In the Bible we are told that the ten commandments were given by God to Moses on tablets of stone during the 40 days and nights the Israelite's spent on Mount Sinai. They had stopped on the journey in their quest to reach the promised land after they had been brought out of slavery from Egypt. The Commandments are the central points in the many laws (which form the Torah) given to Moses to govern the conduct of the Jewish people and which confirmed in them their special relationship with God. Jesus fine tuned these commands in his teachings in light of the way they had been interpreted by the Pharisees and cultures the world over have used these commands together as a moral compass and as the basis for national systems of law. The first five commandments instruct us on our relationship with God whilst the second five guide us in our relationships with one another. It is sometimes said that these are too rigid as a set of rules or regulations and that moral questions should be more relative than absolute, yet Gods law when used in the right spirit are there primarily to encourage us to do the right thing but also to speak truth about human behaviour, for when we deviate from Gods commands we often experience unhappiness and conflict in our lives.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 1) YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GOD BUT ME -The idea of putting God first establishes in us a right relationship of humility, that God is greater and more perfect than humans which should serve to curb our ego, help us recognize our own limitations and focus us less on selfish interests. When we look across at other human beings we tend to compare ourselves to them which often give rise to superior or inferior feelings but when we look toward God we are held by him as being of equal worth to others in whom equal values apply As creator of the universe and the one responsible for all that is good in our lives we say that he is worthy of worship above all else.
2) YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP FALSE IDOLS -In contemporary culture we revere and worship many things which would have been considered idolatry by old testament standards. These might include celebrity, status, careerism, money, material goods, T.V , technology, compulsions, addictions, personal appearance and body image. At that time other Gods might have represented aspects of life aimed at personal pleasure or to explain things in the immediate environment and much imagery was associated with them. We see much in our culture today that provides pleasure but which does not satisfy fully the human soul. We look to find our wholeness instead in the one true God who is responsible for everything in creation.
3) YOU SHALL NOT MISUSE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD-This command urges us toward respect and reverence toward a God who makes all good things possible. Social commentators often point out that there is decreasing respect and trust in our society and that there is a growing trend toward cynicism aimed at both institutions and individuals, where dismissive or insulting language are commonly used. In recognizing that God is Goodness, Peace, Wisdom, love ,justice and Grace we say that it is not appropriate to denigrate his name but to consider it as something special.
4) YOU SHALL KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY-We hear much about the stress and pressures of modern living and the imperative to work long hours to make life materially more comfortable. In the Bible we read that on the seventh day of creation God rested from his labours and urged us to keep one day each week as a day of rest. This is a very practical command in that it recognizes our need to take a break to relieve stress and tiredness, ensure time to reflect on life but is also a reminder to rest in God and to keep a day special in worship of him.
5) HONOUR YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR FATHER-Whilst this appears to be a command aimed at humans it is also a mirror of our relationship with God, who as Abba (Dad) father is our heavenly spiritual parent. Our culture values youth and physical vibrancy, celebrates change and trend above traditional wisdom. Our instinct may be to rebel and make ourselves distinct from what has gone before but our earthly parents do have experience which we can listen to and value. Our appreciation could extend to the fact that they gave us life in the first place, in the same way that God is also creator (of all) who carries wisdom for our benefit which is worthy of obedience and gives rise to spiritual life.
6) YOU MUST NOT KILL -This command is commonly used in reference to taking the physical life of another person,to take away what God has given, but it also carries a deeper meaning to anything that deadens the soul and inhibits the Holy Spirit. These may include unkind words or actions, anger, hatred, violence, abuse, or those many and subtle things which may separate us from the spirit of God.
7) YOU MUST NOT COMMIT ADULTERY - This primarily relates to sexual relationships between husbands and wives in that marital fidelity cements trust, love and deepens both spiritual and physical bonds. It also minimizes much in the way of fear, anxiety and guilt which can result from the consequences of sexual activity outside marriage because far from gaining pleasure or sexual freedom adultery often causes emotional pain and oppresses us in spirit. Marriage is seen as a covenant, a promise not to be broken very much like our relationship with God. In the wider sense to adulterate can be any behaviour that debases a relationship or make it less pure. It is often our unrealistic expectations of one another or our lack of love and consideration that begins the process of adulteration
8) YOU MUST NOT STEAL- The command not to steal has at its core the idea that we should work to serve and that much of what we earn we should use to give to those in need. Taking without permission then becomes the opposite attitude to what God intends our work to be for. He wants us to be givers rather than takers.
9) YOU MUST NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS- The telling of truth is important not least because it allows for justice to take place and prevents evil. The resultant trust brings people closer together in communion and love. Lying can be devastating to the feelings and reputation of others and creates discord between people. Lying is the main characteristic attributed to Satan and contrasts starkly with God’s love and truth.
10) YOU MUST NOT ENVY WHAT BELONGS TO OTHERS- Much discontentment is caused by any focus of envy around others possessions or attributes. We are not always able to find contentment in those wished for things but should instead focus on the riches that God has to offer and our relationship with him. Our most treasured possessions is him which should be shown in us by the fruit of the spirit.
SOME THOUGHTS
There is something in our human nature that does not always like rules and regulations, things against which we often rebel. Rebellion is a commonly mentioned theme in the bible and although we are no longer bound by the law of Moses but rather the new covenant of Grace through Faith, we are still to consider the law because it makes us aware of our own error. Jesus came not to abolish the law but to top it up and give it a new understanding. All Biblical rules regulations and commandments need not be seen solely in the context of Gods judgement or a restriction on our freedom, but as a guide, making us aware of our ability to change and ask for forgiveness. The law brings death to our spirit and our liberation is assured only because Jesus has paid the price with his death on the cross for our sin. We can rest in the knowledge that our faith and God’s grace will enable the Holy Spirit to transform us. There are 600 plus commands in the Bible, many in the Old Testament were practical or ceremonial rules for those ancient Israelite's living a nomadic life in the dessert but not required of us today. The 40 commands given by Jesus were to complement the 10 given by Moses. All these commandments crystallize into two, on which the fulfillment of the old law depend. 1)- To love God with all your heart mind and soul and strength 2)- To love your neighbour as yourself. Further to these Jesus invokes the Golden rule to treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated. These commands can guard us from harm but our faith lead’s us toward spiritual life and away from a purely material world view in favour of a God worthy of our worship