Exodus 20:4

Refusing to make an image of God is the first step in recognizing that he is transcendent. This means God is the Creator of the universe and is completely distinct from it. God is not part of creation.

If people represent God as something in creation, they will eventually worship that created thing. Instead of worshiping the Creator, they begin to worship what God made.

This exchange leads to moral corruption and spiritual harm (Romans 1:18–25).

The first four commandments focus on a person’s relationship with God. These commandments teach people how to honor and worship him in the right way.

If the Israelites obeyed these commandments, they would understand who God truly is. This would help them reject false ideas about God.

In Egypt, they had seen people worship many idols (images used as gods). Later, in Canaan, they would see similar idol worship again. The first four commandments helped them stay faithful to the one true God instead of following those false beliefs.

The terms of the covenant (promises between God and his people) describe how the people were expected to behave if they were to be in a covenant with God. The first four instructions relate directly to God (20:2–11). The last six are about relationships between people (20:12–17).

A covenant with God explains how we should treat one another. God is deeply concerned with what is right and wrong. He expects his people to show his character in all their relationships.

Other law codes in the ancient Near East did not include such strong and absolute commands. This may be because polytheism (belief in many gods) does not support one clear and final standard for everyone.

In contrast, covenants made with a human king often included absolute commands. A single king could demand complete obedience from his subjects.

In Israel’s covenant, the one King is the Creator of the universe. He alone has the full authority to declare what is right and wrong. Because of who he is, he can give absolute principles, commands, and prohibitions.

This is a short summary of the terms of the covenant (see also Deuteronomy 5:6–21).

The Sinai covenant follows closely the pattern of treaties made in the ancient Near East. In those treaties, a great king made an agreement with smaller nations. The great king was called a suzerain (a powerful ruler). The smaller nations were called vassals (people or nations under his rule).

These treaties usually followed a clear structure:

1. The treaty began with an introduction. This section named the great king who was offering the covenant (20:1).

2. Next came a historical preamble (an introduction that explains past events). This section described what had already happened between the king and the people (20:2).

   In Exodus, God reminds Israel that he brought them out of slavery in Egypt. This shows why he has the right to make a covenant with them.

3. Then the treaty listed the stipulations (the required terms of the agreement). These explained what each side promised to do. In ancient treaties, the king promised protection from enemies and help in times of danger. The people promised loyalty and obedience.

   In Exodus, the basic terms of the covenant appear in 20:3–17. These verses include the Ten Commandments. The laws are explained further in chapters 21–23.

4. The treaty also explained where the written copy should be kept and when it should be read publicly (24:7; 25:16). This ensured that future generations would remember the covenant.

5. Ancient treaties called on the gods to witness the agreement. In Exodus, instead of calling on pagan gods, historical events and written records serve as witnesses (24:4). This shows that Israel’s covenant was different from pagan treaties.

6. Finally, treaties listed blessings and curses. Blessings would follow obedience. Curses would follow disobedience (23:20–33). This made it clear that the covenant had real consequences.

God used the familiar political treaty form of the ancient world. However, he removed pagan religious elements that were common at that time.

Through this covenant, God invited Israel into a formal relationship with himself as their king.

The Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament parallels this section of Exodus (Matthew 5:1–7:29). The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) correspond in some ways to the Ten Commandments.

Both passages describe how God’s people should live under his rule.