Musing – What are the Ten Commandments Really About?

 Hebraic Musing – What are the Ten Commandments Really About?

Back when I was in school, the Ten Commandments were displayed on the schoolroom wall; we memorized them to the point we told jokes based on the commandment numbers.  Now they are not even in most Christian Bookstores!  What’s this generation missing?  Let’s look at each Commandment from our Loving Father God:

1.   “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” (Exod.20:2)    The word “LORD” is from Yehovah, a relationship name – “I am” in past, present and future tenses.  And He loves His covenant people so much, that He brought Israel out of bondage.  Who else does He want to bring out of slavery?

2.   “You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for yourself...” (20:3-4)  A little later He says “I am a jealous God...”  Does He think we might make gods ourselves?  Sports figures, statues, media, possessions, entertainment personalities, etc.  Ouch!

3.   “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain,” (20:7)  This is not just about bad language.   We should not to use the LORD’s name in a negative context.  The Lord will “not hold him guiltless”!

4.   “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (20:8-11)  The seventh day is Saturday, but Sunday worship began when Constantine in 321 AD declared all worship to be held on the “venerable day of the sun”.  He was a sun worshipper.  Some confusion regarding Sabbath is due to the Biblical day starting at sunset. In Acts 20 the believers gathered on the first day of the week; that would be Saturday evening after sunset. They were celebrating Havdalah, the end of sabbath, a time when they could prepare food and handle money.  Their first day, our Sunday, began their work week.  A solution for today – Psalm 34:1 and many other references say “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

5.   “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” (20:12)   (I advise children to respect their parents so they won’t get whooped!) How long do we want to have the life God has for us?  How long will we be in Heaven?  Also, does this also mean to respect/honor your elders and authorities?  Note – this is a hinge between four commandments about how to honor/worship God and the last five commandments dealing with how to live in this world; Jesus referred to it as “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matt.22:39 

6.   “You shall not murder.” (20:13)  We can defend ourselves, and our country, but we are not to get so angry with someone that we wish them dead, or hurting.  We are to forgive, no matter what they do to us.

7.   “You shall not commit adultery.” (20:14)  Committing adultery is breaking the permanent covenant of marriage; both your own marriage and/or that of another couple.  Be faithful in marriage and respect the marriages and virginities of others.

8.   “You shall not steal.” (20:15)  If we love our neighbor, we’ll respect his/her possessions including  reputation, life, mate, etc.  And don’t steal your own blessings by failure to obey and thus miss your own blessings.

9.   “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (20:16)  This refers to an intentional lie, being intentionally deceitful and committing fraud.  But where does “gossip” apply here, or is that a verse 15 topic?

10.  “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.” (20:17)  This may be both the hardest and the most important commandment because it leads to the violation of the others; coveting is where the sin problems begin.

Points to Ponder

Has Our Loving God provided us with the warnings we need to make responsible choices?
Do these sound like advice a loving parent would try to instill in their child?

Do you have the Ten Commandments displayed in your home?

Do we “Want To” or do we “Have To” obey the Ten Commandments?

“The LORD is my shepherd...”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          March 28, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Note – Inspired by Johanna Hocker’s email March 13, 2023; All references are from the NKJV