20:5Exodus 20:5

The verse forbids bowing down to graven images and serving them, which is idolatry.SG3 265.3+2 It forbids making any likeness of things in heaven, earth, or water to represent God or to worship Him through it, because such an image dishonors Him and degrades those who use it.Ms 146, 1906, par. 3–9+2 The reason given is that the Lord God is a jealous God who requires undivided worship and supreme affection, accepting no divided loyalty or partial obedience.SG3 265.3+4 He visits the iniquity of fathers who hate Him upon the children to the third and fourth generation, yet children are not punished for parental guilt unless they share in the sins by following the example and cherishing the same wrongdoing.SG3 265.3+4 The commandment is part of the Ten Commandments, the moral law proclaimed by God at Sinai, which is a transcript of His character, holy and unchangeable and binding on all.RH Jan 28, 1909+4

The verse forbids bowing down to graven images and serving them, and such bowing and serving is idolatry.SG3 265.3+4 It was spoken as part of the Ten Commandments, the plain and clear law of God's kingdom expressing the character of the Sovereign of the universe, proclaimed with awful solemnity from Sinai so all mankind might understand God's requirements covering the whole duty of man.Ms 2, 1904, par. 6–19+2 It was spoken by God at Sinai in the third month after Israel came out of Egypt into the wilderness, by the Lord who brought Israel out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, together with the command to have no other gods before Him.Ms 2, 1904, par. 6–19+1 The reason given is that the Lord God is a jealous God, and disobedience brings visitation of iniquity upon children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him, while mercy extends to thousands who love Him and keep His commandments.SG3 265.3+4 Such idolatry can lead on to rebellion and even human sacrifice.ST May 6, 1880

The verse forbids making any graven image or likeness of anything in heaven above, in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth to represent God, and forbids bowing down to them or serving them in place of God.Ms 146, 1906, par. 3–9+2 It forbids worshiping the true God through any creature or image and forbids associating such an image with worship, requiring worship and service to God alone.EW 176.1+1 Making an image of God dishonors Him by reducing Him in the mind to something common.Ms 126, 1901, par. 31–34 Representing God with material things lowers people's understanding of Him and draws them toward created things, degrading them, corrupting and debasing the mind and leading to sensuality and sin.PP 305.5–306.4+1 True worship is in spirit and truth and is governed by living faith, not imagination, and God searches the heart to distinguish true service from idolatry.Ms 126, 1901, par. 31–34

The prohibition of worshiping images does not forbid every picture or likeness, for God used visual symbols to teach prophets and people, and prophetic symbols were to be made plain so readers could understand.HSFM 211.5–212.4 It must not be turned into an extreme rule condemning all pictures, even clocks with figures or likenesses of friends, or used to impose one person's conscience on others.HSFM 211.5–212.4

A picture becomes an idol when people love or trust it instead of God, depend on it as a source of help or good, give it the affections and supreme love due to God, or let it weaken full confidence in Him.8MR 78.1–79.1 Burning pictures does not by itself show greater consecration.8MR 78.1–79.1 The character of the act is known by its fruits, such as devotion to God and spiritual growth.8MR 78.1–79.1

The verse forbids making or using images of Christ, angels, and other heavenly things in ways that misrepresent them, because minds are to have clearer and more perfect ideas of angels, of Christ, and of all spiritual things when no pictures are made to represent heavenly things.Lt 145, 1899, par. 1–2+1 Multiplying faces in books and papers and accumulating pictures and photographs one after another in homes, and spending the Lord's money for it, breaks this plain command, because many pictures are grossly false to truth, give voice to falsehoods, impose on the public, and fail to be true in all representations of Jesus Christ.Lt 145, 1899, par. 1–2+1 Such multitudinous making and accumulating of pictures and photographs absorbs attention that belongs to God and consumes money that should support missionary work, and is becoming idolaters and a species of idolatry.Lt 145, 1899, par. 5–6+1 A decided reform is called for to stop the continued increase of picture-making and to use means for missionary effort rather than consuming it in producing pictures which are not essential.Lt 145, 1899, par. 5–6 The command applies also to letting apparently small attractions absorb attention that should be given to God.Lt 145, 1899, par. 7

God forbids representations of heavenly things because they mix the sacred with the common, and this applies to illustrations in books, which can feed the imagination without giving spiritual life and whose expense does not glorify God.Lt 137, 1899, par. 3–4 The craze for making illustrations is called idolatry that will bring the Lord's displeasure if continued.Lt 131, 1899, par. 2–3 Money spent on illustrations should instead help send the truth to new territories.Lt 131, 1899, par. 2–3

Photographs treated as picture-idols should be put out of sight because they have no power for good and come between God and the soul.RH Jun 13, 1907

Carrying images of saints and offering them supplications for deliverance from danger is superstition prohibited by the commandment.HSFM 29.2 Offering prayers to images and burning candles before them violates the command.GC 57.1

Worshiping images of saints and of Christ and Mary violates the verse, and merely changing the object of worship from pagan idols to Christian figures still breaks the commandment and remains idolatry.SG1 103.1+3 Allowing such image worship corrupts religion, brings unsound doctrines and superstitious rites and idolatrous ceremonies into faith and worship, and causes loss of purity and power, while Christians who refused images and worshiped God alone preserved purity.SG1 103.1+2 Keeping the commandment means worshiping God alone and holding fast to truth without compromise with idolatry, refusing to unite with those who brought such worship into the church and refusing to accept the corruptions associated with Rome even when doing so brings persecution.EW 176.1+2

The Waldenses rejected image worship as idolatry, holding to this commandment despite persecution.4SP 70.1 In the Netherlands refusal to bow to an image as an act of worship was treated as a capital offense punishable by death.GC 239.3–240.3+1

Making representations of God by works made by human hands and then worshiping those representations turns worship from the Creator to the image, even when people claim they intend to honor God.ST Sep 8, 1881 Those who profess knowledge of God can lead others into this disobedience and rejection of God's word.ST Sep 8, 1881

With Exodus 20:4-6 the verse presents the second commandment as forbidding irreverence toward God.Lt 9, 1892, par. 48–57 It is one of the two commandments on the tablets concerning sins of the tongue.Lt 9, 1892, par. 48–57 It is part of God's standard of righteousness whose principles express His character, and keeping it requires more than acknowledging its authority: the law must be treasured in the heart and its requirements fulfilled.Lt 9, 1892, par. 48–57

The warning against idolatry applies to filling homes with pictures, urging restraint and the use of saved money to help others and share religious teaching.21MR 408.3–4 It applies to keeping pictures and magazines in the home when they encourage idolizing humanity or distract from God, including devotion to human beings or anything on earth in place of serving the living God.Ms 187, 1907, par. 6 Children should be taught to keep their minds on God and serve Him.Ms 187, 1907, par. 6

Exodus 20:5 is part of the Ten Commandments, the moral law and Decalogue proclaimed by God at Mount Sinai during Israel's wilderness journey after deliverance from bondage where sight of the commandments had been lost.ST Oct 17, 1878+2 It is direct communication from heaven where divine laws are plainly stated, God's holiness and goodness made known expressing what the Creator expects from creatures, recording sacred principles of morality, justice, reverence for God and respect for man made in God's image.ST Oct 17, 1878+2 It belongs to laws for government of mankind whose sanctity is to be respected and obeyed even at personal cost, protecting homes from vice, with obedience helping protect from vice and disobedience bringing definite penalty showing retributive justice does not fail.ST Oct 17, 1878+2 It remains a lesson for God's people to read and understand till the close of time, a rule of action of God's government setting an exalted standard man must rise to meet rather than lower, on which all enlightened civil law restraining wrong under penalty is founded and on which safety of society and progress of reform depend.ST Oct 17, 1878+1

The verse was spoken by God at Sinai in the third month after Israel came out of Egypt into the wilderness, as part of the ten commandments covering the whole duty of man as plain clear law of God's kingdom and expression of the character of the Sovereign of the universe.Ms 2, 1904, par. 6–19+2 God Himself proclaimed it with His own voice to the children of Israel, coming down enshrouded in glory surrounded by angels and speaking with audible voice in hearing of all the people, refusing to trust its teaching even to angels.CH 388.2+2 The awful grandeur, power and glory with smoke, flame, thunder, lightning, trumpet, earthquake, cloud, tempest, thick darkness and devouring fire demonstrate its importance and reveal His majesty and authority as Ruler of the world, given to impress the sacredness of His law and importance of obeying it.CH 388.2+2 God came down in fire and made the mountain sacred on penalty of death so the scene would never be forgotten, and the people stood afar in fear and asked Moses to speak lest they die, not understanding Christ as mediator without whom they would have been consumed.Ms 2, 1904, par. 6–19+1

Christ Himself gave the verse on Sinai and spoke it in human flesh as Redeemer, for the law there is God's moral law and its giving was a manifestation of Christ's power and glory.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9+2 The Father and the Son were present on Sinai, and the commandments repeated there had been given in Eden.Ms 176, 1903, par. 3 The law was spoken there by Christ who knew its meaning and far-reaching claims, in the same clear ringing voice that later commanded the traders to leave the temple when priests and rulers perverted temple service into extortion, robbery and unholy traffic bruising the poor coming for forgiveness.ST Jul 28, 1909+1 Its Maker was present among the people, yet Israel's leaders failed to recognize or acknowledge Him.Lt 97, 1895, par. 9–12

Its principles existed before humanity, were made known to Adam and Eve and given to Adam after the fall without change, taught by Adam to descendants and preserved among the faithful through Noah in the ark and observed by Abraham who was chosen as its keeper.SG3 298.1–299.2+2 Because Abraham's descendants did not keep the covenant of which circumcision was the token, broke the covenant, went into idolatry and went down into Egypt where knowledge was largely lost, confused by witnessing idolatry and mixed with heathen customs, God heard their cry under bondage, delivered them by Moses, divided the Red Sea and proved them.SG3 298.1–299.2+2 God then proclaimed the law anew at Sinai to make known His will and leave them without excuse, guarding it with definite directions and requiring Moses to write judgments and laws with minute directions simplified in definite form about duty to one another and to the stranger to lead erring man prone to transgress to strict obedience.SG3 298.1–299.2+2 The law was entrusted to Israel to be handed down, not for Israel alone but as a sacred trust for the whole world and to be made known to every nation.ST Apr 8, 1875+1

The law was written by God's own finger on tables of stone and engraved to preserve it from heathen traditions and human customs so it would not be forgotten, corrupted, or mingled with tradition or confused with practices of men, to make requirements unmistakable and call people from idolatry to obedience.Lt 21, 1905, par. 6–9+2 It was spoken clearly from Sinai in majesty and glory as the word given from the beginning, engraved on two stone tablets received after deliverance from Egypt, revealing God's character and mind as transcript of His character whose obedience brings safety and healthy spiritual experience.Lt 80, 1898, par. 16–18+2 It was proclaimed amid manifestations of power and glory showing its sacredness, importance and permanence, setting out far-reaching principles whose obligations additional precepts were given to explain and apply, remaining unchanged to be obeyed from heart and mind as the highest education higher than any human unsanctified teaching.Lt 21, 1905, par. 6–9+2 It was kept in the sacred ark and in the most holy place in heaven revealed in 1844, though because of the sins of Israel and Judah the ark was hidden in a cave and not restored to them.Ms 160, 1899, par. 1–2+1

God in patient tenderness prepared Israel to receive the law by reminding them what He did to the Egyptians and how He bore them on eagles' wings, and in mercy drew near in thick cloud so they could hear His voice without being destroyed by His glory.Lt 154, 1906, par. 34–39 He led them apart to Sinai surrounded by His created works far removed from all man had built in pride and self-glorification, where nothing would divert their minds, so they would realize man's utter insignificance, the terrible majesty of His power, and the sacredness of His law, choosing not human habitations or magnificent palaces.Lt 54, 1911, par. 4+1 He commanded them to be sanctified and wash their clothes on the two days before to impress purity and care for physical as well as moral well-being, not simply to have clean apparel, for the law's holiness was not to be approached carelessly and profession is empty when person remains unclean and disorderly in person, clothing or home.RH Jan 23, 1900+1 Israel pledged by covenant to obey and chose God as King with place as chosen people conditional on obedience, and afterward Moses recapitulated the law and wrote judgments and minute directions to guard it, with the commandment with the rest to be kept in printed form in plain sight in every house.Lt 154, 1906, par. 34–39+1

The people blinded and debased by slavery could not comprehend the law as given or appreciate its far-reaching principles, so God called Moses into the mount to give additional precepts delivered privately for him to communicate.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9+1 The religious precepts and statutes guarded and explained the Ten Commandments, and unlike the Ten they were not spoken aloud to all.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9+1 The proclamation in Exodus 19-24 with Exodus 31 is to be studied and presented before the people, needed now just as verily as by Israel in Moses' day, to be read as Scripture and taught plainly as Thus saith the Lord not replaced by human arguments, to be vindicated by heart obedience and printed plainly because hardly anyone knows the Sabbath and obedience would have prevented wickedness.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9+2 That proclamation will stand to witness against the world in judgment deciding destiny of every soul, with tables hidden until that day presented as standard of righteousness showing terms of salvation are obedience leaving none with excuse, requiring obeying every command including this one and respecting laws instituted in Eden.Ms 77, 1899, par. 11–12+2

Obeyed, the commandments would be Israel's life and make them an example of true righteousness to the nations and a model of what His church should be, bringing health, happiness, peace, joy, prosperity and honor, guarding from results of transgression as a protective hedge.Ms 57, 1909, par. 4–5+2 The law hedged Israel about and distinguished the Israel of God from every other nation and from idolatrous nations when called to be separate, and their history under it was written for admonition.Ms 166, 1898, par. 1–3+1 Disregard brought God's displeasure and punishment, with transgression bringing consequences and judgments restraining sin and warning others against disregarding His honor, presenting obedience as path to peace and prosperity.Ms 57, 1909, par. 4–5+1 Israel broke it in sight of Sinai by clamoring for gods to lead them back to Egypt and again in Canaan by gradual idolatry, causing God to withdraw protection and permit enemies to overcome and scatter them as captives in strange lands, yet He remained willing to pardon and heal backslidings and reinstate in favor if they would return.RH Apr 23, 1901

The reason given for the prohibition is that the Lord God is a jealous God, the same now as at Sinai, jealous for the purity and loyalty of His people and for His law, and He will not accept disloyalty.SG3 265.3+4 The command forbids bowing down to graven images or serving them because the Lord alone is God, and it was spoken as part of the Ten Commandments, the plain law of His kingdom expressing the character of the Sovereign of the universe.SG3 265.3+4 It forbids making any image to represent God and forbids bowing down to or serving any image in place of God, whether any graven image or likeness of anything in heaven above, in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth.Ms 146, 1906, par. 3–9+1 It was spoken by the Lord who brought Israel out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, together with the command to have no other gods before Him, proclaimed with awful solemnity from Sinai so all might understand His requirements covering the whole duty of man.Ms 2, 1904, par. 6–19+1 Its warning reaches the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him, while the accompanying promise extends mercy to thousands who love Him and keep His commandments.SG3 265.3+3

His jealousy describes a sacred relation like marriage, so idolatry is spiritual adultery and His displeasure against it is called jealousy.PP 305.3–4+1 He is jealous for the worship and loyalty due to Him, and requires worship in spirit and truth and in holiness, in the beauty of holiness.PP 305.5–306.4+2 The commandment therefore implies worship of the true God alone, and promises mercy to thousands of generations of those who love and serve Him.PP 305.5–306.4 Representing God with material things lowers understanding of Him and draws people toward created things, degrading them, which is sin.PP 305.5–306.4

The verse requires undivided worship and affection, with God first and supreme in the affections.Lt 78, 1894, par. 3–4+2 God requires exclusive loyalty, willing sacrifice, sincere affection and unreserved confidence, and accepts no partial obedience, no divided loyalty, no divided interest, no double-minded lukewarm service, and no compromise made for temporal advantage or convenience.ST Aug 26, 1913+3 His claim does not expire with time and is not limited to Abraham's direct descendants, but the warning spoken at Sinai remains binding.ST Aug 26, 1913 Love for another person becomes selfish idolatry when it takes the place belonging to God, for He will not accept a divided heart.Lt 78, 1894, par. 3–4 The first four commandments allow nothing to separate the heart from God or to share supreme delight due to Him, and advancing in Christian experience depends on this undivided love.STB 841.4+1

This demand belongs to exclusive allegiance to the Lord alone as the true God, and to the first four commandments defining duty to God, summed in loving God supremely with all heart, soul, mind and strength and placing Him above everything as sovereign and omnipotent.Ms 17, 1906, par. 29–40+3 The ten precepts together contain the whole duty of humanity, summed in love to God and love to others, with four precepts on the first table showing duty to God and six on the second showing duty to fellow man in loving neighbor as self, upon which hang all the law and the prophets.ST Mar 7, 1878+1 Refusal of implicit obedience is disloyalty to the God of heaven, for the law given in awful grandeur from Sinai can never be repealed while heaven and earth remain, is the origin of all enlightened law and government, and is the foundation of God's government in heaven and on earth.ST Mar 7, 1878 God requires obedience not to nine-tenths but to every one of the ten, like links of a chain where if one is broken the chain is of no value, so violation makes a person a commandment-breaker guilty of all.ST Mar 7, 1878 Anything that absorbs the mind and turns it from God becomes an idol displacing the living God, including needless display of dress, and pride can make self a god, while Christ's gospel expels self-love.Ms 103, 1908, par. 27+1

Love to God and love to people made in His image are inseparable, so the first commandments must be faithfully kept for the last six governing duties to others to be kept, and neither can be kept while the other is broken.Lt 16, 1885, par. 8+1 Obeying the first four leads to obeying the last six, producing tender pitying love toward everyone for whom Christ died, consecration as missionaries and laborers together with God, and zeal and energy drawn from Christ as Chief Missionary, with wisdom pure, peaceable, gentle, merciful and fruitful.Lt 31, 1894, par. 39+2 Such obedience makes people co-workers with God and one with Christ in freeing humanity from sin, and calls even those who did not personally enforce slavery to make restitution for wrongs done to the colored race.SW 74.1+1 Obedience to the last six rules out living for one's own pleasure without regard for others' present and future happiness.Lt 16, 1885, par. 8

The call to love God is a living principle shown through willing obedience to all His requirements, with God's will paramount and no sinless swerving.3SP 51.4+1 Hearts defiled by sin fail to keep these precepts, while the heart's inclinations are true when restrained by His holy precepts.Lt 15, 1895, par. 23–26+1 Disobeying steps from beneath the bloodstained banner of Jesus Christ to stand under the black banner of the prince of darkness, joining disobedience to all the first four and the last six including the Sabbath, and it must be broken off for conversion and partnership with God, or there will be no excuse when every man meets the reward of his works.Lt 123, 1897, par. 3–5 God walks contrary to those who walk contrary to Him, holding those who hate Him accountable across generations while showing mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments.Lt 15, 1895, par. 23–26

Worshipers of the true God must sacrifice every idol and put away everything that separates them from God.MYP 377.3+1 Anything that divides affection from God or shares supreme devotion becomes an idol and separates the soul from Him, while God's commandments draw His people to Himself and separate them from the world.RH Feb 18, 1862 God knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart and searches the heart to distinguish true service from idolatry, and cherishing iniquity in the heart prevents prayer from being heard.3T 238.1–2 He is jealous for purity and loyalty and will not acknowledge an unclean person as His child, so those who wish to please Him must reform and will not accept disloyalty.3T 238.1–2+1

His being jealous means He faithfully scrutinizes human work, especially of the self-sufficient and self-esteemed, sifting everything to the bottom, trying motives, looking into the moral mirror of His holy law to expose defects, weighing actions, seeing to the very heart and testing character even when a person appears honest before men.Lt 12a, 1888, par. 15 Therefore the verse requires humbling the heart before God and not separating from Jesus, since positions in this life will reveal proud self-esteem if present.Lt 12a, 1888, par. 15 He must be exalted in deeds as well as words, and those connected with Christ represent His character and bear the similitude of heaven, living continually as in God's presence.STB 316.3–317.2+1 They choose only pure righteous counselors and helpers who understand God's will, refuse unrighteousness and selfishness in self or others and refuse to oppress fellow men when having power to build up or tear down, treat the humble with favor as God treats them, and show meekness and lowliness with fewer judgments upon others instead of judging.STB 316.3–317.2+1

He is jealous and will not be trifled with, and disbelieving the evidence of His power after He has revealed it is a grave offense very near the sin against the Holy Spirit.Ms 2, 1890, par. 17–18 Keeping the first four calls for unselfish fidelity and pure devotion using every talent lent for His glory rather than careless, indolent, selfish seeking of own exaltation.ST Jul 9, 1896 Those who so keep will be rewarded according to faithful zeal as accurately recorded by the recording angel, while violators cannot be rewarded likewise and many will be greatly surprised in the last day.ST Jul 9, 1896 Neglect brings conviction through the Holy Spirit of being weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting, and failure to love God supremely is failure to serve Him supremely, carrying failure to love neighbor under the last six, with obedience the unchangeable eternal gospel condition of eternal life.Ms 45, 1900, par. 4–6

Living in transgression of the first four with the last six hinders God so He can do very little for a person.Ms 167, 1898, par. 30–32 Loving God supremely includes keeping the verse, whereupon those who do so will love neighbor as self and love one another as Christ commanded, which is a step heavenward giving supremacy through obedience to Christ's word.Ms 167, 1898, par. 30–32 Following right principle means faithfully doing it, which is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ, appropriating all embraced in the atonement made on Calvary.Ms 161, 1903, par. 3 Those who so receive Christ as Saviour have Christ standing by their side and receive power to become sons of God, for Christ is the Word made flesh dwelling among men full of grace and truth.Ms 161, 1903, par. 3

The verse warns that God visits the iniquity of fathers who hate Him upon the children to the third and fourth generation, and promises mercy to thousands of generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.SG3 265.3+4 This visitation stands opposite the promise of mercy and vindicates God's justice in requiring obedience.SG3 265.3+4 The prohibition is against bowing down to or serving graven images because the Lord alone is God, and the reason given is that He is a jealous God.SG3 265.3+4 It was spoken by the Lord who brought Israel out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, together with the command to have no other gods before Him, and forbids making any likeness of anything in heaven above, in earth beneath, or in water under the earth.SG3 265.3+4

Children may suffer the consequences of parental wrongdoing but are not punished for parental guilt unless they share in the sins.PP 305.3–4+4 They commonly do share by following parental example and by inheriting tendencies, appetites, morals, disease, and physical decline through the third and fourth generations.PP 305.3–4+4 The visitation is completed when parents neglect the solemn responsibility to train children to self-denial and usefulness for this life and heaven, indulging them instead of disciplining them, and parents who made their children what they are will meet them at the final reckoning.PP 305.3–4+3 This generational effect warns against sin, while the commandment also implies worship of the true God.PP 305.3–4+1

Those who tamper with God's commandments and replace them with human traditions are regarded as haters of God whatever love they profess.Ms 126, 1901, par. 20–22+1 The warning describes the harvest where disobedience sown by teaching and example reproduces itself and resisters grow increasingly hardened in unbelief.Ms 126, 1901, par. 20–22+3 Pharaoh illustrates this consequence, for he resisted the light God gave, repeatedly refused evidence and returned to unbelief, grew more stubborn, and brought destruction on himself and his people.Ms 126, 1901, par. 20–22+1 Persistent hatred and disobedience show sin opposes both God's government and the good of His creatures, with consequences extending through generations for those persisting in wrongdoing.Ms 126, 1901, par. 20–22+3 Evil taught by precept and example is reproduced in children, not by arbitrary decree making them blind but because resisting sufficient light and rejecting the Spirit sows disobedience, hardens, and reaps its harvest, and such example can lead others to resist.RH Jun 22, 1911+1

God does not pledge blessing to parents and children who transgress plainly written requirements and hate Him, calling for obedience without changing His word and departure from sin.Ms 84, 1910, par. 9–11+3 Parents who transgress teach disrespect for the law and rebellion against its Lawgiver, inclining children to repeat wrongdoing, cutting them from covenant blessings and bringing them under judgments.Ms 84, 1910, par. 9–11+1 When disobedience is full God holds both parents and children accountable for idolatry and punishes iniquity, though He bears long with resistance.Ms 84, 1910, par. 9–11+2 God will not hold guiltless anyone who does not set the Lord ever before him, but will walk contrary to those who walk contrary to Him.Lt 15, 1895, par. 23–26+1 This belongs to the first four commandments enjoining serving the Lord with all heart, soul, mind and strength, with fervent intense love cherishing nothing in mind or affections in rivalry with God and making everything secondary to His glory, cherishing the Father as first, joy, prosperity, light, sufficiency and portion forever, and the heart's inclinations are true when restrained by His holy precepts.Lt 15, 1895, par. 23–26+1

God forgives penitent believing people who hang their helpless souls upon Him, but He does not deliver them from the consequence of transgression, which is transmitted by precept and example to children and children's children to the third and fourth generation.19MR 265.1+1 This includes indulgence of perverted appetite in liquor and tobacco, whose evil results will be felt in proportion to the indulgence.19MR 265.1+1 Parents' sin can bring consequences when they permit children to cherish wrongdoing and fail to correct it, contributing to ruin of families through the third and fourth generation with responsibility resting on parents who allow it.Ms 75, 1901, par. 6–8+2 Words and actions mold characters for this life and the next, transmitting character for good or evil so doing evil prepares curses for future generations.Ms 75, 1901, par. 6–8+2 When children are not diligently instructed to keep the way of the Lord the enemy occupies thoughts, God is forgotten, the deceiver takes control, Satan stamps his image and principles upon hearts not taught to obey, and all receive according to works.Ms 33, 1900, par. 37

Character tendencies are transmitted from parents to children, so children face hereditary tendencies shaped by family course, but they are to resist those tendencies, avoid repeating failures, and gain victory over wrong habits.Ms 69, 1897, par. 32–33+3 Sin can bring consequences as in a son's criminal life as terrible harvest of a father's sins reaching the children, yet receiving truth can reform the sinner and Jesus can save all who come.4T 438.2+1 Children may suffer consequences of parents' wrong habits though not responsible for parents' actions; they should learn which habits violate health laws, avoid harmful practices, and live rightly to improve their condition.HTL6 41.4–44.2+2 Effects of violated natural laws cannot be undone by human intervention, with physical harm passed to children and grandchildren, yet Christ's grace can make children with inherited diseased organs, evil passions and difficult struggle vessels unto honor.HTL6 41.4–44.2+2 Here this applies to impure practices and transgressions of nature's laws impairing constitution.HTL6 41.4–44.2+2

God has a controversy with a father whose sins lay stumbling blocks in the path of his wife and children to stumble over to perdition, visiting his iniquity upon them.Lt 35, 1896, par. 18–19 Unless he repents and becomes Christlike, redeems the past, clears the track, and makes restitution as far as in his power including paying just debt for support, the judgments of God will not long be delayed, his name will be blotted out of the book of life, and he will never see the kingdom of heaven.Lt 35, 1896, par. 18–19 The warning that iniquity reaches the third and fourth generation is reflected in effects of parents' character and conduct on children and grandchildren.Lt 86, 1899, par. 9 Parents' defects can pass pain, misery and evil to offspring, so they must guard their own minds against sin and teach their children faithfully.Lt 86, 1899, par. 9 The divine prohibitions that may seem burdensome are, through the Spirit's work, a blessing because they protect families from sin's consequences.Lt 86, 1899, par. 9

The visiting of iniquity to the third and fourth generation means the effects of sin extend from parents to children and later generations.ST Jan 3, 1884+3 Applied to intemperance and sensuality, parents pass on harmful inclinations, perverted appetites and passions, disease, and weakened mental, moral and physical powers.ST Jan 3, 1884+2 Parents who indulge lustful passions stamp those propensities upon offspring, so children may be born with strong animal impulses and take naturally to secret vice.2T 390.2–391.1+1 Parents are responsible before God for this influence and will answer for it at the final reckoning.FE 140.2–3+2

The consequences reach children and grandchildren when character training is neglected, allowing harmful traits to take root and pass down through the family with guilt and unhappiness to those who bear them.FE 66.2+2 Perverted appetites and inherited habits of intemperance bring disease and mental and physical decline upon descendants to the third and fourth generation.CH 49.2+1 Violation of the laws of life is transmitted hereditarily, with tobacco use given as an example of harm passing beyond the sinner.CH 49.2+1

Harmful habits of eating, dressing and living are passed from parents to children, leaving some afflicted from birth with inherited weakness and disease as physical and moral harm.STSE 9.2+2 The effects of harmful indulgence are seen in children and pass from generation to generation beyond the one who sins.RH Jan 13, 1916+1 When parents are led astray by appetite, children and grandchildren may inherit intensified appetites and passions, grow amid harmful examples, and become weaker in body and morals.ST Jul 1, 1880 Intemperance can thus bring ruin through the third and fourth generation, leaving children without redemptive influences and unable to discern right from wrong.ST Jul 1, 1880

Harmful habits can cause disease in unborn children, who may suffer throughout life or die young, and parents are held greatly accountable though the suffering is caused by parental conduct rather than by God as author of affliction.HTL2 34.1 The same transmission occurs when diseased and sickly people marry for selfish happiness and love without considering health, posterity and noble principles.HTL2 28.3 A diseased husband who marries a healthy wife lightly regards health and life given for God's glory, shares his disease with her, lives upon her vitality while she fails, and prolongs his own days by shortening hers.HTL2 28.3 The sin is greater because offspring are compelled to suffer transmitted disease perpetuated generation to generation, throwing an enfeebled race upon society, deteriorating the race and accumulating misery as the sure result of that course, not the fault of God though many charge it upon Him.HTL2 28.3

Children may inherit parental traits and suffer despite innocence, with deficiencies and hardship passed down and growing more severe from generation to generation.HTL2 26.2 Parents who do not train children to be God-fearing but let them grow undisciplined, manifesting passion and willfulness from impulse, stamp faults of temper and passionate government to the third and fourth generation.RH Oct 9, 1900 The impress made in childhood is hardest to remove, for as the twig is bent the tree is inclined, and even when such children accept Christ and are transformed they carry results of early lax discipline through religious life with a hard battle affecting their whole experience.RH Oct 9, 1900 Defective training is then perpetuated in their own children in rude traits of character, a serious matter to be carefully and prayerfully studied so little ones are educated to be Christians and defects are not perpetuated through carelessness and selfishness.RH Oct 9, 1900+1 Parents who neglect duty and indulge wrongdoing lead children into iniquity whose evil traits spread through descendants bringing misery to themselves and their children's children, and cherished wrong traits pass parent to child while harsh arbitrary discipline fosters rebellion against parents and then resistance to God, harming both children and parents.ST Nov 10, 1881+1

Descendants suffer in body and endowments for forebears' sins, with indulgence becoming evident in great-grandchildren as illness such as delirium and gout, and inherited illness with physical and mental effects of drunkenness and sexual vice shows wrongdoing bringing suffering to descendants.HTL6 34.1–35.1+1 When men corrupt bodies by dissolute habits they debase intellects and destroy fine sensibilities, leaving offspring the taint of physical debility and depraved morals so gratification of animal passion and gross sensuality marks posterity descending generation to generation, increasing misery and hastening deterioration.SA 65.2 God does not make youth corrupt, but parental sins transmit perverted appetites and passions making them slaves to appetite and debasing vice, and the visitation is completed when parents neglect the solemn responsibility to train to self-denial and usefulness for this life and heavenly society, indulging instead of disciplining.CTBH 76.2–3 Parents pass hereditary tendencies so dispositions reflect parental character, and they should recognize the reflection, discipline themselves, and welcome Christ's love to harmonize will and ways, since evil begun by unfaithful training may be carried by children into their own families to the third and fourth generation.ST Aug 13, 1912+1

Parents who withhold required tithes and offerings pass indifference to children and grandchildren, leaving no inclination to fear and obey God and hardening them against teaching, so they must teach giving of entrusted possessions.Ms 100, 1901, par. 29–31 The iniquity of drunken fathers is visited in inherited evil tendencies reducing children to pauperism and degradation and perpetuating evil in their children, so tolerating liquor brings loss of reason, defacing of God's image, and generational ruin no revenue compensates, demanding prohibition.ST Iniquity is visited through transmission of disease and weakened constitution generation after generation, so infants suffer afflictions from parental violation of natural law with continual decline in endurance since the fall from perfect organization.CH 19.1–2 Sins are perpetuated through wrong habits especially appetite, tobacco, liquor, stimulants and narcotics poisoning blood and transmitting vitiated appetite intensified and feeble morals, rendering youth less susceptible to Bible instruction, for which parents will be charged at final account.Ms 58, 1899, par. 5–6+1 Sinful inclinations perpetuated to children and grandchildren can defile many, and those who lead others into sin including liquor sellers and supporters are accountable.Ms 87, 1898, par. 12–14

To those benumbed by intemperance the verse is meaningless and Sinai's language incomprehensible, so its exalted everlasting standard must be kept clearly before people rather than lowered, for safety of society and progress of reform depend on clear definition.ST Oct 17, 1878 The verse as one of the ten plain binding precepts requires perfect service depending on healthful mental and moral powers, and temperance is necessary because indulgence clouds memory, intellect and affection and prevents understanding obedience.Lt 27, 1872, par. 17–20 Remaining ignorant of the laws of being and lessening vigor by perverted habits is transgression, and working in harmony with natural law is necessary to discern and obey it.ST Oct 17, 1878+1

The law to which this prohibition belongs is a transcript of divine character and the principles of divine government for all nations and tongues, written by God's own finger on stone to reveal His will perfectly so that none need mistake it, holy, just and good, everlasting, immutable and unchangeable as God Himself, an expression of His holiness, goodness, will and government in heaven and on earth, first given in Eden and proclaimed anew from Sinai after bondage had dimmed its knowledge, spoken amid thunder, lightning, thick cloud and storm, its engraving on solid rock signifying the immutability of its precepts, defining the worship due to God, remaining binding through every age, guarded and explained by religious precepts and statutes that preserved Israel from idolatry, the standard of righteousness in the judgment when the books are opened and the hidden tables are presented, with obedience as the prerequisite of salvation, sentence of life or death by its righteous principles, leaving none with excuse for sin, an exalted rule man must rise to meet rather than lower, the safety of society and progress of reform depending on its clear definition.RH Jan 28, 1909+4
Its principles are everlasting and inexorable as God's own character and must be kept clearly before the people, for to the inebriate with benumbed senses its Sinai language is meaningless and incomprehensible.ST Oct 17, 1878+1

The law cannot be abolished and will endure while heaven and earth remain, eternal, obligatory for all until the end of time rather than a matter of personal choice or convenience, remaining binding through every age, incapable of amendment or repeal, requiring implicit obedience so that refusal is disloyalty to the God of heaven, demanding not nine-tenths but every one of the ten as links of a chain where breaking one breaks all and makes the violator guilty of all, with general acceptance of nine not excusing neglect of the rest, and the claim that it ended at Christ's death is a deception to lead people to disregard it.Lt 202, 1907, par. 8–12+4
It was spoken by Christ from Sinai making known principles to govern mankind, and proclaimed in awful grandeur and written by God's finger.ST Mar 7, 1878+1

It is the origin of all enlightened law and government and the foundation of God's government in heaven and on earth, with supreme authority above earthly rulers, its first table of four showing duty to God summed in supreme love to Him and its second table of six showing duty to fellow man in love to neighbor as self, upon which two chief commands all the law and prophets hang, lying at the foundation of all right civil laws and laws for nations and families, present testing truth for lawmakers that should shine with full rays even in the nation's capital as part of the third angel's message, the supreme and only authority God's people can acknowledge, to be obeyed rather than men when rulers conflict even at cost of disobeying all men rather than deviating in the least, put into mind and written in heart as spirit and life with power to subdue and enforce obedience, so that lovers of the commandments conform to every good law of the land, and conscientious obedience would prevent much drunkenness, misery and crime.ST Mar 7, 1878+4
Violation of its command against idolatry with the rest is transgression, not obedience, and it remains the binding moral standard of righteousness in heaven and on earth.Ms 86, 1886, par. 18–20

The proclamation in Exodus 19-20 with Exodus 31 is to be studied and presented, needed now as verily as by Israel in Moses' day, given by Christ Himself on Sinai and in human flesh, to be read as Scripture and taught plainly as Thus saith the Lord rather than replaced by human arguments, included among Scriptures to publish for the seventh-day Sabbath with rejection bringing condemnation, to be studied by all professing to keep God's commandments, to be vindicated by obedience of heart and mind and strong arguments and printed in plain letters in a prominent place because hardly anyone knows the Bible Sabbath and had these commandments been obeyed the wickedness now seen would never have existed, to be read together with Exodus 31:12-18 and kept in printed form in plain sight in every house.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9+4
Its careful study reveals divine requirements perfectly without excuse.Ms 117, 1908, par. 17–18+1

The proclamation will stand to witness against the world in judgment and decide every soul's destiny, exposing those who set aside God's commands and choose whom they will serve and worship, condemned by requirements they despised, its precept retaining binding force and unrelinquished claims so transgression incurs debt, God not always bearing with the sinner, judgment more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those knowing Christ's life and death yet continuing to transgress, Christ's infinite sacrifice to magnify and exalt the law testifying not one jot or tittle is set aside since He came to pay the debt and by keeping His Father's commandments teach men how to keep it, the teaching that sinners are not amenable being Satan's fatal delusion from Eve onward flooding earth with iniquity and crime, its authority to be revealed in majesty at the last judgment against despisers, proclaimed amid Egypt's idolatry.Ms 77, 1899, par. 11–12+3

Jesus did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but upholds it, later unfolding in His teaching the principles of the same law proclaimed by Christ at Sinai, the ten precepts declared to Israel being God's moral law and a manifestation of Christ's power and glory, whose great principles He explained in the Sermon on the Mount in purity freed from errors and human traditions that obscured them.PP 365.4–366.3+1

The law is God's great mirror revealing man's true condition and God's great rule of right, showing sin's offensive character and guilt before a pure and holy God so sinners overwhelmed with terror realize they cannot bear His utterances, spoken by Jehovah's own voice above the storm at Sinai amid trumpet, thunder, lightning, cloud, tempest, thick darkness and devouring fire when Israel entered covenant as peculiar treasure and holy nation united to a holy God and afterward recapitulated by Moses, afterward engraved in stone as binding moral standard revealing defects of character and making sin recognizable, calling for repentance and reliance on Christ's blood for pardon, with sacred claims to be obeyed.ST Mar 3, 1881+2

Violating God's law is sin, applied to the laws governing the human body so that breaking them is as much sin as breaking one of the Ten Commandments, to just business transactions where ignoring its principles and acting unjustly misrepresents God and opposes His will, and to chastity where highest regard for Sinai laws keeps physicians from liberties, looseness and transgression so all living by them may be safely trusted, every needless wilful transgression of laws established in the human organism being as truly violation as breaking this commandment, indulging depraved appetites violating it, obedience having power to prevent the curse of disease, breaking nature's laws being breaking God's law, continual violation being continual violation, with neglect of duty as sin discouraging those who recognize its claims and turning others from truth.4T 58.2+4
Its authority is violated by every needless transgression of bodily law as seriously as by breaking a commandment.CH 40.1

The ten commandments are the words of the living God with greater value and binding force than any human customs, maxims, precepts or teachings handed down through rabbis, scribes and Pharisees, which in Christ's time were made all-essential and regarded as of even more force, dwelling on men's teachings above God's Word keeping back His few followers and disciples from advancing and becoming efficient workers, while Jesus defended Sinai's great precepts against human traditions, upheld them as truth in purity distinct from human maxims, and contrasted God's law with petty rules devised by people, carrying divine Thus saith the Lord force above men's assertions.Lt 60a, 1896, par. 1–3+4

The law carries definite penalties with retributive justice unfailing, requiring strict regard as shown by recorded punishments, the living Creator sending prosperity or adversity according to obedience and transgression, mere possession of the ark giving no protection while its commandments were profaned, judgments being merciful warnings to awaken to sinfulness of disobedience and ultimately vindicating just claims, revealing supreme rulership to persistent refusers, God keeping a reckoning with nations proportioned to light rejected with fearful record in heaven, making void Exodus 20:1-17 filling iniquity for a favored nation given refuge, pure faith, great light and unrivaled mercies yet repaying with ingratitude and forgetfulness.4T 11.3+4
The sacred ark contained that Sinai law.SG4 106.1

Like every Thou-shalt-not it contains or implies a promise, obedience bringing blessing while disobedience brings danger and unhappiness, a restraining influence to restore God's moral image and keep souls in touch with the Creator, giving life and moral fitness for heaven, God's laws drawing to good and saving from evil without forcing obedience, professing faith while endorsing sinful works and commending evil violating its requirement.HL 17.4–5+2

It plainly sets out what must and must not be done, giving heaven's plain principles by which sin is sin, under whose weight every soul must bow in humility and contrition instead of disobeying while claiming heaven's will and standing in apparent power on ruin's brink, needing cleansing from all sin and glossed-over iniquity through Christ's blood, serving as pattern for parental and school authority where children learn obedience to clear requirements and are trained to obey from principle rather than compulsion, calling for understanding its true meaning and its restrictions and requirements.STB 369.2+4

It calls for principles cherished and obeyed from the heart, not merely taught or assented to in theory, requiring purity and supreme love to God and love to neighbor as self, understanding requiring heart and mind in harmony with God as revealed in eternal unchangeable character engraved on stone, valuing given light enlarging understanding and opening broader spiritual views of truth and redemption grace, without which transforming obedience truth loses vitalizing power, sin strengthens, lust is cherished, self pleased, life becomes a lie without strength, and service is inefficient, demanding surrender of every habit closing the door to Jesus.CT 248.1+4
Heart-mind harmony is essential to grasp its requirements.Ms 31, 1908, par. 1

It was given in great love to order conduct and restrict to what increases real happiness for self and fellows, its principles ennobling and sanctifying heart and mind and giving moral fitness through Christ for angels' society and heaven, guarding from sin and regulating in virtue, perpetual and unchangeable as God's character, saying to every transgressor Thou shalt surely die yet every penitent turning to the Saviour surely saved because Christ died, Christ keeping His Father's commandments as example and by perfect obedience in human nature proving man can keep it and through His merits finally overcome, righteousness requiring both letter specifying walk to please God and spirit pointing to Christ's atonement fulfilling its requirements in perfect harmony of law and gospel, whoever breaks least and teaches so called least with no place for those lessening its claims, its prohibitions being safeguards for happiness revealing goodness and shielding from evils of transgression, received in Christ working purity and eternal joy as a wall of protection.ST Jul 18, 1878+1

Obedience to all ten distinguishes God's people's worship from the beast's and provokes the dragon's opposition, and health reform showing sinfulness of breaking bodily laws belongs to fitting a people for the coming as closely connected with the third angel's message as hand with body, warning sent before punishment, God vindicating the lightly regarded law at the coming, violating natural law by depraved appetite and lustful passions violating God's law established in human being, light given in love to publish law and penalties for highest good.CH 20.3+3

It remains binding in this dispensation, dismissing it enabling theft, perjury and other sins under Christianity's cloak, its command against graven-image worship remaining valid so claiming abolition wrongly releases idolaters from its claims.LC1 181.1+1

It belongs to the law proclaimed from Sinai as enduring Old Testament treasure and earlier teaching of Christ, the commandments remaining binding to be presented by teachers together with New Testament doctrine, spoken by Christ as God's unchangeable standard of character and absolute perfection beyond human framing, expressing His character with power to sanctify.ST Dec 1, 1887+1

It belongs to the law whose truth and authority every person must acknowledge and obey, calling to humble themselves under its weight, departing from plain principles being disobedience toward ruin, God's enduring standard that cannot be abolished with obedience as condition of salvation and of restored access to the tree of life forfeited by disobedience.Ms 104, 1905, par. 9–10+3

It was spoken clearly from Sinai giving a standard for character, making clear what obedience requires and what violates loyalty, summed in loving God wholly and neighbor as self, expressing God's will giving knowledge of true doctrine, controlling His kingdom as laws by which God as ruler and head governs the universe, of great consequence to obey, as a father's laws bring order and happiness when obeyed so obedience brings order while disobedience brings confusion, demanding respect for His mandates.3MR 99.2–3+1

It is one of ten precepts pointing out duty, for which people are responsible when its light is seen and rejected, its far-reaching principles requiring additional precepts to explain and apply obligations more fully.Ms 41, 1886, par. 9+1

It is part of God's ten precepts, His great moral standard and foundation of prophets' and apostles' faith, its holy requirement not left for man to trim to ideas or convenience nor to be brought into subjection to man but men to bring themselves into subjection and represent their Sovereign, belittling displeasing God, within them the Sabbath the great test with precious promises to keepers from polluting it, the loyal registered by heavenly host as loyal and true with infinite wisdom, power and love engaged for them, safe always to be on the Lord's side committing temporal and eternal interests to Him reigning over all.2MR 119.2–120.1

It is one of the binding words spoken by God as Monarch of the universe at Sinai amid awful grandeur, laying solemn injunctions on the whole human family, changeless and eternal as Jehovah's throne, to be set forth clearly as given and repeated to large congregations as at Sinai's foot, those baptized with the Spirit urging obedience on rulers and subjects showing all work either with the Lord or the great rebel, spoken through appointed agencies impressing hearers, making sinners tremble, awakening duty, and perfect in converting the soul.17MR 319.2–4

It calls for sanctifying obedience making God's precepts authoritative, reverence keeping skepticism from gaining strength and making faith's foundation clear, obeying calling each to act justly, purely and truly, held in old-time reverence in heart sanctifying humanity, checking skepticism's results, manifesting faith's foundation, enforcing every precept, placing individual responsibility to be true, just and pure, and calling churches to practical reform in godliness.Ms 24, 1891, par. 52+1

It is one of ten holy precepts containing heavenly principles to govern life in every particular, unchangeable to meet fallen man, valuable with God as transcript of His character, with God's Word the only safe guide, foundation, rule and judgment standard allowing no turning right or left but firm standing on It is written, any doctrine without these ten as foundation unsafe, whoever fails to make them life practice working on the enemy's side, maintaining principle meaning preserving heavenly not earthborn self-originated principles mingled with worldly policy.Lt 107, 1903, par. 3–5

It is part of Jehovah's law proclaimed by Jesus at Sinai, holy and foundational for faith, authority resting on God's Word not human traditions or erring assertions, given by the same Jesus veiled in the cloudy pillar leading the hosts and speaking as verily now as then, urged by Moses as daily rule to be loved with suffering of any inconvenience rather than breaking one, obedience alone safety, favor, happiness and prosperity individually and nationally still essential, finite wisdom unable to improve one precept, breaking one disloyalty, keeping every jot essential for own and others' happiness, judging the whole world even to heart intents demanding secret purity, supreme love to God and neighbor love, perfect obedience claimed, keeping whole yet offending in one guilty of all, least neglect or wilful deviation sin exposing to wrath, unrenewed heart hating restrictions, eternal welfare depending on understanding and ready obedience, conviction by law preceding need of Christ, trampling rejecting sin's only definition.Ms 23, 1885, par. 6+1

It is part of God's holy law to be honored in practical life and written on the soul, outward Sabbath observance alone not saving, its holiness not to be approached carelessly as shown when Israel was commanded to wash clothes before hearing it at Sinai, profession empty when person remains unclean and disorderly in person, clothing or home.6MR 396.2–3+1

It was given to ancient Israel to be obeyed setting forth obligation to honor the Creator, but Israel being prone to forget God and His claims would not obey, so added ceremonies and ordinances were given to keep Him in remembrance and stir minds to obligations that would not have been required had they loved obedience, the same requirement still resting on professed peculiar treasure with neglect bringing sinfulness and fearful danger.5T 666.3–667.1

It belongs to the moral law repeated at Sinai, guarded and clearly explained by religious precepts and statutes given Moses remaining binding in every age, part of the first table whose outward breaches Massachusetts magistrates claimed to punish until Roger Williams denied magisterial jurisdiction over religion and was banished for refusal.ST Apr 15, 1875+1

It is part of the law in which God's character is expressed calling for obedience to that expression, part of the Ten reminding of duty to love God supremely and neighbor as self, which outward displays do not fulfill when actions contradict God's law.MWISDAP 7.1+1

Exodus 20:1-17 presents God's moral law to be obeyed in full, knowingly breaking one for convenience incompatible with trusting Him and claiming promises, obedience meaning overcoming and surrendering will, the commandments a single divine whole not separate unequal rules, first four love to God and last six love to neighbor testing character and showing obedience, unity and authority immutable as God's throne.ST Sep 15, 1887+1

It is part of God's holy law in the heavenly ark symbolizing His presence, given in Eden, proclaimed on Sinai, written by God's finger on stone, with faith of Jesus forming the third angel's message embracing first and second to be proclaimed everywhere with distinctness and power as present truth with Sabbath as creation memorial, the testing standard distinguishing sealed obedient keepers receiving eternal life from disobedient breakers and nominal worshipers wearing their master's badge, treated by works, facing judgments symbolized by lightnings, voices, thunderings and earthquake.Lt 20, 1900, par. 14–18

It sets one standard for all ranks and ages, superiors, inferiors, equals, young, old, masters, servants all accountable, calling for wholehearted reverence and faithful duty with curse rather than blessing for failure, disregarding bringing curse with leaders away from obedience and followers both guilty and neither held guiltless.Ms 11, 1889, par. 4–5+1

Exodus 20:1-17 gives commandments as instruction in righteousness and transcript of character, obedience essential to life with no excuse, Christ representing the Father as example while setting own will above Christ leads to disobedience, God meaning what He says as faithful keeper of covenant and mercy to a thousand generations of lovers and repayer of haters to destroy them, so statutes and judgments must be kept, obedience bringing blessing, prosperity and clear perception while contrariety brings darkness, loss of grace and judgment not to be trifled with, only respecters looked righteous for Christ's sake, believers keeping Sabbath seventh day as commanded assured as sons, daughters, royal family returned to loyalty and purified as peculiar holy people.Ms 162, 1903, par. 2+1

It is part of the law engraved in stone as binding moral mirror, its transgression heinous sin God regards with horror, realization leading to trembling repentance.PK 622.1+1

It is part of ten commandments given to be observed in earth's lower school to qualify for heaven's higher grade, keeping fashioning character in divine likeness pure and undefiled with Christ formed within, partaking divine nature escaping lust's corruption, giving true revelation of God's character to whom every knee should bow so unbelievers see heaven's family, requiring cleansing from defilement, freedom from spot, following Christ's ministry and self-sacrifice revealing God, to enter gates and eat of life's tree for healing nations.Lt 58, 1906, par. 6–9

It belongs to the law spoken at Sinai unchanged as lasting righteousness standard by which all are judged, revealed as God's righteousness and rule of judgment amid thunder and flame including this anti-idolatry command, Christ's teaching showing far-reaching principles and His life demonstrating obedience, its principles to be obeyed in spirit not merely professed including neighbor love and practical benevolence.4T 58.1+2

It gives God's unchangeable ten-commandment law distinct from Mosaic sacrificial offerings, rites and ceremonies prefiguring the Son's death and ceasing after type met antitype in Christ, believers under gospel freed from ceremonial shadows but bound to ten in spirit and letter, distinct from rites Paul left obsolete while keeping moral law faithfully after conversion.AA 189.2–190.1+1

It is the standard of character and righteousness, the only title for heaven, with perfect obedience required for admittance, condemning unrighteousness and excusing no wicked act, exposing guilt while faith in Jesus as substitute brings pardon, Christ's perfection imputed to cover repentant seekers to obey, Christ keeping it in human nature proving obedience possible and vindicating justice in requiring it, enabling partakers of divine nature to follow and obey every precept, its claims not lessened under grace, given in love to order conduct and restrict to happiness, ennobling and fitting for heaven, saying transgressors shall die yet penitents saved, Christ's example and merits making overcomers, requiring letter and spirit in harmony.RH Jun 4, 1901+4
Righteousness means living it as Christ lived, whose character corresponded to it.ST Jul 18, 1878

It belongs to ten holy precepts, the royal holy law representing God's character, immutable eternal with none done away, perfect converting the soul, judgment standard given by Christ in cloud through Moses, parents to teach diligently rising, sitting, going and coming, neglect making drunkards and criminals, world obedience ending thefts, robberies, murders and filled jails, loving God and keeping them man's whole duty.Ms 43a, 1894, par. 33–35

As one of ten it forms a barricade against principalities, powers, darkness rulers and high spiritual wickedness enabling withstanding in evil day and having done all to stand, doing giving life, the commandments promises assuring salvation terms calling for love-motivated obedience.Ms 41, 1897, par. 25–27+1

It is part of ten moral precepts revealing God's character which Christ displays so fixed attention on Him preserves true view from Satan's distortion, given by Creator as life's rule which Adam transgressed and fell, afterward proclaimed from Sinai and finger-written on stone to be placed permanently never lost but ever before the world, to be revealed in human life through Christ's lowly self-denying life seen by Isaiah fulfilled in every act.Ms 64, 1895, par. 8+1

It belongs to commands on the mount setting holiness, justice and mercy as essential revealed knowledge, part of moral law teaching and enforcing sanctification where self seeks no supremacy, setting physician's standard where no condemned tradition, custom or practice is followed and work is accountable to God.Ms 71, 1896, par. 14+2

God deals with its transgressors with compassion, long-suffering and tender mercy yet cannot behold wicked cities of violence and crime with satisfaction, continuing mercy and warnings if they repent as Nineveh, forbearing while repentance remains and forgiving leavers of transgression, but forbearance with persistent disobedience rapidly ending, punishment after increasing light and rebellion unsurprising, marveling that the Omnipotent restrains His attributes amid continuous insult yet certainly arising to punish bold defiers of Decalogue claims.RH Oct 18, 1906

Its laws are divine like bodily laws inscribed in nature, obedience necessary for health recovered and preserved, the blue ribbon meant to remind of keeping them including supreme love and neighbor love while Pharisee enlarged displays opposed conduct showing signs do not replace heart obedience, commandments divine in origin with bodily laws likewise divine and health depending on harmony.MH 113.6+2

It is a direct wilderness communication plainly stating divine laws, remaining lesson till close of time recording morality, justice, reverence for God and respect for man in His image, obligatory not nonessential, parents to teach children obedience and reverence since obedience is life and disobedience death, binding on every soul, keeping through Christ's merits and hanging helpless soul on Him bringing harmony with heaven, pulling from His yoke and refusing requirements working with evil yet not abolishing plain Thou shalt and Thou shalt not, truth involving a cross creating division even in families as some yield to Spirit and others turn away.Lt 44, 1903, par. 25+2

God speaks in firm command and prohibition, parents to copy decided firmness without temper saying No and meaning it, refusing disorder, teaching neatness and order, quenching bad habit at first appearance because heaven is orderly and families must be disciplined, as part of God's household law for earth governing parents and children without laxness, requiring training, honoring parents, harmony with God's plans, combining faith and works decently and in order, holiness pervading home bringing angels, fear of God, purged laxness and holy joy.19MR 86.2–5+2

It belongs to the law whose plain precepts for good are trampled despite warnings, disregard breeding indifference as with returned Israelites and hindering heaven's blessing when flagrant violations go unrebuked, restraint checking wrongdoing while disregard brings further disobedience and lawlessness, despised when own will is followed, holy commandments continually insulted and boldly defied though long borne with, rejection connecting with darkness and hardening, holders of neglected precept persecuted, punishment certain.RH Feb 20, 1908+4

It belongs to the law already given and spoken aloud at Sinai, not a new law for Israel alone, entrusted to Israel to hand to later generations with sacredness displayed in fearful glory, Christ being the foundation of the Jewish system.ST Jan 22, 1880

It belongs to God's law of love proclaimed at Sinai binding people to His will and calling to faithful service, following own inclinations instead leading into Satan's ranks.DA 329.2–3

Israel had heard the command and covenanted to obey, yet soon afterward Aaron made a golden calf and the people bowed to it and served it in direct breach of the ban on bowing and serving images. 3T 296.1–3+2 That worship violated the words spoken by God Himself from Sinai amid thunderings, lightnings, earthquake and awful grandeur only a few weeks before, including the ban on making any graven image or likeness of anything in heaven above, earth beneath, or water under the earth, on having other gods, and on bowing and serving, with visitation to the third and fourth generation of haters and mercy to thousands of lovers and keepers. SG3 275.1+2 Their demand for gods to lead them was especially inexcusable while God's presence and care remained during Moses' absence, and remembrance of the law's glory, majesty and covenant should have led them to refuse even at cost of life. 3T 340.1+1

Making golden calves as visible representations of the invisible God and placing them in shrines for worship violates the ban on bowing to and serving graven images. PK 100.1+1 Jeroboam's calves did this by presenting such a visible representation and inviting worship, made especially perilous by the people's familiarity with Egyptian images. PK 100.2+1 At Sinai the people made an image like Egypt's gods, called it the god that brought them out of Egypt, and sacrificed and celebrated before it in direct opposition to the expressly stated commands just heard against idolatry. ST May 13, 1880+1

In Egypt Israel had already broken the ban on worshiping idols and serving other gods by joining worship of sun, moon and stars and of animals and images made by hands, which were lifeless and not the living Maker of heaven and earth. SG3 201.2–202.1 That idolatry brought corrupting influences into families, and faithful Hebrews grieved as children witnessed and joined in it. SG3 201.2–202.1 The calf was an idol made by their own hands and a turn from God in violation of the Sinai commandments against idol worship. Ms 1, 1865, par. 8+1

Before Sinai the antediluvians had broken the same ban by worshiping nature, human skill and images and teaching children to bow to graven images. PP 90.3–91.1 In the Flood their idols, altars and human sacrifices were detestable and called for destruction, and their destruction made people recognize the power of the living God, Maker of heaven and earth. 1SP 74.1+1 Idolatry can lead into rebellion and great sin, even human sacrifice, and the command against bowing and serving belongs to the first four showing duty to God and guards against even the least approach. ST May 6, 1880+2

Rome expunged the commandment forbidding image worship to complete introduction of adoration of images and relics as a substitute for idol worship to ease nominal acceptance by converts from heathenism, finally established by decree of a general council, dividing the tenth to preserve the number ten. GC 51.4+1 Its prohibition on bowing to or serving images is not unnecessary nor merely included in the first, and its removal was deliberate to make room for image worship. GC 445.2–446.2+2 The papacy dropped it in an intentional deliberate attempted change, and breaking commandments thus is the special characteristic of the beast and his image exalting itself above God, so that obedience to the law as changed gives supreme honor to the changing power as allegiance to the pope instead of God. GC88 446.1–2 The claim that it is unnecessary as included in the first and given exactly as designed does not remove its character as a foretold change. GC88 446.1–2

That omission is defended as contained in the first, but those who held this distinction taught that the omission itself is not the prophesied deliberate change, identifying that change as the alteration of the Sabbath commandment. 4SP 279.1–2 Catholic catechisms are said not to teach the second as obligatory because they treat its significance as contained in the first. 4SP 279.1–2+1

The ban belongs to the first four outlining duty to God and to the call for loyalty to the Maker as the only true God, to be sacredly observed by obeying His Word rather than turning from truth and righteousness. 9T 211.4+2 To set aside one commandment and present in its place observance of a day bearing no sanctity usurps authority infringing divine prerogatives and will meet Jehovah's dealing, for to obey a human Sunday Sabbath, a child of the papacy set forth as the Lord's Sabbath, compels transgression of Jehovah's laws, and conflicting human enactments lack divine approval. Lt 154, 1906, par. 26–28+1 A false sabbath is an idol to be overthrown, and the same demand applies to keeping the Sabbath holy rather than exalting the first day and a power opposed to God, with pride able to make self a god expelled only by Christ's gospel. 9T 211.4+2

Honoring Sunday as sacred elevates an institution described as a child of the papacy, making observance a species of idolatry forbidden by the ban on bowing and serving. Ms 22c, 1895 [Copy 3], par. 15–20+1 That ban, part of the immutable unchangeable eternal law whose permanence is the reason Christ died and which the Holy Spirit brings to remembrance, must be taught decidedly yet cautiously where prejudice is strong without needlessly arousing opposition. Ms 22c, 1895 [Copy 3], par. 15–20 Obedience requires standing firm and refusing violation under compulsion while working quietly and wisely, using Sunday for genuine missionary work until the final issue comes. Ms 22c, 1895 [Copy 3], par. 15–20 The law proclaimed at Sinai retains binding claims with penalty for transgression, and efforts to make it void bring displeasure, applied to exalting Sunday and opposing obedience especially to the seventh-day Sabbath. Lt 60, 1898, par. 8–13

Using the Sabbath even occasionally for secular business to secure petty temporal interests treats obedience as convenience and accepts divided interest and partial obedience, which the jealous God thundered from Sinai He does not accept. 4T 249.3+2 Such stealing of sanctified time is as ruthless a violation as rejecting the Sabbath entirely and belongs to hatred of God, not harmless compromise, bringing visitation with the rod upon haters to the third and fourth generation opposite mercy to thousands of generations of lovers and keepers, with six days given for work and one blessed rest forbidding bargaining obedience for advantage. 4T 249.3+3

Keeping the ban on image worship as idolatry means rejecting Rome's image worship and holding this distinctive truth without compromise or yielding one iota even when obedience brings special hatred, long persecution and death, as part of keeping God's Word, law and honor unadulterated alongside rejecting supremacy and keeping the true Sabbath. ST Jun 25, 1885 The Sabbath cannot be truly kept while any other precept is disregarded, and keeping the fourth does not excuse breaking the others whose principles must be lived out, all ten remaining binding. 2T 449.2+1 Reverent submission to a false power is idol worship the same as the golden calf, so heeding a manifestation denounced as of the devil breaks the ban. LS 232.2–234.1

The Ten were given before further directions for conduct, and worship or sacrifice to any god besides the Lord brings severe punishment with definite penalty following transgression. ST May 31, 1910+1 Israel's recorded idolatry warns against disobedience and shows God's justice in enforcing commandments does not fail. ST May 31, 1910

Anything that absorbs the mind and turns it from God becomes an idol that displaces the living God from the heart, and God requires undivided worship and affection with Himself first and supreme in the affections and will accept no divided heart.Lt 78, 1894, par. 3–4+2 Love for another person becomes selfish idolatry when it takes God's place, needless display of dress violates duty to God by diverting worship and violates duty to neighbor when it fails in love to neighbor as self, and pride can make self a god while serving selfish pride or money or giving anything absorbing thought and admiration takes God's place.Lt 78, 1894, par. 3–4+3 Making an image of God dishonors Him by reducing Him in the mind to something common, idolatry corrupts and debases the mind and leads to sensuality and sin, and God as jealous of worship given to anything else searches the heart to distinguish true service from idolatry.Ms 126, 1901, par. 31–34 True worship is in spirit and truth and is governed by living faith, not imagination.Ms 126, 1901, par. 31–34

Anything that draws affection away becomes an idol and must be put away, for the first four commandments require worship and supreme love to God alone and allow no rival claim or divided interest to share supreme love and delight.1T 289.1+2 This extends beyond carved images to choosing between God and the attractions and vanities of the world, to love of worldly things such as wealth, position, or fame that makes people forget God and pushes Him from the mind, and to making appetite the ruling power as a god of the belly.ST May 19, 1881+2 God rejects double-minded lukewarm service and sees the deceptive divided heart, joining jealousy with justice and holiness, and keeping God first guards against this idolatry while Christian growth requires putting away whatever separates the heart from Him.ST May 19, 1881+2 An idol is not only an image but anything coming between a Christian and wholehearted service to God, which is grievous sin.Lt 16f, 1892, par. 5

Supreme love of riches is idolatry, with possessions made an idol and treasure put above God so the heart is on earthly treasure and swallowed up by it, loving possessions better than God and better than heavenly treasure.RH Nov 26, 1857+1 Such love makes it impossible to love God with all heart, soul, and mind, and failure to give to the poor reveals failure to keep duty to God and to neighbor.RH Nov 26, 1857+1 Giving worship and service to idols is forbidden, and the warning applies to appetite or habit treated as an idol, as when love of a pipe takes a place above Jesus so refusal to give it up contradicts claim to belong wholly to the Lord.CH 68.1 Making the object of romantic choice an idol breaks God's law by bowing down to and serving the chosen person in God's place, whereas pure holy love takes God into all marriage plans and stays in harmony with the Spirit, unlike natural passion which is headstrong, rash, unreasonable and defiant of restraint.MYP 459.2–3

The prohibition covers not only objects of worship but anything absorbing thought and affection belonging to God, even care of a child when it consumes attention and keeps from soul-saving work called by God.14MR 302.4–303.1 The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 are given for every person to obey, and the warning applies to joining Freemasonry when lodge loyalty and ambition for honors would conflict with obedience and lead away from truth.Lt 186, 1906, par. 3–9 Obedience must appear in life work with all business done according to the commandment, which is life with restraining influence to restore the moral image of God and keep souls in touch with the Creator, while professing faith while endorsing sinful works, passing over sins offensive to God and commending evil works violates its requirement.Ms 184, 1903, par. 4

Holy principles must govern dealings between men and be brought into business transactions, for God is great and holy and merciful and will never be in league with dishonest practices, will vindicate not a single touch of injustice, and will let no prosperity attend oppression, unjust dealing, taking advantage, determining to rule or ruin, or misrepresentation of His character.SPBC 177.7–8 His cause is free from every taint of injustice and gains no advantage by robbing members of God's family of individuality or rights, and using plea of the cause or work for the cause to justify robbery for offering and plans contrary to truth and righteousness is offense to Him who accepts no strange fire or common fire in place of sacred fire.SPBC 177.7–8 Human plans and claims made in God's name must not displace commandments, and practices robbing rights, oppressing, or dealing unjustly violate principles, misrepresent God, are abhorrent to Him, and He does not approve or prosper them.Lt 55, 1895, par. 3–7

The commandment must be practiced in every line of work including business and financial work for the Review and Herald, lest truth bear human imperfection, God be dishonored, and stumbling blocks ruin souls, requiring loving God supremely and neighbor as self with fine keen clear perceptions of equity and representing Christ with tender pure true compassionate heart and pure heart and clean hands.Lt 22, 1894, par. 10–11+1 It forbids making God's cause an excuse for oppression, injustice, suffering, double dealing, selfishness, and ambition to seem keen for financial interest, and forbids letting business crowd out love, requiring watching, praying, and working with eye single to God's glory in sight of heaven, lest Christ be betrayed and souls stumble to ruin.Lt 22, 1894, par. 10–11+1 As part of the Ten it is to be practiced in every line, and failure dishonors God and lays stumbling blocks, so those called to responsibility must remember and practice it continually.Ms 158, 1902, par. 48

As one of the first four governing duty to God, together with the last six it has been left unobeyed, and violation appears in dishonest dealing and sharp scheming worldly-policy plans followed for nearly a lifetime greatly dishonoring God.Lt 22, 1901, par. 13 God sees every corner of the heart and knows the defilement to be cleansed, so obedience requires purification through self-examination and thorough searching with wrongs righted and restitution made not only in word but in deed.Lt 22, 1901, par. 13 The ten must be obeyed in faith and works not merely professed, for no one can serve two masters, and obeying separates God's people from the ungodly and purifies them unto God, giving keepers a standpoint altogether different from pleasure-loving professors who shun the cross and live in violation of the fourth commandment.1T 404.1 Seventh-day Adventists must live it out, and parents must restrain children and train households after the pattern of Abraham according to the Bible rule of right even when children surrounded by worldly professors think them unnecessarily exacting.1T 404.1

The ten state binding duty to be kept even under reproach, and turning from light on simple eating and dressing in obedience to moral and physical laws to avoid reproach blunts conscience and leads to shunning duty in other things and violating commandments, because obedience requires taking up the cross and enduring shame.3T 51.2+4 People violate them when they turn from known duty and blunt conscience to avoid the cross, and when they sacrifice principle for conformity to the world.3T 51.2+3 The ten precepts in Exodus 20:1-17 are laws for government of mankind whose sanctity is to be respected and obeyed even at personal cost, and such obedience helps protect homes from vice.ST Oct 17, 1878 Disobedience lightly regarded is linked with violating natural laws of the body with disease as consequence, and the commandments are to be proclaimed as warning before punishment of transgressors.3T 161.1–2

The higher law spoken audibly from Sinai and engraved on stone with God's own finger, put into mind and written in heart, is spirit and life with power to bring into subjection and enforce obedience, the supreme and only authority to be acknowledged, and foundation of all righteous good laws.1T 360.3–361.2 Those loving the commandments conform to every good law of the land, but where rulers conflict with God's laws they obey God rather than men and sooner disobey all men than deviate in the least from God's commandment.1T 360.3–361.2 The law condemns unrighteousness and excuses no wicked act, Christ perfectly fulfills its precepts, it exposes guilt, yet faith in Jesus as substitute brings pardon, and when the repentant seeks obedience Christ's perfection is imputed to cover transgression.FE 135.2 Obedience to God's law is essential to health, truth, and happiness and is not abolished, the ten were entrusted as sacred oracles to Israel whose guardians had almost lost sight of them, and Satan leads the world to act against God's law and righteousness.LC1 181.2–3+1

The law Christ Himself proclaimed from Sinai remains binding, and to profess belief in Christ while violating it is transgression and sin.6T 60.1+3 Churches violating it transgress, and with the Sabbath question as the great test for this time the commandments must be proclaimed with power and certain sound as part of the third angel's message, not indefinitely, tamely, or voicelessly, to show sins and reveal Christ in spirit and action by communicating knowledge of God through Jesus.6T 60.1+2 The decalogue sets forth requirements including justice and denunciations, and God's love does not erase good and evil.GC88 558.1–2 To regard it as dead letter hides justice, condemnation of sin, and claims of law, degrades love to sentimentalism, rejects the Bible as foundation of faith, and denies Christ.GC88 558.1–2

The law is foundation of government in heaven and earth, and the first three commandments engraved on the first table show love and duty to God.5MR 88.2–89.1 Those reverencing the Sabbath keep this commandment, for keeping the Sabbath sanctified and blessed at Creation means obedience to all, and the Sabbath is a sign forever between God and His people that He sanctifies them, the covenant test fulfilled in keeping all.5MR 88.2–89.1 That sign is the golden clasp uniting man to God in supreme obedience and uniting man to fellow man, while the last six reveal duty to fellow man.5MR 88.2–89.1 The principles require supreme love for God and love for neighbor as self, violated by serving personal interests instead of God, and as standard in all dealings no circumstance removes its guard against least injustice to brother and neighbor.Lt 31a, 1894, par. 11–14+2

Far-reaching principles are not fully seen when minds focus on earthly matters and let worldly customs shape thoughts, and understanding eternal significance requires earnest persevering attention with mind freed from worldly concerns.Lt 70, 1893, par. 14–16 Sinai principles are to be held firmly, and differences about diet should not become a barrier between brethren.14MR 247.3+1 Principles of the ten must govern life, and continually violating nature's laws is continually violating God's law.CH 19.5+1 God did not create the race feeble, suffering and premature death are not Providence but result of violating laws governing existence through wrong habits, and had men always obeyed this with the rest, the curse of disease flooding the world would not exist.CH 19.5+1

God has given in the ten the principles of His character as rules for all men, women, and children in all transactions, wise just good laws from love to be brought into practical life and especially to rule institutions, to be taught to children as standard of dealing from which there is no sinless swerving.Ms 140, 1901, par. 65–69 Keeping means learning God's will and doing it with all the heart and perfect heart with combined power of authority and love, bringing blessing through vital connection with Him who administers it, binding all alike with no separate rule for rulers and ruled.Ms 140, 1901, par. 65–69 Exodus 20:1-17 sets out ten holy requirements whose principles are plain to sincere seekers distinguishing truth from error, a complete standard no human message may weaken or replace, and the moral code with the ceremonial law serves as schoolmaster to bring people to Christ.14MR 197.4–198.2+1

God is great and holy and jealous and will have holy men to carry truth, and will not entrust His flock to men whose judgment was weakened by cherished former errors such as perfectionism and spiritualism that brought reproach, even though they now feel free and competent to teach the last message.EW 81.2 The holy law spoken from Sinai is part of Himself, honored only when holy men strictly observe it and teach it to others.EW 81.2+1 God's law requires spiritual perfection unattainable alone, but through Christ's sacrifice and union with Him people may share divine nature and become overcomers, and keeping through Christ's merits brings harmony with heaven.RH Aug 27, 1901 The Sinai words carry divine authority requiring obedience including not bowing nor serving, and claiming sanctification while heedless manifests unwillingness, with excuses proving the claim spurious by substituting self-imagined self-righteous standard for God's law.BS 57.2+2

Advocating binding claims including light on the fourth precept while violating moral purity gives enemies occasion to reproach, perplexes beginners seeing Sabbath light, and brings fearful record and retribution under judgment wrath of a pure holy God, for commandments as standard can be broken by wicked immoral conduct.Lt 29, 1872, par. 31–34+1 The law God gave at Sinai, spoken and engraved with His finger, was given by Christ who has not weakened its claims, so breaking has consequences and cannot be done with impunity, yet He gave His life to atone and enable obedience.Ms 16, 1890, par. 82–84+1 The ten holy precepts define duty-bound obedience, God's yoke harmonizes with them unlike heavy worldly yokes, they are the obedience standard, and failure to keep them shows God's love does not dwell within.Ms 40, 1886, par. 3+2

The ancient Ten have requirements not arbitrary or severe and remain binding, with transgression as sin, they are given for every person to obey, and as precepts of Jehovah governing God's work they forbid oppression and reject benefits gained by depriving children of just rights.2RED 76.3–77.1+2 The Ten make known the Father's will, given in Eden when morning stars sang and spoken audibly from Sinai, sin is transgression, character disharmonious bears evil fruit, and saying Lord is insufficient, for only doers enter while workers of iniquity will be told to depart despite prophesying, casting out devils, and wonderful works including last-day satanic miracles.Ms 27, 1899, par. 19–20+1 Hearers doing Christ's sayings are like builders on rock standing in storm, hearers not doing are like builders on sand falling greatly, and professed believers not doers are lawless, corrupt many, and lead away from obedience.RH May 7, 1901

The Ten express God's will and transcript of His character, revealing principles enlightening reasons for obedience, so reverence and love lead to willing obedience bringing harmony with heaven and highest good, and obeying forms character in oneness and harmony with God.Lt 178, 1903, par. 23+1 The law was proclaimed after deliverance from slavery forbidding turning from Creator to idols, belonging to the covenant where God declared Himself only true living God and promised guardianship if they kept commandments and worshiped no other god.Ms 40, 1903, par. 33+1 Israel broke it in sight of Sinai clamoring for gods to lead back to Egypt and again in Canaan by gradual idolatry, causing withdrawal of protection and captivity, yet He remained willing to pardon, heal backsliding, and reinstate if they returned.RH Apr 23, 1901 The prohibition with other gods presents God's pledge to every living person, the Sinai law is sacred to be obeyed including the Sabbath, and the ten linked with the testimony cannot be separated, opposed because men would set aside the Sabbath, with refusers accountable as though hearing.Ms 125, 1909, par. 22–25+2

Counsel in Exodus 20:1-17 written on stone and placed in the ark as lasting witness must be obeyed by believing families rather than neglected under temporal business pressure, and its principles should govern business and family belief.Ms 187, 1907, par. 22 As first four stating God's claims on the heart, idols claiming heart and affections leave God not honored or supreme, and neglecting needs and sufferings of others also shows a heart closed to His claims.3T 524.1 The Jews heard the proclamation and were chosen yet failed to live up to privileges, with outward display concealing hypocrisy, malice, and oppression.ST Feb 21, 1878 The Pharisees exalted the first four above the last six and failed in practical godliness and life duties, while Jesus charged with exalting the last six exposed deficiency and taught mercy, benevolence, good works, and that a tree is known by fruits.3SP 51.1–2

The Ten are to be foundation of character, perfect and unchanging requiring continuous unswerving obedience, first four devotion to God and last six duties to others meaning wholehearted love to God and neighbor, with no half-hearted obedience accepted.Ms 119, 1903, par. 23+1 Keeping the first four makes people one with Christ who gave His life as ransom from sin, and the ten precepts govern God's work.9MR 381.2 The ten precepts reveal duty, first four duty to God and last six to others, as God's standard to be remembered and obeyed.ST Mar 4, 1897 They are standard and covenant with the Maker in life, death, resurrection, and eternity, belonging first to supreme love necessary to keep neighbor love, requiring personal perpetual obedience in spirit and letter revealing covenant relation to world, angels, and men and giving God glory for entrusted gifts, while disregard is disloyalty reaping as sown.18MR 1.5–6