The First Commandment Explained
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3
The Meaning of the Commandment
The First Commandment is the foundation of all divine instruction. It establishes the truth that there is only one God, and that He alone deserves complete loyalty, love, and reverence. Everything that follows in the Ten Commandments depends on this first declaration. Without it, morality loses its anchor and the law loses its authority.
When God said, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” He was declaring His unique position as Creator and Lord over all. The phrase “before Me” means “in My presence” or “in My sight.” Nothing is hidden from God, and no rival can stand beside Him. This is not about a list of gods ranked in order of preference; it is a command that recognises only one divine authority.
This instruction is therefore about allegiance. It calls for faith that is not divided and for trust that is not misplaced. It reminds every believer that the heart’s ultimate loyalty must belong to God alone. To obey this commandment is to acknowledge that every source of power, wisdom, and life comes from Him.
What the Commandment Teaches
The First Commandment teaches that faith is not simply belief in God’s existence but total commitment to His sovereignty. It is an invitation to order life around what is eternal rather than temporary. It rejects divided priorities and declares that no relationship, possession, or ambition should take God’s place in the heart.
This commandment defines what true worship means. Worship begins with recognition of who God is and continues through obedience to His will. As Jesus later affirmed, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). This statement echoes the very essence of the First Commandment. Love for God is not one part of life among many; it is the centre that gives meaning to everything else.
By teaching this, the commandment protects the believer from confusion and instability. When God holds first place, all other commitments fall into proper order. Family, work, and community take their rightful place beneath the greater purpose of serving and honouring Him.
The Call to Exclusive Loyalty
At its heart, the First Commandment demands exclusive loyalty. God is not one among several options; He is the only true source of life and moral truth. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me” (Isaiah 45:5). This statement reinforces that God’s rule is absolute and that any attempt to share devotion between Him and another power is false.
The call to exclusive loyalty also reveals the relational nature of faith. God does not seek control for the sake of dominance but for the sake of love. He calls His people into covenant relationship, one built on faithfulness and trust. The commandment therefore addresses the heart more than the intellect. It is not about understanding every detail of theology but about choosing who sits at the centre of one’s life.
True loyalty means relying on God for guidance, security, and identity. It means turning first to Him in times of uncertainty and gratitude alike. It is a refusal to let any power, whether human or spiritual, replace the authority that belongs only to Him.
Faith and Dependence
To live by the First Commandment is to depend entirely on God. It is to recognise Him as the beginning and end of every good thing. The book of Deuteronomy expands this idea: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). This is not partial affection or occasional reverence. It is complete surrender of one’s will, emotions, and strength to God’s purpose.
This dependence is not weakness but wisdom. Human strength is limited and fragile, yet trust in God provides stability. The psalmist declared, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). The meaning is clear: human power fades, but divine power endures. When the believer depends on God rather than human effort, life gains direction and peace.
Faith, then, becomes more than belief; it becomes reliance. It shapes how choices are made, how difficulties are faced, and how success is viewed. Every decision becomes an opportunity to reaffirm that God alone is the foundation of life.
What Obedience Looks Like
Obedience to the First Commandment is not a single act but a continual attitude. It involves placing God first in thought, affection, and intention. It means recognising that every good thing originates from Him and returning that acknowledgement through gratitude and service.
To keep this commandment is to guard the heart against misplaced confidence. Pride, fear, and distraction often compete for the place that belongs to God. When ambition takes priority over integrity, when possessions become a source of identity, or when human approval matters more than divine truth, the commandment has been forgotten in spirit.
Living in obedience means constantly returning to right order. It means asking, “Who or what am I trusting most?” and realigning the answer to point back to God. As Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Divided loyalty leads to inner conflict, while wholehearted devotion brings clarity and rest.
Obedience also involves reverence. It means approaching God with humility, acknowledging His authority in every area of life. Whether in prayer, work, or relationship, the believer recognises that all things exist under His rule. This mindset transforms daily living into continual worship.
Why This Commandment Comes First
The First Commandment comes first because it defines the foundation for all moral behaviour. Without right allegiance to God, the meaning of the remaining commandments becomes hollow. If one does not recognise the authority of the Lawgiver, obedience to His laws loses its depth.
This commandment begins with relationship rather than regulation. God first introduces Himself, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2). His instruction follows His act of deliverance. In this, He reminds His people that obedience flows from gratitude, not fear. The First Commandment is therefore not only a rule to obey but a response to love already given.
It teaches that moral life is rooted in worship. Right conduct begins when the heart is turned toward God, and wrongdoing begins when that focus is lost. Every command that follows, whether about truth, honour, or justice, finds its motive in the commitment this first law demands.
Reflection and Application
The First Commandment invites quiet reflection. It asks the reader to consider what holds first place in the heart. It is easy to claim devotion to God, yet the test of this commandment lies in how decisions are made and where trust is placed.
Obeying this commandment means examining the sources of security and significance in one’s life. Do they rest in human approval, financial stability, personal success, or the will of God? Every life has something at its centre, and this commandment calls the believer to ensure that the centre belongs to Him alone.
This reflection is not intended to accuse but to guide. It leads the heart toward simplicity, where faith is clear and purpose is undivided. To honour the First Commandment is to live in peace with the truth that God is enough. It is to know that in serving Him first, all else finds its proper place.
Summary
The First Commandment establishes the foundation of faith. It teaches that God alone is to be trusted, loved, and obeyed. It calls for exclusive loyalty and continual dependence. It protects the heart from confusion and brings order to life by placing the Creator at its centre.
To live by this commandment is to begin every thought and action with the recognition that God is Lord. It is to remember that love for Him is not one duty among many but the heartbeat of all righteousness. Through this commandment, God invites humanity into relationship, where faith becomes freedom and loyalty becomes peace.
Scripture References
Exodus 20:2–3 – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Matthew 22:37 – “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
Isaiah 45:5 – “I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
