THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
GOD.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
_What is meant by this commandment?_
We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.
* * * * *
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT. This is the great commandment of the Law, because
it includes all the rest. [Matt. 22:37,38] Obedience to all the
commandments must proceed from the love of God which the first
commandment requires. [Rom. 13:9,10] Hence the explanation of the other
nine begins with the words, "We should so fear and love God."
This Commandment _forbids_ us to worship false gods, and _commands_ us
to worship the true God by fearing, loving and trusting in Him above all
things.
I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN.
1. ALL IDOLATRY. "Thou shalt have no other gods." Idolatry is committed
by all who put anything in God's place, the highest place in the heart.
"Whatever we set our heart upon is our god."
_Open Idolatry_ [Exod. 32:1-9, Ps. 135:15-17, Isa. 42:8, Rom. 1:22-23]
is committed by those who worship imaginary beings, the sun, moon, or
stars, animals, dead ancestors, idols made with hands, images,[3]
pictures, the Virgin Mary, saints, angels, the devil, or any other
creature.
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