The Ten Commandments: Moral Foundations and the Table of Contents for the Law

The Ten Commandments: Moral Foundations and the Table of Contents for the Law

The Ten Commandments (עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת / aseret ha-dibrot, “ten words”) stand at the center of the Sinai covenant (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). Delivered by God Himself with thunder and fire, they form both a summary and a table of contents for the broader Law of Moses. While Christians are not under the Mosaic covenant as law (Romans 6:14), the commandments have served across history as enduring moral standards, shaping Jewish and Christian ethics and influencing legal traditions worldwide. They reveal the character of God and the nature of covenant life.

Historical and Literary Context

The Ten Commandments are found in two parallel accounts: Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. Both situate the commands at the heart of Israel’s covenant at Sinai. They are spoken directly by God (Exod 20:1; Deut 5:22) and written on tablets of stone (Exod 31:18), signifying permanence.

Ancient Near Eastern treaties often began with stipulations binding subjects to loyalty to the king; in the same way, the Decalogue binds Israel in exclusive loyalty to Yahweh. The commandments are thus both relational and covenantal — not arbitrary rules, but the ethical shape of belonging to God.

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17, NASB)

1. No Other Gods (Exod 20:3)

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

This command establishes exclusive allegiance to Yahweh. It rejects syncretism and idolatry. In context, Egypt had many gods; Israel is to have only One. Theologically, this anticipates Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 22:37 — to love the Lord with all one’s heart, soul, and mind.

2. No Idols (Exod 20:4–6)

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.”

Unlike pagan nations, Israel was forbidden to represent deity in visible form. The command protects God’s incomparable transcendence. Paul later applies this spiritually: greed itself can be idolatry (Col 3:5).

3. God’s Name Honored (Exod 20:7)

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…”

This forbids misusing God’s name in oaths, curses, or flippancy. In Hebrew thought, the Name (שֵׁם / shem) represents God’s very reputation. To misuse it was to dishonor Him. For Christians, it applies to how we carry His name (2 Tim 2:19).

4. The Sabbath (Exod 20:8–11)

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Grounded in creation (Gen 2:2–3) and later tied to Israel’s redemption from Egypt (Deut 5:15), Sabbath was a sign of covenant identity. Unlike surrounding nations, Israel rested because Yahweh is Creator and Redeemer.

Christians, however, are not bound to the Mosaic Sabbath. Paul explicitly teaches: “Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to… a Sabbath day” (Col 2:16). Ironically, while Christians often pride themselves in rejecting idols or adultery, they uniquely take pride in breaking Sabbath. Yet the principle of rest and worship still teaches us to trust God.

5. Honor Parents (Exod 20:12)

“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land…”

The first command with a promise (Eph 6:2). It extends beyond childhood obedience — it commands lifelong respect for parental authority, reflecting respect for God’s authority.

6. No Murder (Exod 20:13)

“You shall not murder.” (רָצַח / ratsach, unlawful killing).

This command protects the sanctity of human life, made in God’s image (Gen 9:6). Jesus deepens it: anger itself is murder in seed form (Matt 5:21–22).

7. No Adultery (Exod 20:14)

“You shall not commit adultery.”

Marriage is a covenantal reflection of God’s faithfulness. Adultery profanes that covenant. Jesus intensifies the command: lustful intent is adultery of the heart (Matt 5:27–28).

8. No Stealing (Exod 20:15)

“You shall not steal.”

Beyond property theft, this command covers exploitation, injustice, and dishonesty. Paul applies it positively: “steal no longer… rather, work… so that you will have something to share” (Eph 4:28).

9. No False Witness (Exod 20:16)

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

In its original legal context, this guarded Israel’s courts. Broader application includes lying, slander, gossip, and distorting truth. God Himself is truth (Num 23:19; John 14:6).

10. No Coveting (Exod 20:17)

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house… wife… or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Unique among the commands, this law addresses inward desire, not just outward behavior. It exposes sin at the level of the heart. Paul testifies: “I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Rom 7:7).

The Ten Commandments as Covenant Table of Contents

The Ten Commandments serve as a summary of the whole Law:

• Commands 1–4 → relationship with God.

• Commands 5–10 → relationship with neighbor.

  
  

  This twofold pattern anticipates Jesus’ teaching: love God and love neighbor (Matt 22:37–40). The broader laws of Moses expand these principles — civil, ceremonial, and judicial — but the Ten form the moral and theological foundation stones.

The Law and the Christian

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law (Rom 6:14; Gal 3:24–25). Christ fulfilled the Law (Matt 5:17). Yet the Ten Commandments still reflect God’s moral will and continue to shape Christian ethics. Nine are reaffirmed in the New Testament; only the Sabbath command is not repeated as binding.

Paul clarifies:

• The Law condemns sin and drives us to Christ (Gal 3:24).

• But in Christ, the Spirit fulfills the righteousness of the Law in us (Rom 8:4).

  
  

  Thus, while not binding covenant law, the Ten Commandments remain timeless moral instruction, pointing us to God’s holiness and our need for grace.

Conclusion

The Ten Commandments are not relics of Israel’s past but the moral framework of God’s covenant order. They summarize the Law, reflect God’s character, and set the foundation for Christian ethics. Though we are not bound to the Sabbath in Mosaic terms, the irony remains: it is the only command Christians boast in breaking. The Decalogue calls us to remember: holiness, truth, and love are not negotiable, for they are rooted in the eternal character of the God who redeemed us.