Exodus 20: “The Law of the Free”
1. God Speaks Directly
“And God spoke all these words.” (Ex 20:1)
This is crucial.
The commandments are not:
Moses’ ideas
Israel’s customs
Human wisdom
They are God’s own speech.
St Augustine of Hippo writes:
“The Law is not man speaking to God, but God speaking to man.”
(Sermons)
2. Grace Comes First
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” (v. 2)
Before any command, God reminds them:
who He is
what He has done
This is the foundation of Catholic moral teaching:
We obey because we are saved, not to be saved.
St Irenaeus of Lyons explains:
“God first frees His people, then teaches them how the free should live.”
(Against Heresies)
3. The First Commandment: No Other Gods
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (v. 3)
This is about exclusive loyalty.
God does not share the heart.
Catholic faith insists:
God is not one option among many
He is the centre of life
Every sin ultimately breaks this command by putting something else first.
4. The Second Commandment: No Idols
“You shall not make for yourself a graven image.” (vv. 4–6)
This forbids:
false worship
reducing God to something manageable
It does not forbid sacred images used rightly — the Church has always taught this clearly.
St John of Damascus explains:
“We do not worship images; we worship God, whom images remind us of.”
(On the Divine Images)
This commandment protects true worship, not emptiness.
5. God Is Jealous — in Love
“I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” (v. 5)
This is not insecurity.
It is covenant love.
God guards the relationship because it gives life.
St Augustine says:
“God’s jealousy is love refusing to lose what it has redeemed.”
(Sermons)
6. The Third Commandment: God’s Name Is Holy
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (v. 7)
God’s name represents His presence.
This forbids:
blasphemy
careless speech
false oaths
Catholic reverence for God’s name continues in:
prayer
liturgy
oaths taken seriously
7. The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (v. 8)
Rest is commanded.
Why?
Because freedom is not endless labour.
Catholic faith fulfils this in Sunday, the Lord’s Day:
worship
rest
charity
St Justin Martyr writes:
“We keep the Lord’s Day because on it Christ rose from the dead.”
(First Apology)
8. Honour Father and Mother
“Honour your father and your mother.” (v. 12)
This is the first commandment with a promise.
Family is the foundation of society and faith.
The Church teaches:
Honouring parents is honouring God’s order.
St Augustine notes:
“He who learns obedience at home learns obedience to God.”
(Sermons)
9. You Shall Not Kill
“You shall not kill.” (v. 13)
Human life is sacred because it belongs to God.
This commandment underlies Catholic teaching on:
the dignity of life
opposition to murder
protection of the innocent
Christ will deepen this by condemning hatred itself.
10. You Shall Not Commit Adultery
“You shall not commit adultery.” (v. 14)
Marriage is protected as:
faithful
lifelong
life-giving
The Church sees this as safeguarding:
spouses
children
society
St John Chrysostom says:
“Marriage is a holy image of God’s faithful love.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
11. You Shall Not Steal
“You shall not steal.” (v. 15)
This protects:
property
justice
trust
Catholic teaching always balances:
respect for property
care for the poor
The commandment condemns greed and exploitation.
12. You Shall Not Bear False Witness
“You shall not bear false witness.” (v. 16)
Truth matters.
This forbids:
lies
slander
manipulation
The Church teaches that truthfulness is essential to charity.
St Augustine writes:
“Without truth, charity collapses.”
(On Lying)
13. You Shall Not Covet
“You shall not covet.” (v. 17)
This commandment reaches the heart.
Sin begins inside before it appears outside.
Catholic morality is not only about actions, but about desires.
St Gregory the Great explains:
“The law restrains the hand, but also heals the heart.”
(Moralia on Job)
14. The People Are Afraid
“The people were afraid and trembled.” (v. 18)
This fear is not wrong.
It is awe.
But it is incomplete.
15. Moses Explains the Purpose of Fear
“Do not fear, for God has come to test you.” (v. 20)
Fear here means:
reverence
seriousness
awareness of God
The goal is not terror, but holiness.
16. God Draws Near Through Mediation
“The people stood far off, while Moses drew near.” (v. 21)
This prepares for:
priesthood
mediation
Christ Himself
In Christ, distance will be overcome — but reverence remains.
17. Worship Must Be Simple
“An altar of earth you shall make for Me.” (v. 24)
God rejects extravagance that distracts from Him.
Worship must be:
reverent
ordered
focused on God
This principle still governs Catholic liturgy.
Key Catholic Themes in Exodus 20
| Theme | Catholic Meaning |
| Law | Grace given form |
| Freedom | Obedience after salvation |
| Worship | Exclusive and reverent |
| Morality | Love ordered rightly |
| Heart | Sin begins within |
| Covenant | Relationship, not control |
Christ at the Centre of Exodus 20
The Fathers read the commandments through Christ:
Law → fulfilled in love
Commands → lived perfectly by Christ
Fear → transformed into filial trust
Obedience → the Cross
St Augustine summarises:
“The Law commands; grace enables.”
(On the Spirit and the Letter)
Spiritual Application
Remember what God has done for you.
Live obedience as gratitude, not fear.
Let God shape your desires, not only your actions.
Honour worship, family, life, and truth.
Read the commandments through Christ.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, giver of freedom and law,
You saved us before You commanded us,
and taught us how the free should live.
Write Your law upon our hearts,
fulfil it in us through the grace of Christ,
and lead us in holiness and truth
until we come to perfect freedom in You.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 