The Ten Commandments: Difference between revisions

[[file:MCC-31231 Mozes toont de wetstafelen (1).tif |thumb| 270px |A painting depicting Moses and the Ten Commandments: Katarina Monastery Museum Collection in the Netherlands.]]

The '''Ten Commandments''' are the [[commandments of God]], spoken directly by [[God]] and inscribed on stone tablets by His own hand. In the 15th century B.C., [[Moses]] ascended Mount Sinai on behalf of the Israelites and received the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments from God. The [[Old Covenant|old covenant]], which included the Ten Commandments, was fulfilled through the [[New Covenant|new covenant]] that [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]] established by shedding His blood on the [[cross]].  

The Ten Commandments (Hebrew: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, Greek: Decalogue) are known by various names, depending on their meaning. The Ten Commandments are also called the “two tablets of the Testimony” because they contain God’s holy will.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+16%3A34&version=NIV |title=Exodus 16:34 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+25%3A16&version=NIV |title=Exodus 25:16 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+31%3A18&version=NIV |title=Exodus 31:18 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Since the covenant was inscribed on stone tablets, they are referred to as the “terms of the covenant,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+34%3A28&version=NIV |title=Exodus 34:28 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> the “tablets of the covenant,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+9%3A9&version=NIV |title=Deuteronomy 9:9 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> or the “stone tablets of the covenant.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+9%3A4&version=NIV |title=Hebrews 9:4 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Given that the Old Testament law, including the Ten Commandments, was delivered through Moses, it is also known as the “[[The Law of Moses]].”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+2%3A3&version=NIV |title=1 Kings 2:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+7%3A23&version=NIV |title=John 7:23 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> In contrast to the [[New Covenant|new covenant]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+8%3A13&version=NIV |title=Hebrews 8:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> it is termed the “''[[Old Covenant|old covenant]]'',” “old command,” or “Old Testament Law.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202%3A7&version=NIV |title=1 John 2:7}}</ref> Additionally, it is sometimes referred to as the “letter” or the “written code.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A6&version=NIV |title=Romans 7:6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+3%3A7&version=NIV |title=2 Corinthians 3:7 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

:On the 40th day after the Israelites crossed the [[Red Sea]] following the [[Exodus]], Moses was called by God and ascended Mount Sinai.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A1-3&version=NIV |title=Exodus 19:1–3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Through Moses, God instructed the people to consecrate themselves for three days and wait.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A10-11&version=NIV |title=Exodus 19:10–11 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> On the third day, God descended upon Mount Sinai and, with a loud voice, proclaimed the Ten Commandments from within the fire before the entire assembly of Israelites.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A17-18&version=NIV |title=Exodus 19:17–18 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref name="Exodus20:1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A1&version=NIV |title=Exodus 20:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+5%3A22&version=NIV |title=Deuteronomy 5:22 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Terrified by the thunder, lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the smoking mountain, the people pleaded with Moses to speak to God on their behalf and relay His words to them instead.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A18-19&version=NIV |title=Exodus 20:18–19 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> After receiving all the statutes and ordinances, including instructions for the [[The Feasts of God|annual feasts in three times]], the people pledged to obey all the commands God had delivered through Moses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+24%3A3&version=NIV |title=Exodus 24:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

The full text of the Ten Commandments is recorded in two places in the [[Bible]]: [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 20 and Deuteronomy 5. In Exodus 20, the commandments begin with the phrase “And God spoke all these words,” while in [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] 5 it is listed as “the words of the [[Jehovah|LORD]].”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+5%3A5&version=NIV |title=Deuteronomy 5:5 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Although the wording differs slightly between the two accounts, the core message remains unchanged. The full text from Exodus 20 is as follows:<ref name="Exodus20:1" />