The Ten Commandments - Lesson 2: Introduction to the Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments
Lesson 2: Introduction to the Ten Commandments

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!

The main points for this lesson / commandment:

God spoke these to the people from the mountain. The people heard God speak the Ten Commandments. How many times have you heard God speak with a voice you can hear? Usually God spoke to Moses, and Moses told the people what God said. For the Ten Commandments, God spoke directly to all the people.

God gave us the Ten Commandments. For those who want to follow God, here he shows us the way to please him and to obey him, so that it will go well with us (Deuteronomy 5:29). Included in this thought is the idea that the best way to bless your children is to obey God.

The Commandments teach us how to love God, and how to love our neighbor.

There are many “do not”s in the commandments. But they are not simply a list of do and do nots. Through them God shows us what not to do and what to do. He also shows us what should be in our hearts.

Suggestions:

This Sunday, for our lesson, we will be introducing the Ten Commandments to the children. I recommend reading the following verses to prepare (also posted below). You do not need to read all of the verses listed to the children.

Exodus 19:10-13,16-22,25

Deuteronomy 5:1-5,22-27

Deuteronomy 5:29

Don't forget to read the Ten Commandments with the children at some point. As you read through them, you can ask them questions about them, and they may ask questions about them as well.

You can use the verses above (and other verses if you like) to convey the main points. Again, you don't need to read all the verses to the children to convey these points. That said, I would encourage using Deuteronomy 5:29 (spoken by God) to convey God's thought or reason for giving the Commandments and the promised blessing for obedience to the commandments God has given.

Stories:

Exodus 19:10-13,16-22,25 [10] Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, [11] and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. [12] You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. [13] No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.” [14] Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. [15] He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.” [16] On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. [17] Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. [18] Mount Sinai, all it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. [19] When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. [20] Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. [21] Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish. [22] Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break out on them.” [23] Moses said to Yahweh, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’” [24] Yahweh said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest he break out against them.” [25] So Moses went down to the people, and told them.

Deuteronomy 5:1-5,22-27 [1] Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and observe to do them.” [2] Yahweh our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. [3] Yahweh didn’t make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. [4] Yahweh spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the midst of the fire, [5] (I stood between Yahweh and you at that time, to show you Yahweh’s word: for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn’t go up onto the mountain;) saying, [6] “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

[22] Yahweh spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me. [23] When you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; [24] and you said, “Behold, Yahweh our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God does speak with man, and he lives. [25] Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of Yahweh our God any more, then we shall die. [26] For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? [27] Go near, and hear all that Yahweh our God shall say, and tell us all that Yahweh our God tells you; and we will hear it, and do it.”

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! 

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After the lesson:

As part of the lesson, we read through the Ten Commandments. As I asked questions, and as the children asked questions, this led to some interesting conversation.

As part of reading Deuteronomy 5:29, I explained that the best way to bless your children is to obey what God has said. This is more important than education, or a great job. Your obedience is the greatest blessing you can give your children.