The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are a set of divine laws given by God to the people of Israel through Moses. These commandments are foundational to Judeo-Christian ethics and morality, serving as a cornerstone for both religious and civil law. They are recorded in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament.

Biblical Account

The Ten Commandments were delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. According to Exodus 31:18 , "When He had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God." This divine authorship underscores the sacred and unalterable nature of these commandments.

The Commandments

The Ten Commandments are listed in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They are as follows:

1. No Other Gods: "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3)
2. No Idols: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath." (Exodus 20:4)
3. God's Name in Vain: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7)
4. Sabbath Day: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (Exodus 20:8)
5. Honor Parents: "Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)
6. No Murder: "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13)
7. No Adultery: "You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14)
8. No Stealing: "You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15)
9. No False Witness: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)
10. No Coveting: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17)

Theological Significance

The Ten Commandments are not merely a set of rules but a covenantal framework that defines the relationship between God and His people. They emphasize the holiness of God and the moral and ethical standards expected of His followers. The first four commandments focus on the relationship between God and humanity, while the last six address interpersonal relationships.

Mosaic Covenant

The giving of the Ten Commandments is a pivotal moment in the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant. This covenant is characterized by God's promise to be Israel's God and the people's commitment to obey His laws. The commandments serve as a summary of the covenantal obligations and are central to the identity and mission of Israel as a nation set apart for God's purposes.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, Jesus affirms the enduring significance of the Ten Commandments. In Matthew 5:17-18 , He states, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them." Jesus further distills the essence of the commandments into two overarching principles: love for God and love for neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).

Cultural and Legal Influence

The Ten Commandments have profoundly influenced Western legal systems and ethical thought. They have been a source of moral guidance and legal principles throughout history, shaping societal norms and values.

Conclusion

The Ten Commandments remain a vital part of Christian teaching and practice, reflecting God's unchanging standards for righteousness and justice. They continue to inspire believers to live lives that honor God and promote harmony within the community.Exodus 32:16
And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven on the tables.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 34:1,28
And the LORD said to Moses, Hew you two tables of stone like to the first: and I will write on these tables the words that were in the first tables, which you brake.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 4:13
And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them on two tables of stone.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 10:4
And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spoke to you in the mount out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them to me.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

On the Commandments of God
... You must remember that the Ten Commandments always existed from the time of
Adam, but they were not written till God gave them to Moses. ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 29 on the commandments.htm

The Decalogue: I --Man and God
... God opens His heart first, and then asks for men's ... not bound to obey any of the Ten
Commandments, because they ... demonstrably, a transcript of laws written on the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the decalogue iman and god.htm

General Commandments.
... be to God for ever, Amen. For He says in the Gospel, recapitulating, and confirming,
and fulfilling the ten commandments of the law: "It is written in the law ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i general commandments.htm

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ...
... commandments, and those are reckoned ten in number ... an abrogated ceremony, then there
were but nine commandments. ... Sabbath, with the other nine, written by God ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/ten reasons demonstrating the commandment.htm

God the Teacher.
... and thy neighbour as thyself." There the ten commandments are, and ... so often, that
these laws and commandments are Life ... the Life itself, as it is written in the ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xi god the teacher.htm

Love of God and Man
... He has given thee ten commandments, and let no man give thee an eleventh commandment ...
All is good except sin; for it is written, "God saw every thing that He ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xvii love of god.htm

The Handwriting Blotted Out
... him arrested and put in the penitentiary for ten years, but ... Paul reduced the
commandments to one: "Love is the ... of the law." Some one has written the following: ...
/.../moody/weighed and wanting/the handwriting blotted out.htm

Summary
... and a desire gladly to do the will of God. ... in the Old Testament to write the Ten
Commandments on all ... not for the sake of merely having them written in these ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/summary.htm

Introduction
... In the third place, the Ten Commandments, and they alone, of all Jehovah's statutes
to Israel, were written directly by the finger of God, written upon tables ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the law and the saint/introduction.htm

What is God's Will?
... It is written in Divine characters in two sacred ... there are three different departments
of God's will ... and apparently most rigid of all, are the Ten Commandments. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/what is gods will.htm

What are the Catholic Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

Are the Ten Commandments taken from the forty-two precepts of Ma'at? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler he could be saved by obeying the commandments? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus