Exodus 20

V 1–17: TEN COMMANDMENTS God speaks to Moses and gives him the Ten Commandments, which are His moral law for all people for all time. The first four commandments concentrate on man’s relationship with God. The second six commandments treat man’s relationship with man, as commanded by God. Jesus later summarised the first four as loving God and putting Him first, and the last six as loving one’s neighbour as oneself. V 18–21: TESTING CIRCUMSTANCES Thunder, lightnings, trumpet sound and smoke make the people tremble as they stand afar off. They beg that Moses should speak with them because they fear that they will die if God speaks to them. Moses tells them to demonstrate their fear of God by not sinning. The people stand afar off and Moses draws near to the thick darkness where God is. V 22–26: TEACHING CONSECRATION God reiterates that no gods of silver or gold must ever be made. An altar made of earth must be made for Him on which burnt offerings and peace offerings, sheep and oxen, must be sacrificed. He promises that He will come and bless His people. No altar of stone should ever be made of hewn stone, because the tools used by human beings would effectively profane it. Also, absolute purity must be observed by not going up to the altar by steps so that nakedness may never be visible to those below.