Exodus 21:1-24:18

Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26

Matthew 5:38-42; 15:1-20

Acts 23:1-11

Hebrews 9:15-22; 10:28-39

We now begin to expound on the Ten Words. Before we do, we need to consider the reason we are moving on: Why do we desire to live by His Words?

This may seem like an oversimplified thought, but I believe it is much needed. Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question, “Why do I desire to obey His commandments?”

Now let’s look at some possible answers.

FEAR. 
Many of us grew up in the days of hellfire and brimstone preaching. Some even made it to an altar to “get saved” just because that hell thing sure did not sound like a good option for us. We were given this picture of a God who is sitting up there somewhere just waiting for us to mess up so He can swat us like a little bug and send us to the hell He really wants us to be in after all. Now none of us would verbalize that this is our attitude toward our Heavenly Father or the reason we are following Him, but the question should be asked. How do the teachings of our past affect the way we live today?

EARN RIGHTEOUSNESS
We have all read the scripture which states we are saved by faith and not by our works, but do we really believe this? After all, we are told there is nothing free in life, not even a lunch. The concept of redemption being a free gift just seems to go against our very makeup. We all know ourselves. We know what we have done in our lives. We know the secrets of our closets. To think that He will forgive us of even the darkest hour of our life and make it as if we never even did it is just hard to accept. In the end, many of us give lip service to forgiveness, but still harbor the thought that there is a catch, that He won’t fully forgive us until we do something specific, even though in the end it is nothing that we do that causes that forgiveness.

Now, we would never admit to it, but this may be the easiest trap to fall into. This can become the motivation to “be right.” We have all seen the divisions through the years regarding calendars and pronunciation of The Name. Is it good for us to study? Yes. Can our study become about us showing our great knowledge and being right in all things just so we can make ourselves feel good and heal some deep rooted hurt of life? The answer, again, is yes.

I am sure there are many other things we could go into, but I will leave them for you and Father to deal with. Let’s take a look at the right reason for obedience.

Yeshua said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John, the beloved disciple said in 2 John 1:6, “And this is love, that we walk in His commandments.” Why should we desire to walk out His commandments? The reason is given in the instructions concerning a Hebrew servant, “Because I love my master.” It is as simple and complex as that.

One final thought. Have we considered that the hangup may be that we are having a hard time loving Him because we have never come to the place of understanding that He loves us? Just how great is that love? Please read the following scriptures.

John 3:16. I know you can quote it, but open your Bible and slowly read it. Now read it again and where it says “The World,” insert your name.

Romans 5:8 Insert “me” and “I” for “us” and “we.”

The Hebrews in Egypt did not DO anything to earn His love. They did not earn redemption or a visit to The Mountain. It was all because of His love that He acted on their behalf. The same is true for us today. Question is, how will we respond? Will it be out of fear, a sense of trying to earn something, to show off to others, or will it be, “I love my Master because He first loved me?” (Click to Source)