The first commandment of God, as recorded in the Bible in Exodus 20:2-3, is: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me." This commandment instructs believers to put God first and not to worship any other gods or idols besides Him
. It has three interrelated parts:
- Theological: Acknowledging God as the one true God who delivered His people.
- Pastoral: Prohibiting the making of idols or likenesses of anything in heaven, earth, or waters.
- Liturgical: Forbidding bowing down or serving any other gods or idols
Jesus summarized this commandment as the greatest commandment, emphasizing loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind, which forms the foundation of all other commandments
. In essence, the first commandment calls for exclusive devotion and love toward God, recognizing His unique authority and rejecting anything that would take His place in one’s life
