The Ten Commandments

The Ten The Ten CommandmentsCommandments

Mr. RichardsMr. RichardsFall 2008Fall 2008

IntroductionIntroduction• Most people know the Ten Commandments — Most people know the Ten Commandments —

or perhaps it is better to say that they or perhaps it is better to say that they thinkthink they know the Ten Commandments. The they know the Ten Commandments. The commandments are one of those cultural commandments are one of those cultural products that people imagine that they products that people imagine that they understand, but in reality, they frequently understand, but in reality, they frequently can't even name all of them, let alone explain can't even name all of them, let alone explain them. People who already think they know all them. People who already think they know all they need are unlikely to take the time to they need are unlikely to take the time to research the subject with any great care and research the subject with any great care and precision. precision.

11stst Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not Have Any Gods Thou Shalt Not Have Any Gods

Before MeBefore Me• There is only one GodThere is only one God• Regards Pagan GodsRegards Pagan Gods

– God of the sun, moon, trees, war, loveGod of the sun, moon, trees, war, love

22ndnd Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven Images

33rdrd Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the

Lord in VainLord in Vain• No blasphemy, stupid!No blasphemy, stupid!• Prohibition was limited to the use of the Prohibition was limited to the use of the

name of God in any frivolous manner. name of God in any frivolous manner. • Prohibition against the use of the name Prohibition against the use of the name

of God in magical or occult practices.of God in magical or occult practices.• Geez…Thank God!??!Geez…Thank God!??!

44thth Commandment Commandment• Remember the Sabbath, Keep It HolyRemember the Sabbath, Keep It Holy• Only Only ritualisticritualistic commandment commandment • Hebrews seem to be the only ones to Hebrews seem to be the only ones to

have set aside an entire day every have set aside an entire day every week as sacred, reserved for week as sacred, reserved for honoring and remembering their godhonoring and remembering their god

55thth Commandment Commandment• Honor Thy Father and MotherHonor Thy Father and Mother• True in ancient societies where life True in ancient societies where life

could be precarious and it’s a good could be precarious and it’s a good way to ensure the maintenance of way to ensure the maintenance of important social bonds important social bonds

• Is the Fifth Commandment something Is the Fifth Commandment something that everyone should obey? that everyone should obey?

66thth Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not Kill• The most basic and easily accepted of The most basic and easily accepted of

all the commandmentsall the commandments• Relies upon a superficial and uninformed Relies upon a superficial and uninformed

understanding of what is going onunderstanding of what is going on• Self-defenseSelf-defense• Contradictory to members of the Contradictory to members of the

military?military?

77thth Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not Thou Shalt Not

Commit AdulteryCommit Adultery• Any act of sexual Any act of sexual

intercourse outside of intercourse outside of marriage marriage

• Any act of sexual Any act of sexual intercourse between intercourse between a married person and a married person and someone who is not someone who is not their spousetheir spouse

88thth Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not Steal Thou Shalt Not Steal • A prohibition against stealing from A prohibition against stealing from

another individual or just against the another individual or just against the governmentgovernment

• A starving man steals bread for his A starving man steals bread for his family…family…

99thth Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not Bear False WitnessThou Shalt Not Bear False Witness• Prohibit lying in a court of law (perjury)Prohibit lying in a court of law (perjury)• For the ancient Hebrews, anyone caught For the ancient Hebrews, anyone caught

lying during their testimony could be lying during their testimony could be forced to submit to whatever forced to submit to whatever punishment would have been imposed punishment would have been imposed upon the accused — including death upon the accused — including death

1010thth Commandment Commandment• Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not Covet• The most difficult to justify imposing upon The most difficult to justify imposing upon

others, and in some ways the least others, and in some ways the least reflective of modern morality—reflective of modern morality—materialismmaterialism

• ““If I see myself as what I actually am, as If I see myself as what I actually am, as the house of the Holy Spirit, as the temple the house of the Holy Spirit, as the temple of God” What then belongs to me? of God” What then belongs to me?

 Catholic/Lutheran

(As per Augustine, around 400 A.D.)

Protestant/Orthodox Churches and Communities(As per Origen around 200 A.D.)

1I am the Lord your God: you

shall not have strange Gods before me.

I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

2You shall not take the name

of the Lord your God in Vain.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

3 Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

4 Honour your father and your mother.

Remember the Sabbath Day.

5 You shall not kill. Honor thy father and mother.6 You shall not commit adultry. Thou shalt not kill.7 You shall not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8You shall not bear false

witness against your neighbour.

Thou shalt not steal.

9 You shall not covet your neighbour's wife.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10You shall not covet your

Neighbour's goods.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's

house nor his wife nor anything that belongs to him.

Enforcement…Enforcement…• Who enforces the 10 commandments?Who enforces the 10 commandments?

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