Exodus 20:3 Have No Other Gods

Biblical Church Worship: A Study of the Ten Commandments  
Exodus 20:3-17

Exodus 20:3 Have No Other Gods[1]
Readings: I Chronicle 16:28, 29; Exodus 20:3-17; Psalm 96:1-13 (Deuteronomy 5:1-33)
Songs: How Great Thou Art; Holy, Holy, Holy; One True God, Psalm 96:1-10 (Met. Psalter)
“That now I say upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.”
 - Martin Luther, The Large Catechism (Luther)

I. Have No Other Gods (Ex. 20:3).
  A. Exclusive[2]:
    1. Gr. Sept[3]: “Other Gods will not exist among you except Me.”
      1a. Man is to serve the true God only.
    2. Gods (Heb. “el-o-heem”): Supreme God, spiritual beings, invented, magistrates
      1a. Seen in God’s judgment of Egypt (Ex. 12:12; 18:11; Num. 33:4)[4]
  B. Why?
    1. There is no other god besides the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Dt. 4:35, Ps. 96:5[5]; Is. 44:6).
      1a. He is the Creator (Gen. 1:27; Col. 1:16).
      2a. He is the Savior (Is. 43:11; Acts 13:23; Titus 1:4).
      3a. He is the Judge (Ps. 50:6; Acts 10:42, 43).
    2. He demands our sole devotion (Dt. 6:5; Josh. 23:11).
      1a. We are to love Him supremely (I Jn. 2:15; Luke 14:26).
II. Implication: Worship Begins When We Submit to Christ as God.
III. Response: Submit to Jesus Christ as God (Rom. 1:4; 10:9[6]; Php. 2:9-11).
  A. As Savior (Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:4)
  B. As Lord (Ps. 2:11, 12; Gal. 2:20)
III. Challenge: Ask Yourself
  A. Who or what do I love more than Jesus Christ?
  B. Who or what do I value over Jesus Christ?
  C. Who or what do you rely upon rather than Jesus Christ?


[1] January 12, 2025: Hall Church and Renewal Bible Fellowship
[2] This command prohibits idol worship in thought, word, and deed as well as demands  fear, love and worship of the true God (Keil, 1891).
[3] Greek Septuagint
[4] I believe the gods of Egypt, although represented by man and animal, were ultimately spiritual beings (See John Calvin).
[5] The Psalmist calls all other gods idols (Heb. “el-eel”: Good for nothing, no value, vain).
[6] This sounds like a creed of the early Church.