I – Introduction
The 10 Commandments of Christianity are one of the most common core beliefs shared by different denominations of Christianity. They are found in the Bible and are believed to have been given directly by God to the prophet Moses at Mount Sinai. While Christianity does not have an official set of commandments, these ten are the most widely recognized and accepted. They are a reflection of basic morality and values that impact the decisions that Christians make in their everyday lives.
II – Origin of The 10 Commandments
The 10 Commandments of Christianity come from the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament of the Bible. While widely respected in Christian circles, the 10 Commandments are not only limited to religious adherents; civil and criminal laws in many countries are rooted in the commandments.
The 10 Commandments of Christianity are divided into two parts. The first part, found in Exodus 20:3-17, focuses mostly on prohibitions against following other gods and disregarding the Sabbath day. The second part, found in Deuteronomy 5:7-21, outlines a code of moral behavior and etiquette vis-à-vis people and property.
III – Explanation of The 10 Commandments
The 10 Commandments of Christianity, in order, are as follows.
- You shall have no other gods before Me;
- You shall not make for yourself any carved 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.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain;
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother;
- You shall not murder;
- You shall not commit adultery;
- You shall not steal;
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor;
- 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.
These commandments convey a sense of morality that is applicable to all people, not just those who are religious. The commandments are easy enough for an infant to understand, yet profound enough to be taken seriously by scholars and theologians alike.
IV – Commandment #1 – Have No Other Gods
The first of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘you shall have no other gods before me’. This has been interpreted to mean that one should not worship any other god than the God of the Abrahamic faiths. The commandment is a reminder to remain steadfast in faith and to remember that faith in the one true God is the foundation of all other Christian ethics and spiritual beliefs.
V – Commandment #2 – No Graven Images
The second of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘you shall not make for yourself any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above’. This has been interpreted as a reminder to rely on faith rather than physical representations of faith. It also serves as a reminder of the Almighty God’s exclusive authority within the realm of spirituality and religion.
VI – Commandment #3 – No Profaning God’s Name
The third of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain’. This means that one should not use God’s name in vain or use it to make a joke or in any other frivolous manner. It is important to respect the name of God, as it is one of the most important parts of faith and a sure way to show reverence for God.
VII – Commandment #4 – Keep The Sabbath Day
The fourth of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy’. This has been interpreted to mean that one should set aside a specific day each week to dedicate to the Lord. This day is usually Sunday, the traditional Christian day of worship, though different denominations have differing ideas about which day is truly the Sabbath day.
VIII – Commandment #5 – Honor Parents
The fifth of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘honor your father and your mother’. This is an essential principle of Christian ethics and is an example of how the teachings of Jesus Christ can be seen in the commandments. This is also an important part of the fifth commandment as it emphasizes the importance of respecting one’s parents and maintaining a healthy relationship with them.
IX – Commandment #6 – Thou Shalt Not Kill
The sixth of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘You shall not murder’. This is one of the most obvious commandments, as it calls on believers to not take a life, regardless of the circumstances. It also serves to remind Christians of the value of life and of the importance of respecting it both in theory and in practice.
X – Commandment #7 – Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
The seventh of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘you shall not commit adultery’. This commandment serves to encourage fidelity and loyalty among couples, and is an essential part of the foundations of faith-based marriage. It is also a reminder that adultery is a grave sin in the eyes of God and can have serious consequences, both spiritually and in this world.
XI – Commandment #8 – Thou Shalt Not Steal
The eighth of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘you shall not steal’. This is the commandment against taking what is not yours, and serves as a reminder that all property, regardless of who owns it, should be respected and taken care of appropriately. It is also a reminder that taking something that does not belong to you is an act of dishonesty and goes against the fundamentals of Christian faith.
XII – Commandment #9 – Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
The ninth of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor’. This is an important reminder that truth and honesty should be a priority when dealing with others. It is also a reminder that God will judge all people by their words and deeds, and that bearing false witness is a serious sin.
XIII – Commandment #10 – Thou Shalt Not Covet
The tenth of the 10 Commandments of Christianity is ‘you shall not covet’. This commandment serves as an important reminder to not yield to temptation and instead remember to focus on the things we already have. It also emphasizes the importance of contentment in one’s life, which is a cornerstone of Christian life.
