outside of marriage.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.
1 Corinthians 6:9 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.
Adultery is one form of sexual immorality. But all forms of sexual immorality are spoken against in the Bible. Sadly, they are rampant in society today. Satan took what God planned for good and offered a buffet of DIY sexual pleasures. Here are some other types of sexual immorality that believers need to be on guard against.
• Fornication
• Masturbation
• Pornography
• Lust
• Homosexuality
Fornication is not only a sin against each individual involved, but it is also a sin against the spouse or future spouse of both parties. Even worse, this is a sin against God. Pornography is far more accessible than ever before. These websites are some of the most popular in the world. Surveys tell us that it is a major problem even in the church.
When looking only at the seventh commandment, a person might conclude that since they haven’t committed adultery, they have passed the test!
However, Jesus raised the bar and showed us that God looks at the heart. Our internal attitude is evaluated by God, not only our external behavior.
Matthew 5:27-28 – You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If a guy looks at a girl and has lust even in his heart, it is sin. Who can say that he is innocent? God’s standard is high and without the help of the Holy Spirit, there is not a person on earth who can keep it.
One might think they will be fine if they can remove themselves from all temptation. It is certainly good to avoid sources of temptation. But victory requires more than that. Even a blind person can sin in this area by thinking sinful thoughts!
So how can we apply this command? Don’t commit adultery?
That’s good.
Don’t commit fornication? That’s good too.
But God’s standard is much higher and we must make our standard higher too!
First, we must agree to the truth in God’s Word. We must agree from our hearts and not just give it lip service.
Reflect – Do you agree with God’s standards on purity? Are you willing to commit to this? How far are you willing to go?
If you want victory, there are a number of practical tips which can help.
• Get an accountability partner and confess to one another. Hold each other accountable and regularly ask tough questions. When you know someone will ask you each week if you have viewed porn, it is a strong incentive not to do so!
• Get accountability software. Here are two good choices. Accountable2 you – https://www.accountable2you.com/?code=11390035 Covenant Eyes – https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/PQyBR
• Take a course like the one at Setting Captives free – https://settingcaptivesfree.com/course/pure30
• This booklet by Tim Challies – https://www.challies.com/wp-content/uploads/sexual-detox-a-guide-for-the-single-guy.pdf
• Put your computer in an open area that is easily visible.
• Don’t spend time in private places with a member of the opposite sex (apart from your spouse).
• Memorize various Scripture battle verses.
• Do not be idle, but proactively fill your mind with the “good stuff” (Philippians 4:8).
• Set standards ahead of time to keep yourself from making poor decisions in compromising situations.
All of these are good, but they are still not enough. Tools are tools. Tips are tips. What we need is a transformed heart. What we need is the cross. We need to come back to the cross over and over again. We need to actively seek God’s help through prayer.
We need what David prayed in Psalms 51.
Psalms 51:10 – Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
We are in a battle. It is time to grab our weapons and go to war. That battle starts in our minds.
Someone once said that the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. It is time to do something different. It is time to be different.
Application – What are some practical ways you will wage war against sexual immorality in your own mind, life, and family? How can the cross help you be victorious in this area?
4. You shall not steal – This command is straightforward. Do not steal. The first thing that likely comes into our minds is bank robbers.
Reflect – What are some forms of theft that are commonly practiced?
Stealing can take many different forms.
• Leeching off of your neighbor’s Wi-Fi without permission.
• Plagiarizing
• Taking, printing, or sharing copyrighted material without permission
• Streaming pirated videos
• Wasting time at the office and taking a salary for work not performed
• Wrongfully claiming items as work-related expenses which are not
• Not reporting income to the IRS or otherwise evading taxes
• Not returning an item that you find and could return to its rightful owner
• Covering up a defect on an item you are selling to get a higher price than deserved
• Taking bribes to perform your duty
• Not giving tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8)
These are just a few, but there are many more. Stealing is an attack upon God’s righteous character. While it is not possible to outline every possible type of theft, He has given us the Holy Spirit to convict and guide us. If your conscience tells you that a specific practice is unethical, it probably is. Listen. Do not quench the Spirit.
Stealing is a way to try to get instant gratification. It circumvents God’s natural order in that people try to get something without putting in the required work. We should remember that the process is important. Getting stuff for free doesn’t generally build character. Working hard to achieve something does.
Ephesians 4:28 – Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Application – Look at the list of various types of stealing above and consider your own practices. Are you guilty of stealing? Confess it to the Lord. Repent. Commit yourself to turning from this sin and to the Lord.
5. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor –
According to the dictionary, the meaning of “bear false witness” is, “knowingly state as fact that which is untrue; begin or perpetuate a rumor by lying about a person, thing, or event.”
Bearing false witness includes any form of lying. In this context, it specifically means not to accuse your neighbor wrongfully, perjure yourself, or hurt someone else through a lie. Somewhat might ask, “Who is my neighbor?” in an attempt to justify themselves. Jesus made it clear that everyone is our neighbor.
God is a God of truth.
Numbers 23:19 – God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Lying is an offense against God’s character. Ultimately, all lies are lies against God.
Many cultures today are embracing the idea of relative truth. People talk about “my truth.” They argue that truth is fluid and that people can choose their own reality.
However, we have a God who is absolute truth. His standard of right and wrong is absolutely true. His declarations, statements, and promises are all accurate. His viewpoint is the correct one. God is rock solid. Because we have an unchanging and perfectly true God, we can stand on absolute truth. We are to build our lives on the rock of Christ, not on the shifting sands of changing cultural norms and values.
Reflect – What Biblical characters lied and what was the result? What are Biblical examples of telling the truth and what was the result?
Some negative examples of lying include Abraham, Isaac, Ananias and Sapphira.
Followers of Christ are not to get their morals, opinions, or convictions from modern culture but from Him. Neither should we seek to compromise in order to avoid offense.
One relevant modern-day example is our approach to the trans issue. The Bible teaches that God created man and woman. He is the designer of life. He chooses our sex. The reality of our XX or XY chromosome cannot be changed by a person’s desire to be something different. Believers should not compromise or obfuscate the truth by using someone’s “preferred pronouns.” To do so is a form of lying.
Believers are to speak the truth, always in love.
Ephesians 4:15 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
There are many other forms of lying that have become culturally acceptable or at least common.
• White lies
• Flattery
• Misleading or deceptive speech
• Covering over defects when selling an item
Reflect – Does speaking quickly increase or decrease the chances of lying? How is it helpful to think before you speak?
Sadly, lying is a natural response of our sinful flesh. We often lie when confronted with our sin in order to divert blame. Consider the words of the so-called “narcissist prayer.”
“That didn’t happen.
And if it did, it wasn’t that bad.
And if it was, that’s not a big deal.
And if it is, that’s not my fault.
And if it was, I didn’t mean it.
And if I did, you deserved it.”
This reveals how natural lying becomes. Lying might seem like a quick way out of certain situations, but it is a shaky foundation.
“Oh, what a web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
Scripture is clear that eventually, your sins will find you out.
Proverbs 10:9 – Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
The one who confesses finds mercy, while the one who covers his sin will find judgment.
A person of integrity is blessed by God and respected by people. That is far more valuable than whatever short-term gain lying may bring.
Proverbs 22:1 – A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 28:6 – Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Reflect – Is lying ever justified?
Let us be guided by the absolute standards of God’s Word rather than by circumstance. At the same time, let us learn from the example of Jesus. He was often backed into a corner (or so his opponents thought), but gave creative answers. He frequently responded to a question with a question.
Here is a very extensive article on whether lying is ever justified.
https://answersingenesis.org/sin/is-lying-justified/
Application – In what situation are you tempted to lie? Practice taking some time to consider an accusation before responding. Try waiting at least 10 seconds before responding. Quick answers often result in defensive and lying. Instead, carefully evaluate the criticism and be honest and open in your reply.
8. You shall not covet – This is the only one of the six person-to-person commands that refer directly to the mind and not an action. Coveting is something that happens in our minds. Nobody else sees or knows it. Therefore this command clearly shows us that God is concerned with our thought lives.
1 Samuel 16:7 – For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
All sins originate from our hearts. Coveting can lead to theft or lying. Lust can lead to immorality. Pride can lead to quarreling. That is why it is important for us to think about what we are thinking about. Instead of allowing our thoughts to run wild, we need to take control of them.
People might think that as long we don’t steal, it is OK to “wish” they had it. They think that they can “contain this” in their mind. But sin doesn’t work like that. When we give the devil a foothold, the sin grows and grows until it consumes us. Coveting can easily grow into complaining, arguing, stealing, or overworking.
Reflect – Why is this wrong? Also, what is the opposite of coveting?
Coveting is wrong because it stems from discontent. The person who covets is, in essence, telling God, “What you have given me is not enough. I will only be happy if I have this other thing.” Coveting is a desire for something that God, in His perfect will, has not chosen to give us. Therefore at its root, coveting is a sin against God. It is equivalent to ingratitude. In addition, the one who covets lacks faith in God’s goodness and ability to provide for us.
We should not just tell ourselves, “Do not covet.” While we should flee from this sin, we should pursue its righteous opposite (2 Timothy 2:22). That is contentment and gratitude.
The best way to fight against coveting is to actively meditate on God’s goodness and faithfulness. Do not spend your time mulling over what you don’t have. Instead, count your blessings. Even before the temptation to covet rears its head, you can attack it by writing out a list of answered prayers, testimonies, and blessings.
Reflect – What are some Biblical examples of people who coveted and the results?
The most notorious example of coveting in the Bible is Ahab. He was the king of Israel, the richest person in the land. But what he had was not enough for him. He coveted his neighbor’s vineyard even though he had many of his own. His wife carried out a plot to murder Nabal, the owner of the vineyard so that Ahab could take possession (1 Kings 21).
While some may think that “If I just had more, I would be happy and not covet,” Ahab proves that this is not the case. Coveting is not limited to poor people. No matter how rich you are, discontentment can seep in. Rockefeller once answered the question of “How much money is enough?” by saying, “A little more.” That accurately reflects the human condition.
When you desperately desire to have the latest iPhone, getting it may satisfy you for a while. But there will always be a new version coming out. If you are not content with an iPhone 10, why would you be with an iPhone 11?
Application – Intentionally ward off coveting by meditating on God. Consider His goodness to you. Count your blessings. Place your hope in Him and not in things.
III. Moses represents the people before God (22-33)
Discussion Questions
• How did God communicate the Ten Commandments to the people?
• How did the people respond to this encounter with the Lord?
• Why were they afraid?
• What does this teach us about God?
• What does this teach us about people?
• Was God happy with their response? Why or why not?
• Did they persevere in this respectful and obedient attitude?
• From verse 33, what is the result of obedience?
Cross-References
Matthew 10:28 – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. The Lord spoke out of darkness and fire – The darkness reminds us man cannot see God face-to-face and live. The darkness conceals the intensity of His glory and holiness. God is transcendent. He is different than we are. We cannot know Him unless He has revealed Himself to us. At the same time, if He just shows up and reveals Himself, we would die instantly because of His glory. It is very considerate of God to reveal Himself to us in a way that doesn’t kill us! He does that in His word and in rare occasions like the one we see here, speaking from the midst of darkness and fire.
2. The people had a healthy fear and awe of the Lord – It was overwhelming for them to experience God’s presence in the way they did. Even one small fraction of God’s glory melted their hands and they could not bear it any longer.
This account shows us that God is not to be trifled with. He is not like some big teddy bear or “old man in the sky.” He is the fearsome Creator of the universe. No man could stand before Him and live unless the Lord showed Him mercy.
I heard of a man who was not afraid of meeting God and being held to account for his sin. He said, “Don’t worry. He and I will sit down at a table and have a beer and talk it through. We will come to an agreement and everything will work out.”
Meeting God is not like that. Such an attitude does not represent having a healthy fear of God. It is folly. Unfortunately, that man is in for a terrible awakening. Many verses in Scripture remind us that we should fear God.
Psalms 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Psalms 33:8 – Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
Reflect – Do you fear God? What does fearing God look like in practice?
3. God responds – In verses 28-29, we can see that the Lord was pleased with their response. They had demonstrated a healthy awe of Him. Moreover, they were committed to walking in obedience to the commands that He had given.
He noted that it may not always be the case (29).
Mercifully, He allowed them to return to their tents. He didn’t overload them with a more intense experience than they could take.
4. Obedience results in life –
Deuteronomy 5:33 – You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
God knew that their “spiritual high” was just that. They had an experience and were zealous in that moment in their desire to serve Him. But emotionalism tends to fade as time removes us from the event that sparked it.
What was important was that they followed it up with obedience. They had the knowledge. God had given them the framework for how to live. But knowledge without obedience is useless.
We are called to study and obey!
Ezra 7:10 – For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Those who obeyed would be blessed.
Application – What do you need to obey? Which of the Ten Commandments are most convicting to you? What is God calling you to do about it?
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