The Ten Commandments (Exodus chp 20)


The Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, at the time that the Israelites were fleeing from Egyptian persecution. They had just left the land of Rephidim. God started by reminding Moses and the people "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage". He told the Israelites that they would be his chosen people, who would serve him as priests, if they kept his laws. God then gave them instructions concerning how best to live their lives:

Rules about man's responsibilities towards God:

1. Have no other gods apart from the one true God
2. Do not make images to worship
3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy

Rules about people's responsibilities towards each other:

5. Honour your father and mother
6. Do not kill
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Do not steal
9. Do not bear false witness
10.Do not be envious of your neighbour's property

These commandments were written by God on two large flat stones, so that they could be a constant reminder to the people. They were carried around in the ark of the covenant.



Themes

• Four rules about responsibility towards God, six rules about responsibility towards each other.
• Authority - God starts by reminding the people exactly what he has done for them so far, and how he has rescued them from slavery.
• Covenant - God is making a new covenant with his people, giving them laws which will enable them to grow closer to him through their observance of it.
• Law - God is giving the people a set of rules which they must obey, in order to keep their side of the covenant with him. Many (all?) of them are still relevant today, and dictate how people still live their lives - both Christians and non Christians.
  

Contemporary Issues

• Most/least important commandments.
• Extra commandments for today's world.
• Morals in today's world.
• Rules in today's society.
• Are the ten commandments still relevant today?

Revision