exodus-20:1-17,matthew-10:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:14

Thou shalt not commit adultery - Adultery, as defined by our laws, is of two kinds; double, when between two married persons; single, when one of the parties is married, the other single. One principal part of the criminality of adultery consists in its injustice. It robs a man of his right by taking from him the affection of his wife. It does him a wrong by fathering on him and obliging him to maintain as his own a spurious offspring - a child which is not his. The act itself, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:15

Thou shalt not steal - All rapine and theft are forbidden by this precept; as well national and commercial wrongs as petty larceny, highway robberies, and private stealing: even the taking advantage of a seller's or buyer's ignorance, to give the one less and make the other pay more for a commodity than its worth, is a breach of this sacred law. All withholding of rights and doing of wrongs are against the spirit of it. But the word is principally applicable to clandestine stealing, though... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:16

Thou shalt not bear false witness, etc. - Not only false oaths, to deprive a man of his life or of his right, are here prohibited, but all whispering, tale-bearing, slander, and calumny; in a word, whatever is deposed as a truth, which is false in fact, and tends to injure another in his goods, person, or character, is against the spirit and letter of this law. Suppressing the truth when known, by which a person may be defrauded of his property or his good name, or lie under injuries or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house - wife, etc. - Covet signifies to desire or long after, in order to enjoy as a property the person or thing coveted. He breaks this command who by any means endeavors to deprive a man of his house or farm by taking them over his head, as it is expressed in some countries; who lusts after his neighbor's wife, and endeavors to ingratiate himself into her affections, and to lessen her husband in her esteem; and who endeavors to possess himself of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1

Verse 1 1.And God spoke. I am aware that many agree in reading this verse and the next in connection with each other, and thus making them together the first of the ten commandments. Others taking them separately, consider the affirmation to stand in the place of one entire commandment; but since God neither forbids nor commands anything here, but only comes forth before them in His dignity, to devote the people to Himself, and to claim the authority He deserves, which also He would have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

Verse 3 Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this commandment God enjoins that He alone should be worshipped, and requires a worship free from all superstition. For although it seems to be a simple prohibition, yet must we deduce an affirmation from the negative, as will be more apparent from the following words. Therefore does He set Himself before them, in order that the Israelites may look to Him alone; and claims His own just right, in order that it may not be transferred... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Verse 4 4.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. In the First Commandment, after He had taught who was the true God, He commanded that He alone should e worshipped; and now He defines what is His Legitimate Worship. Now, since these are two distinct things, we conclude that the commandments are also distinct, in which different things are treated of. The former indeed precedes in order, viz., that believers are to be contented with one God; but it would not be sufficient for us to be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

Verse 7 Exodus 20:7.Thou shalt not take the name. There is a manifest synecdoche in this Commandment; for in order that God may procure for His name its due reverence, He forbids its being taken in vain, especially in oaths. Whence we infer on the other hand an affirmative commandment, that every oath should be a testimony of true piety, whereby the majesty of God Himself should obtain its proper glory. Moreover, it is clear that not only when we swear by God, His name is to be reverently... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:8

Verse 8 Exodus 20:8.Remember the Sabbath-day. The object of this Commandment is that believers should exercise themselves in the worship of God; for we know how prone men are to fall into indifference, unless they have some props to lean on or some stimulants to arouse them in maintaining their care and zeal for religion. Under the Second Commandment we have already indeed made some remarks on the outward profession of piety, and under the First also brief mention has been made of some... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:10

Verse 10 10.Thou shalt not do any work. That is, whatever could have been finished yesterday, or postponed till to-morrow. (For instance, (333)) it was not lawful for judges to give a hearing to two litigants; but if any one had violently assaulted his neighbor, it was allowable to prevent the injury, and to give relief to the unoffending person; because the necessity of the case admitted of no delay. It was not lawful to cook food for your guests; but if an ox or an ass had fallen into a pit... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:10

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