This article has an explanation of the 10 commandments.
Introduction
This lesson speaks of the 10 Commandments and their importance to Christianity. The 10 commandments were given directly by God to his servant Moses. This was a face-to-face meeting (so to speak, as God spoke through a fiery bush). You know that God is speaking this directly because the Bible is very clear on who is speaking while giving these commandments. If you read the chapter where this can be found you will learn right off that God said:
” 1 And God spake 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.” Ex 20:1-2 (KJV)
This hub will introduce you to the 10 commandments and what each commandment means. I hope you enjoy the lesson.
What are the 10 Commandments?
Commandments 1, 2, 3
The first three commandments have to do with God himself and what you cannot do about God. It is important to know what both of these mean.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Ex 20:3 (KJV)
Some believe that this means that either you can’t believe there are other gods or that there are no other gods. Instead, it means that you can’t worship any of them or love any of them as you should God himself. God (Jehovah) is the Highest God and you cannot have any higher than he. Therefore you must understand that there is no other God who is he and thus most simply choose to believe there are none other.
Now here is the thing, if you are a Christian, which I am indeed, then you simply cannot see other entities as being God anyway. God is all things and possesses the power to be all things at once. He is the creator and the Holy Father who loves and cares for every one of us, therefore the belief in other gods would be futile. Therefore all who do not follow the Highest God (Jehovah) would not be following the first of the ten commandments.
He also tells you in commandment 2: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or 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: 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 showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Ex 20:4-6 (KJV)
This means you can’t pray to the picture of Jesus hanging on the wall, the cross around your neck, the cross of David, the Mother Mary, any angels, the golden calf, the Buddha, your favorite celebrity, or any such thing. Instead, you are to worship God and the rest of the members of the Holy Trinity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are those worthy of worship. I heard about some people who worship the Bible, this is not right either, you should believe in the words in the Bible, you should read the Bible, but you should only worship God.
The third commandment is yet another thing you should not do in regards to God.
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. Ex 20:7 (KJV)
These means don’t use the name of God for no reason, such as when you get mad and say “Jesus Christ” as many are known to do. Instead using the name of God should be for some reason such as to teach, preach and exalt his Holy name. This is important as when you take his name in vain, you will be found guilty of doing so.
Commandment 4
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labor, 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. Ex 20:8-11 (KJV)
Now almost all religions seem to have a different day of the week where they observe the sabbath. Some Friday, some Saturday, and for many Christians, it is celebrated on Sunday. However, there is no particular day for the Sabbath, instead, it is one day of the week that you stop working ( in seven days) and you use that day to simply worship God, to do God’s work, which means that you dedicate that day to rest and reflection about what God has done for you. Man’s choice of which day is right has nothing to do with God’s choice, his choice is that for 6 days you work, and on the seventh day you rest and keep it Holy.
Commandment 5
Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Ex 20:12 (KJV)
This commandment is the one that offers you a promise, not only should you honor your father and mother but for doing so, your days will be longer on the land that God gave you. This means treating your parents with the respect that is afforded them simply because they are your parents. It does not say that you have to do everything they say (once you are an adult) but it does say you are to honor them.
Commandments 6 through 10
The rest of the commandments have to do with your behavior and what you can’t do to each other. Throughout the Bible, you will find that it speaks a lot about loving, respecting, and being good to your neighbors (everyone) and treating them with respect and love.
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 anything that is thy neighbor’s. Ex 20:13-17 (KJV)
Number 6 tells you not to kill your neighbor, do not take his life. You are not allowed to kill anyone, besides being against the law of the land, it is also one of God’s laws.
Number 7 tells you not to cheat on your husband if you are a wife or your wife if you are a husband. God meant for you to be faithful to your partner and so you cannot cheat. The Bible said that thinking about cheating is still cheating so keep your mind pure as well.
Number 8 says don’t steal. If it does not belong to you, don’t take it. Borrow it with permission or buy it but do not steal it, it is a sin.
Number 9 says do not lie on your neighbor. That means don’t say that your neighbor did something they did not do, nor should you say that you saw them do something when you know you did not.
Number 10 says do not covet your neighbor’s stuff. That means don’t want your neighbor’s stuff. Do not be envious of his car, his house, his wife, his clothing, his land, his anything. You should want your stuff and be grateful to God for whatever he chooses to give you, thanking him all the way.
In Conclusion
The ten commandments are like a moral compass for everyone, with all other laws about them in one way or another. There are many sins, and by living by the commandments you will avoid most of them. Love your neighbor, respect and honor your parents and your life will be a good one. I hope this lesson was useful to you. God Bless.
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