EXOD382 Do not swear needless oaths. There are four types of such oaths. 1) One denies a self-evident fact (e.g. he swears that a rock is a bird). 2) One attests to a self-evident fact (e. g. swears that a rock is a rock). 3) One swears that he will not perform a mitzvah. 4) One swears to do the impossible (e.g. he will not sleep for three days). We must know and impress upon our awareness that whenever we utter the great and holy Name of Hashem, we must do so with fear, awe and trepidation, for we are saying the Name of the Unique and Almighty God. Hashem forbids needless mention of His Name. Fulfilling this command (i.e., Refraining from needless oaths) will help us better appreciate the significance of uttering His Name, so that fear and awe of Him will be in our hearts and on our faces.

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EXOD387 Sanctify the Shabbos with words. At the start and end of the Sabbath, speak of the greatness of the Sabbath and how it differs from the other days of the week. Our Sages explained that this mitzvah is performed over wine--Kiddush at the start of the Sabbath and Havdalah at the end. Performance of this mitzvah awakens us to recall the greatness of the Sabbath and internalizes our belief that Hashem created the world. The mitzvah is performed over wine because wine has unique power to stir a person's heart. These matters become a part of us through our actions and the stirrings of our hearts.

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EXOD402 Desist from all types of melachah (prohibited work) on the Sabbath. Neither may we let our children, servants or animals do melachah on the Sabbath. Key concepts: To set aside our weekday labors in honor of the Sabbath. Thereby, we instill within ourselves that Hashem created the world in six days and “rested” on the seventh. This point is a fundamental principle underlying all of the Torah. When someone asks, “Why does everyone desist from their labors one day of the week,” one must answer, “Because God created the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh day He desisted from creating and ‘rested.’” By desisting from our labors on the Sabbath, we strengthen ourselves in the true faith. The Sabbath also reminds us of the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, for while the Egyptians enslaved us, they forced us to work even when we were exhausted and craved rest. Hashem saved us from their hands and commanded us to rest on the Sabbath.

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EXOD421 It is fitting for a person to acknowledge and to show gratitude to those who have been kind to him. How base and disgusting it is if the recipient of kindness behaves as a stranger toward those who have been good to him. It is disgraceful to behave in an unappreciative manner. Each person must realize that he owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to his parents; not only did they bring him into the world; they also made great efforts for him in order to provide him with all of his needs during his childhood. Accordingly, one is truly obliged to honor one's parents and help them in every way possible. By performing this mitzvah, one becomes accustomed to display gratitude out of a true feeling of appreciation. As a result, one more easily senses a great debt of gratitude to Hashem, for He, too, brought us into the world. Hashem supplies us our needs all of our days. He bestows upon us a physical body that performs all of the functions necessary for life. More than that, Hashem gives us an intelligent and understanding soul. Were it not for the unique human soul that is breathed into our nostrils by Hashem Himself we would be as stupid and uncomprehending as horses, donkeys and the other beasts. If we reflect on this matter we will feel deep feelings of gratitude toward Him and will recognize the importance of dutifully serving Him.

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EXOD442 Hashem wants the world to function without any mixing of different species. Similarly, he wants every human being to know the identity of his father. What is more, if one does not know the identity of his father, he cannot be certain that he will avoid violating Torah prohibitions on forbidden relations, for he will not know which individuals are his relatives. He might marry someone who is forbidden to him. In addition, adultery is a type of theft. It also leads to murder--for the wronged husband his liable to kill the other man. These are just a few of the problems there are likely to result from adultery.

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EXOD449 … lies are an abomination to any sensible person. Furthermore, true testimony enables the world to run, so false testimony is a force of destruction.

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EXOD452 Hashem created the world and commanded us to be fruitful and multiply so that the world is populated by human beings. He forbids us to destroy the world. Murder, in depopulating the world, destroys it.

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EXOD478 Do not covet another's property. Do not plan methods to gain possession of another’s belongings. Technically, however, the prohibition is violated only once such a forbidden plan bears fruit and one actually takes possession of the item that he covets. Someone who coerces his fellow into relinquishing possession of any of his belongings violates this prohibition even if he pays for the item. Coveting leads to much misery, for once a person sets his eyes upon something owned by his fellow, he loses his sense of proportion. If the owner refuses to sell him the item, the one who covets it will use force to gain possession. If all efforts fail and the owner remains obstinate, the one who covers the item might even resort to murder to gain hold of the thing.

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EXOD496 Do not make an image of a human being. Do not create the form of any human being out of metal, stone, wood, clay or any other material, even for artistic or decorative purposes. [One is not forbidden to shape the forms of animals, unless one creates the form for the sake of idol worship, as explained in mitzvah 27]. Key concept: To distance us from idol worship.

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EXOD504 Do not use hewn stones to build the Altar. So that we internalize that the Altar brings us peace and blessing, because through the Altar we gain atonement for our sins. To fix this point in our minds and hearts, the Torah forbids us to build an altar out of stones that were cut or shaped by any tools made of materials that are used for destructive purposes, such as iron. Weapons of war and destruction are made of these materials. A tool made of a substance that is used for bloodshed and violence must not be wielded over the stones of the Altar.

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