FEAR GOD; DON'T SIN
Key verse: 20
NIV
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet(A) and saw the mountain in smoke,(B) they trembled with fear.(C) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(D) to us or we will die.”(E)
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(F) God has come to test(G) you, so that the fear(H) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(I)
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(J) where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:(K) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(L) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(M)
24 “‘Make an altar(N) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings(O) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name(P) to be honored, I will come to you and bless(Q) you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool(R) on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts(S) may be exposed.’
Cross references
- Exodus 20:18 : Ex 19:16-19; Dt 4:36; Isa 58:1; Jer 6:17; Eze 33:3; Heb 12:18-19; Rev 1:10
- Exodus 20:18 : S Ex 19:18
- Exodus 20:18 : S Ge 3:10; S Ex 14:31; S 19:16
- Exodus 20:19 : Job 37:4, 5; 40:9; Ps 29:3-4
- Exodus 20:19 : Dt 5:5, 23-27; 18:16; Gal 3:19
- Exodus 20:20 : S Ge 15:1
- Exodus 20:20 : S Ge 22:1
- Exodus 20:20 : Dt 4:10; 6:2, 24; 10:12; Ps 111:10; 128:1; Pr 1:7; Ecc 12:13; Isa 8:13
- Exodus 20:20 : Job 1:8; 2:3; 28:28; Pr 3:7; 8:13; 14:16; 16:6
- Exodus 20:21 : S Ex 19:9; Dt 5:22; Ps 18:9; 68:4; 97:2; Isa 19:1
- Exodus 20:22 : Dt 5:24, 26; Ne 9:13
- Exodus 20:23 : S ver 3
- Exodus 20:23 : Ex 22:20; 32:4, 8, 31; 34:17; Dt 29:17-18; Ne 9:18
- Exodus 20:24 : Ex 27:1; 40:29; Nu 16:38; Dt 27:5; Jos 8:30; 2Ki 16:14; 2Ch 4:1; Ezr 3:2; Eze 43:13
- Exodus 20:24 : S Ge 8:20; S Ex 18:12
- Exodus 20:24 : Dt 12:5; 16:6, 11; 26:2; 1Ki 9:3; 2Ki 21:4, 7; 2Ch 6:6; 12:13; Ezr 6:12
- Exodus 20:24 : S Ge 12:2; 22:17
- Exodus 20:25 : Jos 8:31; 1Ki 6:7
- Exodus 20:26 : Eze 43:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
18 Now when all the people saw (A)the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid[a] and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, (B)“You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 (C)Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to (D)test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the (E)thick darkness where God was.
Laws About Altars
22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have (F)talked with you from heaven. 23 (G)You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. (H)In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and (I)bless you. 25 (J)If you make me an altar of stone, (K)you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 20:18 Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text the people saw
Cross references
- Exodus 20:18 : Heb. 12:18
- Exodus 20:19 : Deut. 5:25, 27; 18:16; Gal. 3:19, 20; Heb. 12:19
- Exodus 20:20 : [1 Sam. 12:20]
- Exodus 20:20 : [Gen. 22:1]; Deut. 13:3
- Exodus 20:21 : Deut. 4:11; 2 Sam. 22:10; 1 Kgs. 8:12; Ps. 18:9; 97:2
- Exodus 20:22 : Deut. 4:36; Neh. 9:13; Heb. 12:25
- Exodus 20:23 : [ch. 32:31; 2 Kgs. 17:33; Ezek. 20:39; Zeph. 1:5]
- Exodus 20:24 : Deut. 12:5, 11; 14:23; 16:6, 11; 26:2; 1 Kgs. 8:29; 9:3; 2 Chr. 6:6; 7:16; 12:13; Ezra 6:12; Neh. 1:9; Ps. 74:7; Jer. 7:10, 12
- Exodus 20:24 : Deut. 7:13
- Exodus 20:25 : Deut. 27:5; Josh. 8:31
- Exodus 20:25 : [1 Kgs. 5:17; 1 Chr. 22:2]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Do not be afraid; fear God only (18-21)
There are two kinds of fear: One kind paralyzes our senses and makes us prisoners of Satan. When the people were terrified by the thunder, smoke and lightning, Moses said, 'Do not be afraid.' We must not allow fear of people or of situations or even fear of death to capture us. This kind of fear is the devil's tool to make us his prisoners (Heb 2:14,15). The other kind of fear is fear of God. The fear of God keeps us from sinning. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Pr 9:1
).
2. Idols and altars (22-26)
God loves us and wants us to put him first in our hearts. He hates idolatry. People must be careful not to worship anything their own hands have made. Even the altar of sacrifice must not be carved, lest it become an object of worship. Idolatry slips into men's hearts easily, but we must fear God and cast out idols.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love and fear you and honor your word, so that I may not sin against you.
One Word: Fear God; don't fear men
