Is the first commandment and the last commandment, essentially the same commandment?

It's a question worth thinking about as John Pepper recently explained in a sermon.

Here's how he posed the question and explained the implications.

Have you ever asked the question whether the first of the Ten Commandments and the last

of the Ten Commandments are the same commandment?

I wonder if you've been remembered what they are.

So the first commandment is, you shall have no other gods before me, Exodus 20, verse

3.

And the last one is, you shall not covet.

All says, Colossians 3.5, put away all covetousness which is idolatry, so the first and last

commandment are the same commandment.

Only the last one bends it out horizontally so you know what's really going on.

Let's try to define these commandments.

So the first commandment is, you shall not have any other gods before me.

What does that mean?

The word surrounding it, verse 5, I am the Lord, your God, I am a jealous God.

So put jealousy together with, you shall not have any gods before me.

God is like a husband.

Israel is like a wife.

And he jealous, if she consorts with another man, God, another God.

And so what does not have any other gods before you mean?

It means your love, your affection, your delight going to me, God says, going to me, only

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