The Ten commandments

The Ten Commandments are ten laws given by God as guidelines fro daily living. They are part of a convenant between God and His chosen people. In this respect they are to be distinguished from the elaborate system of law known as the Mosaic Law.

Moses said to the children of Israel: "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess" (Deut. 4:13, 14, NKJV).

"And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which the Lord had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me" (Deut. 10:4).

These ten laws were often called the Decalogue, from the Greek word which means, "ten words." Although God gave the Ten Commandments to His people through Moses at Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago, they are still relevant today. They have an abiding significance, for God's character is unchangeable. These laws originate from God and from His eternal character; therefore, their moral value cannot change.

Uniqueness of the Ten Commandments

The Mosaic system was only a temporary expedient to achieve a given end. This elaborate system was designed as an educator, to lead the people into the great principles of life embodied in the Ten Commandments and afterward exhibited in Christ.

The unique place of the Ten Commandments is seen in the circumstances of their delivery. The rest of the law was given by God through the lips of Moses, but these were spoken by God Himself and with an awesome display of splendor and solemnity never before witnessed (Read Exodus 19). The Ten Commandments were written by God's finger and on durable tablets of stone (Deut. 9:11).

After the children of Israel sinned against God by making a golden calf, Moses "took the two tablets and threw them out of his hands and broke them before their eyes" (Deut. 9:17). After Mose had repented before the Lord on behalf of His people, the Lord instructed him to hew another two tablets of Stone:

"At that time that Lord said to me, 'Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain and make yourself an ark of wood. And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in an ark of wood'" (Deut. 10:1, 2).

So, another fact marks the unique place of the Ten Commandments is that the two tablets were put in the most sacred place - in the Ark of the Covenant, in the "Holy of Holies" of the Tabernacle of Moses.

Two versions of the Ten Commandments

There are two versions of the Ten Commandments given in the Pentateuch, one, contained in Exodus, and the other, in Deuteronomy:

Contained in Exodus

1. "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex. 20:3).

Since God's character forms the basis of the covenant with His people, He demands absolute loyalty. And when the intent of the heart is to put God first, a person's outward actions will reveal it.

2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image .... You shall not bow down to them nor serve them" (Ex. 20:4, 5).

The second commandment is necessary because people do not always keep the first. The Israelites made a golden calf to worship even as the Lord gave the laws to Moses.

3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain, ..." (Ex. 20:7).

God's Name and His character are inseparable. Using His Holy Name lightly in a vain, empty manner, is insulting and degrading.

4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8).

Sabbath means "rest," but God intended for this day to stand for more than an absence of work. It was to be a day of worship as well - a day for setting aside all thoughts of materialistic gain but thinking about Him. God Himself set the pattern by ceasing from His labors after creating the world.


5. "Honor you father and your mother, ..." (Ex. 20:12).

God established parents as the authority figures in the family unit. Children often get their first impressions about God from their parents. Parents who walk in the Spirit, honestly desiring to follow the guidelines of the Scriptures, will set better examples for their children.

6. "You shall not murder" (Ex. 20:13).

Commandments six through nine pertain to our relationships with one another. The breakdown of these guidelines has plunged many civilizations into decay. A person who cares about others, beginning with those in the home, does not want to do harm to them. This law reveals God's attitude toward people created in His image. No one has the right to take that life from another.

7. "You shall not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14).

Technically, this commandment refers to being sexually involved with a married person; but it is traditionally used to prohibit all sexual relationships outside of marriage. Again, this commandment involves a right relationship with God and with others. Adultery is possible only if people are prepared to hurt other, to enjoy themselves at the expense of other people. A right attitude toward keeping God first and not harming others is tied together in this commandment.

8. "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15).

Stealing involves taking something that does not belong to you. This could be another's life, marriage partner, or reputation. This law also emphasizes the importance of getting all your own through lawful channels.


9. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Ex. 20:16).

A good relatioship demands honesty in speaking of another. If a person in unwilling to speak ill of another, he is less likely to steal from him or to commit murder.

10. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, ..."(Ex. 20:17).

This tenth commandment is an outgrowth of the first. If a person's heart is fixed on the Lord, he will have the right attitude toward other. Consequently, the desires that rise from his heart will not cause pain or loss to others. The right motive (pleasing God who is first in your life) will result in obeying the other commandments (not hurting others).

Contained in Deuteronomy

In Deuteronomy Moses reviewed the Ten Commandments to the hearing of the children of Israel. These are substantially and verbally identical, except that the reasons given for the observance of the fourth commandment - "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holly, ..." Deut. 5:12), - are not the same.

In Exodus the reason is based on one's obligations to God as the Creator - "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (Gen. 2:3).

In Deuteronomy the reason is one's duty to others and the memory of the bondage in Egypt:

"And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath" (Deut. 5:15).

Differences that Jesus made

During Jesus' earthly ministry He mentioned some of the Ten Commandments. And He placed more importance on some of the commandments than others. Notice that even obeying these commandments is not good enough for Jesus! He demanded highter level of holiness and righteousness.

Jesus and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16 - 22)

The rich young ruler wanted to know what good thing he should do that he might have eternal life. Jesus, indicating that no man is good, not even Him, said that only One (God) is good. But if he wanted to enter into eternal life, keep these commandments - "You shall not murder," "you shall not commit adultery," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "Honor your father and your mother," and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Notice that all those commandments quoted by Jesus were pertaining to maintaining right relationships with our fellowmen. And He added "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," never before mentioned. Furthermore, He declared it to be the second great commandment of the law:

A teacher of the law wanted Jesus to tell him - which is the great commandment in the law and Jesus said to him: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:37 - 40, emphasis added).

A "neighbor" means:

1. Any person who lives near us.

2. Any person with whom we have dealings.

3. A friend or relative (Matt. 5:43).

4. Any person - friend, relative, countryman, or even foe (Mark 12:31).

5. Any person who does us good or confers a favor on us (Luke 10:27 - 37).

The statement: "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" means:

These two commandments comprehend the substance of what Moses in the Law and what the prophets have spoken. What they have said has been to endeavor to win people to love God and to love one another. Love to God and man comprehends the whole of religion, and to produce this has been the design of Moses, the prophets, the Savor and the apostles.

Sermon on the Mount

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had quoted the 6th and 7th of the Ten Commandments, and then He had gone on to show that lust is adultery in the heart:

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. It your right eyes couses you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to cast into hell. Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality cause her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matt. 5:27 - 32).


Jesus took the words of the Decalogue and extended them into the realm of thought and feeling. He might have had in mind the 3rd Commandment in His sharp prohibition of the Jewish habit of swearing by various things (Matt. 5:33 - 37). As to the Sabbath, His teaching and example tended to lighten the onerous restrictions of the rabbis (Mark 2:23 - 28). As duty to parents, He elevated above all supposed claims of vows and offerings (Matt. 15:4 - 6). In further extension of the 8th Commandment, Jesus said, "Do not defraud" (Mark 10:19). All of Jesus' ethical teaching might be said to be founded on the 10th Commandment which tracks sin to its lair in the mind and soul of man.


The Commandments of Love exhibited in Jesus


Our Lord Jesus embraced the whole range of human obligation in the following Commandments based on love:


1. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37, NKJV).


2. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:39).


With love such as here described in the heart, man cannot trespass against God or his fellow-men.


At the close of His ministry, on the night of the betrayal, Jesus gave to His followers a third commanment, not different from the above two on which the whole Law hangs, but an extension of the Second great Commandment upward into realm of sacrifice:


"A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34, 35).


"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:12).


The apostle Paul and John also carried the teaching of love in their epistles:


"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Eph. 5:1, 2).


"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).


"We know that we have passed from death to life, becuse we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in words or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:14 - 18).