What are the 10 Commandments?
Introduction:
You may not know much about the Bible, but you’ve probably at least heard about the 10 Commandments. In this article we will discuss the background of the commandments, when they were written, to whom they were written, and how they fit into the story of the Bible.
What are the 10 Commandments?
The 10 Commandments are a series of ten laws/commands that God gave to the nation of Israel. They were a moral code by which God wanted the Israelites to live. The 10 Commandments were the first of a much more comprehensive religious law which was given to the Israelites before they travelled to the land of Canaan and made it their home.
You can read the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS:
1. The Israelites were not to make idols.
2. They were not to worship other Gods.
3. They were not to take the Lord’s name in vain.
4. God’s Sabbath day laws were to be kept and respected.
5. Children were to honor their father and mother.
6. Murder was prohibited.
7. Adultery was forbidden.
8. Stealing was outlawed.
9. The Israelites were not to give false testimony (bear false witness).
10. The Israelites were not to covet their neighbor’s possessions.
Where were the 10 Commandments Written?
God sent 10 plagues on the nation of Egypt which resulted in the Israelites being released from Egyptian slavery. After receiving their freedom, Moses led the Israelites into the wildness to Mount Sinai. God spoke the 10 Commandments to Moses while at Mount Sinai. The 10 Commandments were written on 2 tablets of stone.
When were the 10 Commandments Written?
The Israelites were freed from slavery in approximately 1491 B.C. Moses spoke with God on Mount Sinai and received the 10 Commandments approximately 3 months later.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 10 Commandments:
Question 1: Are Christians required to follow the 10 Commandments today?
Answer 1: No, God’s law for the Israelites was not intended for all people for all time. It was a law specifically given to the Israelite nation. God never intended the 10 Commandments to be binding on 21st Century followers of Jesus.
Question 2: Were the 10 Commandments the entirety of God’s laws for the Israelites?
Answer 2: No, the 10 Commandments are only a small portion of the religious and civil laws God required the nation of Israel to follow. You can read about the other commands in books like Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.
Question 3: What was the Sabbath day?
Answer 3: God instituted a Sabbath day at the end of every week. The 7th day of the week was supposed to be a holy day of rest for the Israelites. They were not allowed to do any ordinary work on the Sabbath day. The week of an Israelite patterned God’s week of creation. God created the world in 6 days and rested the 7th (Exodus 20:11).
Question 4: What happened to the two tablets of stone on which the original 10 Commandments were written?
Answer 4: Moses put the 2 tablets of stone inside the Ark of the Covenant. The whereabouts of the tablets and the Ark of the Covenant are unknown today.
