The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are a set of divine laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. These commandments serve as fundamental principles for moral conduct and are central to the beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Let’s explore each commandment and its significance, along with relevant scriptures.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

This commandment emphasizes the importance of monotheism and loyalty to God. It calls for the worship of the one true God and prohibits idolatry.

• Scripture: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3, NKJV)

2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image.

This commandment forbids the creation and worship of idols or images representing God. It underscores the need for spiritual worship rather than physical representations.

• Scripture: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:4, NKJV)

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

This commandment instructs believers to honor and respect God’s name, avoiding misuse or blasphemy.

• Scripture: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7, NKJV)

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

This commandment calls for the observance of the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship, reflecting God’s rest after creation.

• Scripture: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.” (Exodus 20:8-10, NKJV)

5. Honor your father and your mother.

This commandment emphasizes the importance of respecting and honoring one’s parents, promising a long life as a reward for obedience.

• Scripture: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12, NKJV)

6. You shall not murder.

This commandment prohibits the taking of innocent human life, underscoring the sanctity of life.

• Scripture: “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13, NKJV)

7. You shall not commit adultery.

This commandment forbids marital infidelity, promoting the sanctity of marriage and family.

• Scripture: “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14, NKJV)

8. You shall not steal.

This commandment prohibits taking what does not belong to you, emphasizing honesty and respect for others’ property.

• Scripture: “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15, NKJV)

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

This commandment forbids lying or giving false testimony, promoting truthfulness and justice.

• Scripture: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16, NKJV)

10. You shall not covet.

This commandment warns against envy and desire for others’ possessions, encouraging contentment and gratitude.

• Scripture: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17, NKJV)

The Ten Commandments provide a timeless moral framework that guides believers in their relationship with God and with one another. By adhering to these divine laws, we can live a life that honors God and promotes harmony within our communities.

Explanation of Exodus 20

Exodus 20 is a significant chapter in the Bible where God delivers the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. These commandments are foundational principles for moral conduct and religious practice. Let’s break down each verse and its significance, along with the scriptures provided.

Verses 1-2: Introduction

Scripture: “And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” (Exodus 20:1-2, KJV)

God introduces Himself as the one who liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, establishing His authority to give these commandments.

Verse 3: No Other Gods

Scripture: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3, KJV)

This commandment emphasizes monotheism, instructing the Israelites to worship only the one true God.

Verses 4-6: Prohibition of Idolatry

Scripture: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God...

Exodus Chapter 20, it's entirety:

1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

18 And all the people saw the thundering's, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.