Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire.”
Deuteronomy 5:4
Moses did not give the Ten Commandments to Israel. Those commandments were spoken to Israel right out of heaven by God Himself. He apparently did not intend to give Israel only these Ten Commandments; there were many more commandments He had for them. The reason he stopped at ten was that His powerful voice frightened them. In fact, after hearing just ten of His commandments, the Israelites ran from Mount Sinai in terror and begged Moses to go up on Mount Sinai to get the rest of God’s commandments. He agreed, and later returned and told them what else God wanted them to know about how to live a holy life.
This is the distinction of the Ten Commandments; not that they were the most important commandments God had to give but that they were the only ten that Israel heard directly from the mouth of God. Jesus told us what the two greatest commandments of the Law were, and neither of them is included in these ten that God spoke at Mount Sinai, though the first of the Ten Commandments is like the commandment Jesus said was the greatest.
God wants to talk to us, just as He wanted to talk directly to the Israelites. They were afraid to hear His voice and begged for an intermediary. God sent His Son Jesus to be our intermediary. Jesus, by the holy Spirit, will tell your heart what the Father wants you to know about how to live a holy life, and his voice is sweet. Listen to it, and don’t run away.