The commandment "You shall have no other gods before me" is the first of the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:3 and Deuteronomy 5:7. This commandment is foundational in the Bible’s teachings on loyalty, worship, and devotion to God. It calls for exclusive allegiance to God, forbidding the worship or placing of any other "gods" or idols in our lives before Him. This was particularly significant in the context of the ancient world, where people worshipped multiple gods and idols.
The New Testament expands on this commandment's meaning through Jesus' words in Matthew 22:37, where He says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This reinforces the idea that God is to hold the highest place in our lives, encompassing our devotion, values, and actions.
The reality is that a God is not always as we think it is. ( MHO )
In the Bible, the lesson is explained and clarified in these Ten Commandments.
However when it comes to Sin how does this all tie in? Jesus defines this in Mathew 22.37 However I do not think it is always looked at as intended.
As Values do not equal the defiance of sin exactly. Moreover it places before the read a path that will allow over coming sin and or temptations.
But again this does not tie in how " a " God is viewed, and that there shall be no others. After all when the Bible was written we did not have a plethora
of Gods and Religion like we do today.
Being we are built from the heart out, sin is anything that changes that heart from how it was created to be.
I think we look at "You shall have no other gods before me" and we assume with no evidence per say that it is referring to other deities.
However, if we look at the many books in the Bible the lesson is always about placing higher priorities over God and having "You shall have no other gods before me"
define that as Deity is a common practice thought in those whom see Christ as Our Savior.
My own belief is that God is speaking to us, about the Other 9 Commandments that would place other higher power in your life then him.
In todays world, we could say that Greed, Gambling, Pornography, Hate, Manipulation and many more, and when they become a priority in our lives
we are violating the Commandment "You shall have no other gods before me".
This came up in deep thought as I see more Liberal/Atheistic views stating the bible does not speak of this or that. ( and topics we can not discuss in this forum)
So by prayer and study, I believe that these things we make a priority are not just sinful as Jesus speaks of, or of Pauls Struggles.
It also ties directly to "You shall have no other gods before me" and placing priority in your lives to not only sin, but to value that sin more then God is how its avoided. When we say Let Christ take this from you. It should me far more then a request to remove sin. God is asking you to value him, more then this sin represents in your life.
If we also look at "You shall have no other gods before me" a scary proposition and true, is you are placing satan's perversions and desires over God desire for
you to "have no other gods before me". You are in a reality, making satan more important to you then God.
We all know that, but its not often said.
I wanted to present this approach to help clarify the importance of what God Commands, is not to order us around like slaves,
But to save our souls by looking to him first.
The New Testament expands on this commandment's meaning through Jesus' words in Matthew 22:37, where He says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This reinforces the idea that God is to hold the highest place in our lives, encompassing our devotion, values, and actions.
The reality is that a God is not always as we think it is. ( MHO )
In the Bible, the lesson is explained and clarified in these Ten Commandments.
However when it comes to Sin how does this all tie in? Jesus defines this in Mathew 22.37 However I do not think it is always looked at as intended.
As Values do not equal the defiance of sin exactly. Moreover it places before the read a path that will allow over coming sin and or temptations.
But again this does not tie in how " a " God is viewed, and that there shall be no others. After all when the Bible was written we did not have a plethora
of Gods and Religion like we do today.
Being we are built from the heart out, sin is anything that changes that heart from how it was created to be.
I think we look at "You shall have no other gods before me" and we assume with no evidence per say that it is referring to other deities.
However, if we look at the many books in the Bible the lesson is always about placing higher priorities over God and having "You shall have no other gods before me"
define that as Deity is a common practice thought in those whom see Christ as Our Savior.
My own belief is that God is speaking to us, about the Other 9 Commandments that would place other higher power in your life then him.
In todays world, we could say that Greed, Gambling, Pornography, Hate, Manipulation and many more, and when they become a priority in our lives
we are violating the Commandment "You shall have no other gods before me".
This came up in deep thought as I see more Liberal/Atheistic views stating the bible does not speak of this or that. ( and topics we can not discuss in this forum)
So by prayer and study, I believe that these things we make a priority are not just sinful as Jesus speaks of, or of Pauls Struggles.
It also ties directly to "You shall have no other gods before me" and placing priority in your lives to not only sin, but to value that sin more then God is how its avoided. When we say Let Christ take this from you. It should me far more then a request to remove sin. God is asking you to value him, more then this sin represents in your life.
If we also look at "You shall have no other gods before me" a scary proposition and true, is you are placing satan's perversions and desires over God desire for
you to "have no other gods before me". You are in a reality, making satan more important to you then God.
We all know that, but its not often said.
I wanted to present this approach to help clarify the importance of what God Commands, is not to order us around like slaves,
But to save our souls by looking to him first.