The first of the Ten Commandments is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). This commandment establishes the foundation of monotheism, the belief in one God, which is central to the Judeo-Christian tradition. The commandment is a clear declaration of the exclusivity and sovereignty of God, and it demands the utmost loyalty and devotion from the people of God.
The first commandment appears at the beginning of the Decalogue, indicating its primary importance in the Divine Order. It is the first of several commands that prohibit the worship of false gods, idols, or images. It is a call to worship the one true God and to reject all forms of idolatry. God demands undivided loyalty, devotion, and obedience from His people, and the first commandment makes this demand clear.
The Hebrew word used in this commandment for “gods” is Elohim, which is a plural noun that can refer to false gods or to the true God.
In the context of this commandment, it clearly refers to any deity that is worshipped as an alternative to the God of Israel. The phrase “before me” emphasizes the exclusivity of God’s claim to worship. It means that no other gods or deities should be worshipped alongside God and that no other gods should be given a higher priority or placed in a more central position than the one true God.
The first commandment is not only a call to reject false gods, but it also affirms the true identity of God. In the Bible, God is revealed as a God of power, mercy, justice, and love. He is the Creator of the universe, the Redeemer of His people, and the Judge of all. The first commandment affirms that God is the only God who can save, bless, and protect His people. As the prophet Isaiah declared, “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me, there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5).
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites were repeatedly warned against the worship of false gods and idols. They were reminded that God alone was the source of their deliverance, provision, and protection. The Book of Deuteronomy contains a powerful exposition of the first commandment, which is presented as the basis of the entire covenant between God and His people. In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Moses declares, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” This declaration, known as the Shema, is recited daily by observant Jews to this day.
In the New Testament, Jesus affirmed the first commandment and reiterated its importance. When asked which was the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength'” (Mark 12:29-30). Jesus also warned against the worship of false gods and the danger of idolatry, stating, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
The Apostle Paul also affirmed the first commandment and its importance. In his letter to the Corinthians, he wrote, “Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘an idol has no real existence,’ and that ‘there is no God but one.’ For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).
Throughout history, people have been prone to worshipping false gods or idols, even when they know the existence of the one true God. This tendency can be seen in many forms of idolatry, including the worship of money, power, fame, material possessions, and other earthly things.
In our modern society, it is not uncommon to see people placing their trust and devotion in money and material possessions, instead of the one true God. People often spend their lives striving to accumulate wealth and acquire more material possessions, believing that these things will bring them happiness and security. They may even justify their actions by saying that they are providing for their families, but in reality, they have made money for their god and are putting their trust in it instead of in God.
Similarly, people can also place their trust in other things such as power and fame. They may become obsessed with their reputation, seeking to gain influence and control over others, or they may seek worldly pleasures such as drugs, alcohol, or sexual promiscuity. In doing so, they have elevated these things to a godlike status in their lives, making them the focus of their worship and devotion.
Idolatry is not limited to these examples, however. In the Bible, the Israelites were guilty of worshipping false gods such as the golden calf (Exodus 32) and the god Baal (1 Kings 18). The Apostle Paul also warned against the worship of the Roman gods and goddesses, which were prevalent in the ancient world (Acts 17:16-34).
The problem with idolatry is that it distracts us from the one true God and leads us away from His will for our lives. It can also bring negative consequences, as God warned the Israelites in the Old Testament that those who worshipped false gods would experience punishment (Exodus 20:5). This punishment could take many forms, including natural disasters, war, and captivity.
Ultimately, the worship of false gods is a form of spiritual adultery, as it is a violation of the first commandment to worship the one true God. It is a rejection of God’s love and provision and a failure to trust in His faithfulness and goodness. As Christians, we are called to love and serve the one true God with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and to reject all false gods and idols.
In conclusion, idolatry takes many forms, but at its core, it is the worship of something or someone other than the one true God. People often turn to money, power, fame, and other earthly things as substitutes for God, but these things can never truly satisfy us or bring us lasting happiness. Instead, we should seek to worship the one true God and follow His will for our lives. May we always seek to follow the first commandment and worship God alone, and may we resist the temptation to place our trust in false gods and idols.
