FIRST
COMMANDMENT

M.—Repeat the first commandment or head.

S.—Hear, O Israel, I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: thou shalt have no other gods before me.

M.—Now explain the meaning of the words.

S.—At first he makes a kind of preface to the whole law. For when he calls himself Jehovah, he claims right and authority to command. Then in order to procure favor for his law, he adds, that he is our God. These words have the same force as if he had called himself our Preserver. Now as he bestows this favor upon us, it is meet that we should in our turn show ourselves to be an obedient people.

M.—But does not what he immediately subjoins, as to deliverance and breaking the yoke of Egyptian bondage, apply specially to the people of Israel, and to them alone?

S.—I admit this as to the act itself; but there is another kind of deliverance which applies equally to all men. For he has delivered us all from the spiritual bondage of sin, and the tyranny of the devil.

M.—Why does he mention that matter in a preface to his law?

S.—To remind us that we will be guilty of the greatest ingratitude if we do not devote ourselves entirely to obedience to him.

M.—And what does he require under this first head?

S.—That we maintain his honor entire and for himself alone, not transferring any part of it elsewhere.

M.—What is the honor peculiar to him which it is unlawful to transfer elsewhere?

S.—To adore him, to put our confidence in him, to call upon him, in short to pay him all the deference suitable to his majesty.

M.—Why is the clause added, “Before my face ?”

S.—As nothing is so hidden as to escape him, and he is the discerner and judge of secret thoughts, it means that he requires not the honor of outward affection merely, but true heartfelt piety.