Old/New Testament
Moses Meets God on Mount Sinai
19 In the third month after the people of Israel left Egypt, they came to the Sinai Desert on the same day. 2 They had left Rephidim and had come to the Sinai Desert. There Israel set up their tents in front of the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Say this to the house of Jacob and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, if you will obey My voice and keep My agreement, you will belong to Me from among all nations. For all the earth is Mine. 6 You will be to Me a nation of religious leaders, a holy nation.’ These are the words you will speak to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called the leaders of the people. He told them all these words which the Lord had told him. 8 And all the people answered together and said, “We will do all that the Lord has said!” Then Moses went to tell the Lord what the people had said. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “See, I will come to you in a thick cloud. So the people may hear when I speak with you, and may believe you forever.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart to be holy. Have them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day people will see the Lord come down on Mount Sinai. 12 Let the people know the places all around that they must not pass. Tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up on the mountain or touch any place around it. Whoever touches the mountain will be put to death. 13 No hand will touch him. But he will be killed with stones or arrows. If he be animal or man, he will not live.’ When a long sound from a horn is heard, they may come up to the mountain.”
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He set the people apart to be holy, and they washed their clothes. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman.”
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A cloud covered the mountain, and a very loud horn sounded. All the people among the tents shook with fear. 17 Then Moses brought the people from among the tents to meet God. They stood at the base of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord came down upon it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a stove. And the whole mountain shook. 19 The sound of the horn became louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up. 21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and tell the people not to break through to look at the Lord. For then many of them would be destroyed. 22 Have the religious leaders who come near to the Lord set themselves apart to be holy. Or the Lord will go against them.” 23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. For You told us, ‘Set places around the mountain that must not be passed, and set it apart as holy.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “Go down, and then come up with Aaron. But do not let the religious leaders and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will go against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
God’s Ten Great Laws
20 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house where you were servants.
3 “Have no gods other than Me.
4 “Do not make for yourselves a god to look like anything that is in heaven above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.
5 “Do not worship them or work for them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children, even the great-grandchildren, for the sins of their fathers who hate Me. 6 But I show loving-kindness to thousands of those who love Me and keep My Laws.
7 “Do not use the name of the Lord your God in a false way. For the Lord will punish the one who uses His name in a false way.
8 “Remember the Day of Rest, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you will do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a Day of Rest to the Lord your God. You, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your cattle, or the traveler who stays with you, must not do any work on this day. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them. And He rested on the seventh day. So the Lord gave honor to the Day of Rest and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so your life may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.
13 “Do not kill other people.
14 “Do not do sex sins.
15 “Do not steal.
16 “Do not tell a lie about your neighbor.
17 “Do not have a desire for your neighbor’s house. Do not have a desire for his wife or his male servant, his female servant, or his bull or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 All the people heard and saw the thunder and lightning, the sound of the horn, and the mountain smoking. And when the people saw it, they shook with fear and stood far away. 19 They said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so you may have enough fear of Him to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people stood far away, while Moses came near to the cloud where God was.
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 Do not make any gods other than Me. Do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. 24 Make an altar of earth for Me, and on it give your burnt and peace gifts in worship, your sheep and cattle. In every place where My name is to be remembered, I will come to you and bring good to you. 25 If you make an altar of stone for Me, do not build it of cut stones. For if you use an object to cut it, it will be unclean. 26 And do not go up on steps to My altar, so no part of your body may be seen without being covered.’
True Forgiveness
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and said, “Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him, up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I tell you, not seven times but seventy times seven!
23 “The holy nation of heaven is like a king who wanted to find out how much money his servants owed him. 24 As he began, one of the servants was brought to him who owed him very much money. 25 He could pay nothing that he owed. So the king spoke the word that he and his wife and his children and all that he had should be sold to pay what he owed. 26 The servant got down on his face in front of the king. He said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you all the money.’ 27 Then the king took pity on his servant and let him go. He told him he did not have to pay the money back.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of the other servants who owed him very little money. He took hold of his neck and said, ‘Pay me the money you owe me!’ 29 The other servant got down at his feet and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you all the money.’ 30 But he would not. He had him put in prison until he could pay the money.
31 “When his other servants saw what had happened, they were very sorry. They came and told the king all that was done. 32 Then the king called for the first one. He said, ‘You bad servant! I forgave you. I said that you would not have to pay back any of the money you owed me because you asked me. 33 Should you not have had pity on the other servant, even as I had pity on you?’ 34 The king was very angry. He handed him over to men who would beat and hurt him until he paid all the money he owed. 35 So will My Father in heaven do to you, if each one of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.”
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.