The Ten Commandments – Part 2 (Discipleship Training)

This post is part of my series on Discipleship Training. See all Discipleship Training Plans here.

Or, read my introductory post on discipleship training here.

The Ten Commandments – Part 2: In the last study, we considered how the fullness of God’s moral law is most accurately expressed and summarized in the Ten Commandments. In this study, we will begin to examine each of these commandments in turn.

Today, we will begin to discuss how the first few commandments deal with what theologians call the “first table of the law.” These commandments deal particularly with our duties toward God in particular.

Training Objective

The first table of the law summarizes our duties toward God.

Scripture

Read and discuss:

• Exodus 20:3–7: The first three commandments
• Exodus 32:1–6: An illustration of violating the Second Commandment, when Israel attempted to worship the Lord (Yahweh) by an image
• Leviticus 10:1–3: Another illustration of violating the Second Commandment, when Nadab and Abihu worshiped the Lord (Yahweh) with “strange” fire that God did not explicitly authorize
• Deuteronomy 6:5: The summary of the first table of the law: to love God with all our heart, soul, and might
• Matthew 6:9: An illustration of how to keep the Third Commandment, by praying that God’s name be “hallowed”
• 1 Corinthians 10:19–22: A warning against violating the First Commandment by fellowshiping with other gods
• 1 Corinthians 13:12: While we know the Lord only a in a reflection (i.e., through the Word), one day we will see him face to face
• 1 Peter 1:8–9: We cannot make images even of Jesus, for we love him without seeing him until he returns
• 1 John 3:2: We look forward to Christ’s return, for when he returns, we shall see him as he is

Doctrine

Read and discuss:

• Westminster Larger Catechism #102–114
• Westminster Shorter Catechism #45–56

Discussion Questions

• How does the First Commandment teach us whom to worship?
• How does the Second Commandment teach us how to worship?
• How does the Third Commandment teach us the spirit in which we should worship?
• How are these commandments similar? How are they different?

Application

• Memorize the Ten Commandments.
• Consider how the commandment against making images in the Second Commandment is different from the First Commandment, not to have other gods besides the Lord. In the First Commandment, the emphasis is on whom we worship, while in the Second Commandment, the emphasis is on how we worship—namely, that we worship only as God has commanded us. Reflect on your own worship, both privately and publicly. Do you see elements of your worship that God has not explicitly commanded?

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