EX 20: 1-17
Here's how I see it:
1 You shall have no other gods before me
2. You shall not make any graven image, or likeness of anything, that is in heaven above, or in the earth, or that is in water.
3. You shall not bow down to the idols
4. You shall not serve those idols
5. You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
6. Remember the sabbath day, keep it holy
7. Work 6 days
8. Do not work on the 7th day.
9. Honor thy father and mother
10. You shall not kill
11. You shall not commit adultery
12. You shall not steal
13. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
14. You shall not lust after your neighbor's wife
15. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass, or anything that is his
They are listed a second time, in Deuteronomy. This time, they are translated as "ten commandments, the the Hebrew literally means "ten matters".
1. You shall have no other gods before me
2. You shall not make any graven image, likeness that is in heaven, earth or in the waters
3. You shall not bow down to them
4. You shall not serve them
5. You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
6. You shall keep the sabbath day, sanctify it
7. You shall work 6 days
8. You shall not work on the 7th day
9. Remember Egypt
10. Honor thy father and mother
11 You shall not kill
12. You shall not commit adultery
13. You shall not steal
14. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
15. You shall not desire your neighbor's wife
16. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, field, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass, or anything that is his.
So, there really are 16 commandments, that break down their content into 10 matters.
The first matter, dealing with the first 4 commandments, deals with God.
There are also 4 commandments given concerning the matter of the Sabbath.
But when you think about it......there were actually 16 commandments written on the stones...concerning 10 different matters.
These instructions constitute a covenant between God and His people. (EX 34:28 and Deut 4:13) The benefits of following these commandments are explained in Deut 28: 1-14.
If you promise to follow these, and then don't, the punishment is listed in Deut 5:9....to the 4th generation. Pretty severe stuff!
Most people think that the New Testament did away with the Old Testament. Actually, it should be called the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The "new" simply builds upon the "old".....adds to it and explains it even better.
And you have to remember that the New Testament as written today - most of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are actually part of the Old Testament as there was no "new" testament until after the resurrection of the Messiah.
Matthew 22: 37-40 shows us there is a hierarchy, and a dependency to the commandments. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He replied:
Love Yahuwah your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
That last sentence shows us that all the other commandments of the Old Testament are elaborations and detailed explanation of the 2 commandments mentioned here. Thus the above 16 commandments could be split into two topics: 1) to love God, and 2) to love your neighbor.
I think each of the ten matters deserves it's own discussion. We can "argue" our way out of any of these, but if taken literally, how far do we go? Is a child's doll a "graven image" since it is made in the likeness of man? If you work on Saturday are you violating a commandment? If you kiss a cross before you pray, are you worshiping a graven image? If there is the image of Mary or Jesus or anyone/thing else in your church.....are you violating a commandment? Do you bow down to Mary? Not to mention "saints"?
Matthew 22: 37-40 shows us there is a hierarchy, and a dependency to the commandments. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He replied:
Love Yahuwah your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
That last sentence shows us that all the other commandments of the Old Testament are elaborations and detailed explanation of the 2 commandments mentioned here. Thus the above 16 commandments could be split into two topics: 1) to love God, and 2) to love your neighbor.
I think each of the ten matters deserves it's own discussion. We can "argue" our way out of any of these, but if taken literally, how far do we go? Is a child's doll a "graven image" since it is made in the likeness of man? If you work on Saturday are you violating a commandment? If you kiss a cross before you pray, are you worshiping a graven image? If there is the image of Mary or Jesus or anyone/thing else in your church.....are you violating a commandment? Do you bow down to Mary? Not to mention "saints"?
I grew up in a church that had a picture of Jesus on the wall. He had flowing light brown hair and white skin. Not sure that a Jewish person looks like that at all.
And then there was the "Living Christmas Tree" in San Diego where "Mary" was blond. I know it's just a pageant, but why not make it a little bit more realistic? Mary and Jesus were both middle eastern Jews of 2000 years ago. I have to wonder if there is a reason for the commandment to not make any graven image.....because G-d knew it would be the wrong image?
If your church does not have all 16 commandments in these 10 matters listed....why not? It was the Roman Catholics who gave us the condensed version of 10 commandments. Pay attention to what was left out. And how they worship. Pretty convenient to make scripture say what you want it to say. One has to wonder if this isn't Satan's power here on earth - to twist and distort scripture until pagan rituals are made to seem right.
If your church does not have all 16 commandments in these 10 matters listed....why not? It was the Roman Catholics who gave us the condensed version of 10 commandments. Pay attention to what was left out. And how they worship. Pretty convenient to make scripture say what you want it to say. One has to wonder if this isn't Satan's power here on earth - to twist and distort scripture until pagan rituals are made to seem right.
Nowhere are we given permission to leave anything out, to eliminate commandments!
I like # 9 - remember Egypt. This is a commandment. How many "christians" even know what happened in Egypt? Most "churches" that I ever attended said that the Old Testament was no longer "valid". Or that there was no need to study the Old Testament. I sort of think that's completely wrong. How can we know what the new covenant is building on if we don't know what the old covenant is?
If there are FOUR commandments relating to the matter of the Sabbath, one would think that's pretty important. And in all honesty, I don't like the one that we are to work 6 days. I like just working 5 days. But I'm thinking maybe I'd better work on that 6th day.
And yes, you can say that these were given to the Jews who were under law, but since the Messiah refers to them, and since the new covenant only builds upon the old covenant, I am convinced that we are to live by all 16 of these commandments.
What if that's correct and you aren't following all 16 of them? Interesting, huh?
