What is the meaning of Exodus 20:14? You - God’s command begins with “you,” placing responsibility squarely on each individual. No one is exempt; every heart is addressed (Deuteronomy 5:3; Joshua 24:15). - By speaking directly, the Lord calls His covenant people into personal accountability, just as He did when He said, “I am the LORD your God” earlier in the chapter (Exodus 20:2). - The same personal tone carries into the New Testament where moral commands again target the individual: “Love the Lord your God…love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-40). shall not - This phrase is an unambiguous prohibition—God draws a clear moral boundary. • It is final; no loopholes exist (James 2:10-11 links this mandate with the entire Law). • It is protective; like a guardrail, it keeps us from spiritual and relational disaster (Psalm 19:7-11). • It is perpetual; the New Testament repeats it unchanged: “You shall not commit adultery” (Romans 13:9). - God’s authority undergirds the word “shall.” He alone defines what is good, and His commands flow from His holy character (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16). commit adultery - Adultery is sexual intimacy with someone other than one’s spouse, violating the lifelong “one flesh” covenant (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14-16). - Jesus deepens the application by pointing to the heart’s intentions: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). - Scripture warns of the destructive fallout: • Spiritual—“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? …neither adulterers” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). • Relational—adultery “destroys himself” (Proverbs 6:32) and betrays family trust. • Societal—marriage is foundational; Hebrews 13:4 urges, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” - Positive side: the command protects the beauty of covenant love, mirroring Christ’s faithful love for His church (Ephesians 5:25-32). summary Exodus 20:14 is God’s personal, authoritative safeguard for the purity of marriage and the health of society. By addressing “you,” He calls each believer to honor marital vows; by saying “shall not,” He sets an unwavering boundary; by forbidding adultery, He protects covenant faithfulness and points to His own unfailing love. |
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