Precepts → Principles → Person
Each of the 10 Commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17 is a precept. This is just another word for a rule or command. But this means that each and all of them are meant to be obeyed. And because these precepts ultimately flow out of and are based on the character of the Person of God, we are not meant to be obeying merely God’s precepts but God Himself!
And yet, each of these precepts is just a summary of what God deserves and demands from His people. That is, there is a principle behind each of the precepts giving it meaning; a meaning bigger than what we see on the surface. Each principle, or main idea, undergirding each precept found in Exodus 20:1-17 is never less than what is explicitly stated command there, but rather it is always more. We sought to show this throughout our series of sermons through the 10 Commandments. One of the ways we sought to bring this to light was by incorporating as many of the verses from the following section of Scripture (Exodus 20:18-23:19) as possible. In this section, we find precept after precept giving more specific applications to each of the 10 Commandments. So, instead of “re”-preaching these precepts right now (forcing us to go over the precepts and the principles of the 10 Commandments again and again), we are moving on in our preaching of the book of Exodus to chapter 23 verse 20 and beyond.
Below is our attempt to see and show how Exodus 20:18-23:19 fits within and expands on the 10 Commandments of Exodus 20:1-17 —
Exodus 20:3–First commandment
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- 20:18-21; 22:18-20; 23:13
Exodus 20:4-6–Second commandment
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- 20:22-26, 29-31; 22:18-19; 23:14-19
Exodus 20:7–Third commandment
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- 22:28
Exodus 20:8-11–Fourth commandment
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- 21:1-6; 23:10-12
Exodus 20:12–Fifth commandment
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- 21:15, 17
Exodus 20:13–Sixth commandment
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- 21:12-15, 18-32; 22:2-3a, 21-24; 23:7b
Exodus 20:14–Seventh commandment
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- 22:16-17, 19
Exodus 20:15–Eighth commandment
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- 21:1-11, 16, 18-19, 21, 26-27, 32-22:15, 21-27; 23:3-12
Exodus 20:16–Ninth commandment
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- 22:7-11; 23:1-3, 6-8
Exodus 20:17–Tenth commandment
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- (See verses above, especially the ones that deal with stealing and worship.)