What is the meaning of Exodus 20:15? You - God addresses every individual personally; no one is exempt. Just as Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15), each listener is called to personal obedience. - Personal accountability echoes through Romans 14:12, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” - The command is delivered to redeemed people (Exodus 20:2), reminding us that salvation never cancels moral responsibility—it heightens it. shall - This is not a suggestion but a binding command from the Creator. Jesus reinforces the ongoing authority of God’s directives: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). - “Shall” carries future certainty—obedience is to mark every moment ahead, not merely the present. First John 5:3 adds, “His commands are not burdensome,” underscoring that His authority is paired with grace to obey. - The verb frames moral absolutes in a world of shifting opinions, confirming Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” not - A clear, absolute prohibition—no loopholes. Leviticus 19:11 restates it: “You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.” - Scripture often warns by negative commands to build protective walls around community life (Proverbs 6:16–19 lists things the LORD hates). - The stark “not” exposes sin’s seriousness; James 2:10 shows that breaking even one command makes a person “guilty of all.” steal - Theft covers property, time, reputation, and even what rightfully belongs to God (Malachi 3:8–9 questions, “Will a man rob God?”). - God upholds personal ownership; Exodus 22 details restitution, proving He values justice and restoration, not mere punishment. - New-covenant application: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must labor… that he may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). The remedy is honest work and generosity. - Theft violates love for neighbor (Romans 13:9, where Paul sums up commandments with “Love your neighbor as yourself”) and distrusts God’s provision (Philippians 4:19 assures, “My God will supply all your needs”). - Beyond wallets and barns, stealing glory that belongs to the Lord—seeking praise that should go to Him—also breaks this command (Isaiah 42:8). summary Exodus 20:15 is God’s unchanging directive that every believer personally, continually, and absolutely refuse to take what is not theirs—whether material, temporal, relational, or spiritual—choosing instead to trust God’s provision, respect others’ God-given stewardship, and reflect Christ through honest labor and generous sharing. |
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