Understanding the 10 Commandments and their relevance for today
The children in Weekday Religious Education are memorizing the Ten Commandments, written about in Exodus 20: 3-17. God had chosen Moses to deliver his people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt by parting the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross to freedom.
1 Corinthians 7:31: For this world in its present form is passing away.
Moses then led them to Mount Saini where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, as well as the other laws for right living. He also provided the blueprint for building a Tabernacle. God was forming a Holy Nation prepared to live for and serve Him.
The 10 Commandments
1. You shall have no other God’s before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.
These laws were very important. The Israelites needed them to become a strong nation amid all the people around them who worshipped idols. We are pledging in these commandments our allegiance to be loyal, obedient and respect God.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
We don’t like it if people call us bad names do we? They are being disrespectful. God’s name is Holy and it must be used only in a reverent way.
Some people take God’s name in vain because others are doing it and we find ourselves saying these words that dishonor God. It can take root in our hearts and mind and begin saying it and don’t realize you did. Be careful don’t allow it to take root in your heart.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy.
Back in the Old Testament, this meant they should not work on the Sabbath but they carried it too far and wouldn’t let people pick up something heavy. Jesus changed this and said we should keep the Sabbath day to worship, remember creation, and rest so we could serve God and others.
5. Honor your father and mother.
Honor means to love and respect them. When you honor your parents you love and obey them because they are wiser. God wanted homes to be happy so he made this an important rule.
6. Thou shalt not kill. — God wants us to protect human life.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. — This means husbands and wives should be faithful to one another.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
No one is permitted to take something that belongs to another. Not only is it God’s law but it is the basic law of the society we live in.
9. Thou shall not bear false witness.
This means do not tell a lie. Do not tell stories that are untrue about people. When you tell a lie, you hurt yourself as well as others. Soon people will not trust what you say.
10. You shall not covet.
Covet means to want something that belongs to someone else. A person who covets may be led to break all most all the other commandments.
God's laws protect us
These were the laws God established for His nation of people. When we become believers, God says, “This is a New Covenant I will make with my people on that day says the Lord. I will put my law in their hearts and I will write them on their mind.”
Then he says,” I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Hebrews 10: 16-17.
None of us are perfect but we must continually seek to obey these commandments. Jesus came that these laws could be fulfilled as we walk and trust in Him.
Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.
Obedience comes with a reward
Dear precious friends, it’s by our obedience to God's Word that the abundance comes. It is our prayer at Weekday Religious Education that you experience this abundance as you follow his teaching and teach them to your children.
Let us end with this promise from God in Proverb 3: 1-4 “My sons and daughters, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Contact information
Morgan County Schools of Weekday Religious Education P.O. Box 1285 Martinsville, IN. 46151
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Understanding the 10 Commandments and their relevance for today
