5: No Other Gods – Exclusive Devotion in a Polytheistic World

The Ten Commandments and the Teachings of Jesus: A Theological, Cultural, and Political Exposition

1. Introduction

The first commandment establishes the cornerstone of biblical theology: the exclusive worship of the one true God. In a world saturated with competing deities, political theologies, and spiritual allegiances, God’s command—“You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exod. 20:3)—asserts His unrivalled supremacy and singular authority. This command is not merely about religion; it is about loyalty, identity, and covenantal fidelity. In the teachings of Jesus, this call to exclusive devotion is intensified, clarified, and internalised, presenting God as not merely first among many, but the only rightful object of worship.

2. Text and Translation

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
— Exodus 20:3, cf. Deuteronomy 5:7

Hebrew: לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל־פָּנָיַ
Lō’ yihyeh lekā ’elōhîm ’achērîm ‘al-pānāy

Literally: “There shall not be to you other gods before My face.”

The phrase “before Me” implies both exclusivity and presence—not merely prioritising God, but excluding all rivals from one’s spiritual life.

3. Historical and Cultural Background

The command was delivered in the aftermath of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt—a land where polytheism was institutionalised and idolatry was politically enforced.

  • Egyptian religion involved gods such as Ra (sun), Osiris (afterlife), Isis (fertility), and Pharaoh himself, who was worshipped as a divine son.
  • The Canaanite context, into which Israel was heading, was equally polytheistic—marked by Baal worship, Asherah poles, and fertility cults.

God’s command is therefore counter-cultural and revolutionary: it calls a liberated slave people to a monotheistic covenant in the midst of spiritual pluralism and imperial idolatry.

“I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no god.”
— Isaiah 45:5

4. Theological Significance

The first commandment reflects four key theological truths:

  1. God’s Uniqueness – There is no other like Him (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:6).
  2. God’s Sovereignty – He alone is Creator and Redeemer (Gen. 1:1; Exod. 20:2).
  3. Covenantal Relationship – Worship is rooted in God’s saving act (Exod. 20:2; Hos. 2:20).
  4. Jealous Love – God demands loyalty not because of insecurity, but because of covenantal exclusivity (Exod. 34:14).

This command is foundational: all others flow from the right view of God. If God is not worshipped rightly, all moral order collapses (Rom. 1:21–25).

5. Jesus’ Teaching: Renewing the Command

Jesus reaffirms the exclusive worship of God at multiple critical points in His ministry:

a. The Greatest Commandment

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
— Matthew 22:37, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5

This is not a new law, but the internalisation of the first commandment. Jesus interprets exclusive worship as total love, involving the whole person.

b. Rejection of Satan’s Offer

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
— Matthew 4:10, quoting Deut. 6:13

When offered the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship, Jesus quotes Scripture to affirm exclusive devotion. In doing so, He not only rejects idolatry but also refuses political compromise.

c. Undivided Allegiance

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon.”
— Matthew 6:24

Here, Jesus equates materialism with idolatry. This expands the application of the first commandment: false gods are not limited to statues—they include anything that competes for our deepest trust and loyalty.

6. Contemporary Idolatry and Heart Allegiance

Though ancient idolatry was visibly pagan, Jesus exposes a more subtle and internal form of idolatry. The human heart, as Calvin said, is a “perpetual factory of idols.”

Modern forms of idolatry include:

  • Success and achievement (Phil. 3:19)
  • Romantic or family relationships (Matt. 10:37)
  • Nationalism or politics (John 19:15)
  • Self and autonomy (2 Tim. 3:2–4)

Jesus’ call to deny oneself and take up the cross (Matt. 16:24) is the spiritual counterpart to the first commandment: forsake all rivals and worship God alone.

7. Political Implications

The first commandment has always had political consequences.

  • In Egypt, exclusive devotion to Yahweh undermined the divinity of Pharaoh.
  • In Rome, the early Christians’ refusal to say “Caesar is lord” led to persecution.

Jesus’ lordship is thus not merely personal—it is a declaration that no state, ideology, or institution can claim divine status.

“Jesus is Lord” (Rom. 10:9) was—and still is—a political statement.

The Church’s exclusive devotion to Christ remains a prophetic witness against all totalising systems that demand ultimate loyalty.

8. Conclusion

The first commandment stands as the entryway to covenantal life: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Jesus does not replace this command but reveals its full depth—calling for exclusive, wholehearted, undivided love for the one true God. In an age of competing allegiances and subtle idolatries, the first commandment remains a call to faithful worship and covenantal loyalty. It is the foundation for all obedience and the root of all true discipleship.

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