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The 10 Commandments Explained for Today
The Enduring Relevance of God's Law
The Ten Commandments, delivered by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, stand as a foundational revelation of divine character and moral expectation. More than mere ancient rules, they are timeless principles that reflect God's holy nature and His desire for humanity to live in righteousness, peace, and order. While believers today are not under the Mosaic Law for salvation, these commandments remain profoundly relevant, serving as a mirror to reveal sin, a guide for righteous living in response to grace, and a testament to the unchanging will of God. They are not a path to earn salvation, but rather a standard by which the Holy Spirit convicts and guides those who have received Christ's redeeming work.
The First Commandment: No Other Gods Before Me
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
This commandment establishes the absolute sovereignty and uniqueness of the one true God. For today, it means that nothing—no person, no possession, no pursuit, no ideology—should ever take precedence over God in our hearts or lives. When we prioritize career, money, pleasure, self, or even family above Him, we create idols. True worship demands exclusive devotion, acknowledging Him as the supreme authority and source of all good, as Jesus affirmed: Matthew 4:10, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
The Second Commandment: No Graven Images
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
This commandment forbids the creation or worship of physical representations of God, or any created thing. God is Spirit (John 4:24) and cannot be confined or accurately depicted by human hands. For us, this means we must not reduce God to our own understanding or preferences, or worship Him in a way that is contrary to His revealed Word. It also warns against allowing anything to become an object of worship or ultimate trust, diverting our spiritual affection from the invisible, glorious God. Our worship must be in spirit and in truth.
The Third Commandment: Not Take the Lord's Name in Vain
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
This commandment goes beyond mere profanity. To "take the name of the LORD in vain" means to treat God's name—and by extension, His character, authority, and reputation—lightly, emptily, or falsely. This includes using His name as a curse word, making false oaths in His name, or claiming to represent Him while living a life contrary to His commands. It calls us to revere God's name, speaking it with respect and living a life that honours Him, as believers are called to be His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).
The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
While Christians are not bound by the Mosaic Law's specific Sabbath regulations, the principle of this commandment remains vital. It teaches us the importance of rest, worship, and setting aside dedicated time for God. Just as God rested after creation, we are to find spiritual rest in Christ (Matthew 11:28) and intentionally cease from our labours to focus on Him. This can involve regular corporate worship, personal devotion, and a rhythms of life that acknowledge God's sovereignty over our time and efforts, preventing work or busyness from becoming an idol.
The Fifth Commandment: Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
This commandment establishes the foundational principle of respect for authority, beginning within the family unit. Honouring parents means showing them respect, obedience (when appropriate), and care, even as adults. It is a command with promise, indicating that societal well-being is tied to the strength of family structures. For today, this extends to respecting legitimate authorities in society, such as government, employers, and church leaders, as they are ordained by God (Romans 13:1). It underscores the importance of order and submission to rightful authority.
The Sixth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Kill
Thou shalt not kill.
This commandment safeguards the sanctity of human life, which is created in God's image (Genesis 1:27). It prohibits unlawful taking of human life. Jesus expanded this understanding in Matthew 5:21-22, teaching that anger and hatred in the heart are tantamount to murder in God's eyes. For believers, this means cherishing and defending life, from conception to natural death, and actively pursuing reconciliation and love, rather than harbouring bitterness, malice, or destructive thoughts towards others.
The Seventh Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
This commandment protects the sanctity of marriage, which God instituted as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Adultery is a betrayal of this covenant and a violation of God's design for sexual intimacy. Jesus again deepened its meaning in Matthew 5:27-28, stating that lustful thoughts are a form of adultery in the heart. For today, this calls Christians to sexual purity, faithfulness in marriage, and guarding their hearts and minds against lust, pornography, and any form of sexual immorality. It upholds God's glorious design for sexuality within the confines of marriage.
The Eighth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Steal
Thou shalt not steal.
This commandment affirms the right to private property and demands honesty and integrity in all dealings. Stealing is taking what rightfully belongs to another. For today's believer, this extends beyond direct theft to include cheating, fraud, unjust business practices, exploitation, failing to pay debts, or even idleness that burdens others. It calls us to work diligently, to be honest in our finances, and to be generous with what God has entrusted to us, rather than accumulating wealth unjustly (Ephesians 4:28).
The Ninth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
This commandment emphasizes the importance of truthfulness, especially in matters that affect a person's reputation or justice. Bearing false witness includes lying, slander, gossip, perjury, and any form of deception that harms another or distorts the truth. As children of God, who is truth (John 14:6), we are called to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). This means being trustworthy in our words, defending the innocent, and refraining from spreading rumours or engaging in deceitful communication, whether online or offline.
The Tenth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Covet
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
This commandment strikes at the root of many sins: sinful desire. Coveting is an intense, unlawful desire for what belongs to another. Unlike the previous commandments which deal with outward actions, this one addresses the heart. For believers today, this means cultivating contentment with what God has provided (Hebrews 13:5) and guarding against envy, greed, and discontentment. It reminds us that sin begins in the heart, and that true righteousness involves purity of thought and motive, not just outward conformity.
Conclusion: The Law Fulfilled in Christ
The Ten Commandments reveal God's holy standard and our inability to perfectly meet it, thus pointing us to our desperate need for a Saviour (Galatians 3:24). Jesus Christ did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:17). Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, He met the demands of the Law on our behalf. For those who believe, salvation is by grace through faith, not by works of the law (Ephesians 2:8-9).
However, the Law remains a guide for righteous living, demonstrating God's character and His will for His people. As believers, the Holy Spirit enables us to walk in obedience, not out of compulsion to earn salvation, but out of love and gratitude for what Christ has done. The essence of the Law is encapsulated in love: "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10). By His grace, God writes His laws upon our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33), empowering us to live lives that honour Him and bless those around us, reflecting His glory in a broken world.
This article was generated by AI to serve as a helpful starting point for study. The Scriptures are always the ultimate guide. Explore them directly on our Study page.
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