Good Morning. "Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:19) As I shared yesterday, it is very typical for people to say whatever they need to say in order to get themselves out of an...

Good Morning. "Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:19) It is very important to notice the reason given by the people for requesting that God stop speaking directly to them -- they...

Good Morning. “Now all the people witnessed the thundering, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.” (Exodus 20:18) That God appeared to them in this manner is to...

Good Morning. “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.” (Exodus 20:17) To “covet” is to long for possession of...

Good Morning. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16) The previous three commands address wrongs that we should not commit against our fellow man by actual deed. This command addresses the wrongs we are not commit against our brother...

Good Morning. “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15) In my view there are only a few things more vile than a thief. To take someone’s property and belongings is to steal the fruit of their ambition and hard work. And so when you think of it that way, to steal from...

Good Morning. “You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14) Like the previous instruction, this second command of the second tablet parallels its counterpart on the first tablet – "You shall have no idols." One who would betray their spouse can be expected to betray...

Good Morning. “You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13) The first five commandments given to us have an accompanying explanation; for example, the command to honor ones' father and mother is followed by “that your days may be long.” In sharp contrast, the last five are...

Good Morning. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12) As was discussed yesterday, we are to respect our parents and to follow in the way they have shown us, assuming that what...

Good Morning. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12) Judaism believes that the first of the two tablets that contain the commandments addresses man’s relationship with God. If...

Good Morning. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." (Exodus 20:8-10) Within the commandment to "remember the Sabbath" is the instruction to work. According...

Good Morning. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." (Exodus 20:8-10) Yesterday I spoke about the concept of "remembering" in relation to the Sabbath day....