FAQs Mondays: What Is the First Commandment?

This post failed to publish last week, I apologize for the delay in the series.  We looked at the preface to the Ten Commandments two weeks ago. You can find that post here. This week, we will look at the first commandment.

Which is the first commandment?

The first commandment is, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Ex. 20:3).

What is required in the first commandment?

The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify him accordingly.  Each generation must answer the challenge laid down by Joshua, "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, chose this day whom you will serve, where the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh. 24:15).  Moses informed the people that their commitment had been noticed, "You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice" (Deut. 26:27).  After being tempted by Satan, Jesus replied; "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord you God and him only shall you serve'" (Matt. 4:10).

What is forbidden in the first commandment?

The first commandment forbids us to deny or not to worship and glorify the true God as God and our God; and to give that worship and glory to any other, which is due unto him alone.  David warns, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'  They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good" (Ps. 14:1).  Paul states,

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be know about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but in their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. . . Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen (Rom 1:18-21, 25).

What are we especially taught by these words, "before me," in the first commandment?

These words "before me" in the first commandment teach us that God, who sees all things, takes notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other god. The Lord warns, "But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall perish.  You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess" (Deut. 30:17-18).  The sons of Korah extend this warning, "If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God discover this?  For he knows the secrets of the heart (Ps. 44:20-21).

Summary

We have sought to answer the question, "What is the first commandment?".  The answer is simple, "You shall have no other gods before me."  This commandment is a prohibition of idolatry.  We were created to worship and glorify the one true God.  It is rebellion to fail to honor him alone.  Thus, the cornerstone of the Ten Commandments is laid.  The rest of the commandments will build off of this one.  Next Monday, we will answer the question, "What is the second commandment?".