The Ten Commandments: Difference between revisions

The Ten Commandments (Hebrew: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, Greek: Decalogue) are known by various names, depending on their meaning. The Ten Commandments are also called the “two tablets of the Testimony” because they contain God’s holy will.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+16%3A34&version=NIV |title=Exodus 16:34 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+25%3A16&version=NIV |title=Exodus 25:16 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+31%3A18&version=NIV |title=Exodus 31:18 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Since the covenant was inscribed on stone tablets, they are referred to as the “terms of the covenant,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+34%3A28&version=NIV |title=Exodus 34:28 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> the “tablets of the covenant,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+9%3A9&version=NIV |title=Deuteronomy 9:9 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> or the “stone tablets of the covenant.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+9%3A4&version=NIV |title=Hebrews 9:4 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Given that the Old Testament law, including the Ten Commandments, was delivered through Moses, it is also known as the “[[Law of Moses]].”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+2%3A3&version=NIV |title=1 Kings 2:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+7%3A23&version=NIV |title=John 7:23 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> In contrast to the [[New Covenant|new covenant]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+8%3A13&version=NIV |title=Hebrews 8:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> it is termed the “''[[Old Covenant|old covenant]]'',” “old command,” or “Old Testament Law.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202%3A7&version=NIV |title=1 John 2:7}}</ref> Additionally, it is sometimes referred to as the “letter” or the “written code.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A6&version=NIV |title=Romans 7:6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+3%3A7&version=NIV |title=2 Corinthians 3:7 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

:On the 40th day after the Israelites crossed the [[Red Sea]] following the [[Exodus]], Moses was called by God and ascended Mount Sinai.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A1-3&version=NIV |title=Exodus 19:1–3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Through Moses, God instructed the people to consecrate themselves for three days and wait.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A10-11&version=NIV |title=Exodus 19:10–11 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> On the third day, God descended upon Mount Sinai and, with a loud voice, proclaimed the Ten Commandments from within the fire before the entire assembly of Israelites.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A17-18&version=NIV |title=Exodus 19:17–18 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref name="Exodus20:1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A1&version=NIV |title=Exodus 20:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+5%3A22&version=NIV |title=Deuteronomy 5:22 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Terrified by the thunder, lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the smoking mountain, the people pleaded with Moses to speak to God on their behalf and relay His words to them instead.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A18-19&version=NIV |title=Exodus 20:18–19 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> After receiving all the statutes and ordinances, including instructions for the [[The Feasts of God|annual feasts in three times]], the people pledged to obey all the commands God had delivered through Moses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+24%3A3&version=NIV |title=Exodus 24:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

The first commandment contains two instructions: to worship no other gods and to worship only God. This commandment is rooted in the fact that God [[Exodus|delivered the Israelites from slavery]] in Egypt, where they were destined for death. By the power of the [[Passover]], He spared them from the plagues and led them to freedom. Thus, the first commandment can be observed by offering [[Sacrifices in the Old Testament|sacrifices]] to God on the day of redemption—the Passover—which was established as an everlasting ordinance. When God gave the first commandment and instituted the Passover, He prefaced both with the statement: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” This common introduction emphasizes the same foundational reason.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A2-3&version=NIV |title=Exodus 20:2–3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+13%3A3&version=NIV |title=Exodus 13:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Furthermore, since the Passover is the day on which God judges and destroys other gods,<ref name="Exodus12">{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12%3A12&version=NIV |title=Exodus 12:12 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+33%3A3-4&version=NIV |title=Numbers 33:3–4 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> keeping the Passover enables us to worship God alone. This truth is clearly demonstrated in the historical accounts of the reigns of [[Hezekiah]] and [[Josiah]], who restored the observance of the Passover and brought about the destruction of idolatry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+30%3A5&version=NIV |title=2 Chronicles 30:5 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+31%3A1&version=NIV |title=2 Chronicles 31:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+23%3A21-24&version=NIV |title=2 Kings 23:21–24 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

When God speaks of the fourth commandment, He declares, “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the [[Sabbath|Sabbath day]] and made it holy.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A11&version=NIV |title=Exodus 20:11 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> This signifies that the Sabbath serves as a commemoration of the [[Creator]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2%3A3&version=NIV |title=Genesis 2:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Established at the time of the [[Six-Day Creation|creation of the heavens and the earth]], the Sabbath contains God’s promise that the redeemed will enter into eternal rest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A4-6&version=NIV |title=Hebrews 4:4–6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>