The Ten Commandments

A Basic Outline

I - You shall have no other gods before Me.

When the Sovereign God of the universe commands that, “You shall have no other gods before Me”, He is declaring that we know and acknowledge Him alone to be the only true God and that we worship Him and glorify Him. That we put our trust solely in Him as opposed to money, sex, fame, possessions, self esteem, friends etc.

We must worship and glorify God and God alone as He alone is the only true God.

II - You shall not make for yourself an idol.

When the All-Powerful God of the universe commands that, “You shall not make for yourself an idol”, He declares that we do not falsely represent Him either inwardly in our minds, or outwardly by the work of our hands. Any view of God that is opposed to how He reveals Himself in Scripture is idolatry.

We must never view God in a way that is different to the way He reveals Himself in the Bible.

III - You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

When the Holy God of the universe commands that, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain”, He is declaring that His Name is not to be profaned or abused in any way. His Name and all that His Name represents is to be upheld reverently in what proceeds out of our mouths and what proceeds out of our minds.

We must never misuse of abuse the Name or the Character of God.

IV - Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

When the Eternal God of the universe commands that we, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”, He reminds us that He has allowed us 6 days a week to conduct our own affairs and has reserved the 7 day a week is set aside to hear the Bible taught, fellowship with true believers, partake in communion and humble ourselves in prayer.

We must set aside one day each week for the specific purpose of knowing and glorifying God.

V - Honor your father and your mother.

When the Righteous God of the universe commands, “Honor your father and your mother”, He is declaring that we love, honor and obey our father and our mother. This command extends to all that are in authority over us, for it pleases God to have them govern us. We are to display reverence toward them in thought, word and deed.

We must love, honor and obey our parents because it is God who has placed us under their authority.

VI - You shall not murder.

When the Loving God of the universe commands that, “You shall not murder”, He teaches that He not only detests murder, but the causes of murder also: envy, hatred, anger, and bitterness, desire for revenge.

All these would be murder if they were allowed to follow their natural course.

VII - You shall not commit adultery.

When the All-Knowing God of the universe commands that, “You shall not commit adultery”, He is forbidding all impure and all immoral actions, gestures, words, thoughts, desires and whatever can stir up that impurity in others. He views lust as adultery played out in our hearts before Him.

God views all impure and immoral desires, gestures, thoughts, words and deeds as perversion.

VIII - You shall not steal.

When the Just God of the universe commands that, “You shall not steal”, He is forbidding all unjust and sinful ways of taking from or withholding from anyone what is rightfully belongs to them.

We must never take from someone or keep from someone what is rightfully belongs to them.

IX - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

When the Gracious God of the universe commands that, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour”, He commands that we stand up for the truth and speak the truth. He commands the preserving and promoting of truth.

We must never deceive others with lies, white lies, half truths but rather we must speak and promote the truth.

X - You shall not covet.

When the Creator God of the universe commands that, “You shall not covet”, He teaches contentment in our own circumstances as opposed to envying and grieving over what others have.

We must never jealously desire what others have, but show contentment with what God has given us.