The ten commandments are a fundamental summary of God’s law and in them we find the way in which God wants us to behave with him and with all those around us. We please God by obeying them. We should not see God’s commandments as restrictions or burdens but as a simple guide to know and remember the life that pleases him.
Let’s look at the commandments one by one and reflect on how to put them into practice.
The ten Commandments
1. You will have only one God
God, our Creator and Savior, does not share his lordship with anything or anyone. He is the only true God and only him should we worship and praise. No other thing or person should occupy the throne of our hearts. Our priority should always be spending time with God, listening to his voice, and doing his will.
How do we know for sure if God is our only God? Let’s look at how we spend our time and how we make our decisions. If we seek to please and obey God in everything and give him the best of ourselves, of our time and of our resources, then we can be sure that we have him as the only God.
2. You will not make idols
In addition to not having any other god or worshiping any object or person, we should not try to limit God to an image or physical form. What God created can show us his qualities as our Creator and Lord, but there is nothing physical that can totally define him or show us the fullness of what he is like.
God is unique, our finite mind cannot imagine his greatness or splendor. Let’s not try to box it into our human ideas of what it is like or what it looks like.
3. You will not use God’s name in vain
This commandment encompasses more than we can think. To begin with, it makes it clear that we should not use the name of God without carefully meditating what we are saying. There are many foul phrases in our society that show a huge lack of respect for God. We shouldn’t even consider saying them! Obviously, we are also not to curse, blaspheme, or swear in the name of God.
There are other types of phrases that use the name of God as an exclamation or to express the desire that something be fulfilled. We must also be very careful with these phrases and avoid them. God’s name must be praised and hallowed at all times (Matthew 6:9; Psalm 29:1-2). No matter how much society accepts him, God’s children must not give any other use to his name.
Another aspect of this commandment is to call ourselves Christians (which means little Christs, followers of Jesus) by tradition, but continue to live as we please. If we call ourselves Christians we must live in a way that is pleasing to God and seek that he be glorified through our actions. Otherwise, we are using his name in vain.
If we claim to have fellowship with him but live in darkness, we lie and do not put the truth into practice.
(1 John:6)
4. Remember the rest day
God cares about both our physical and spiritual health and that is why He calls us to take a day of rest each week. On that day, the Sabbath or Sabbath, we should rest from our jobs and honor God.
From the very beginning of creation, God gave importance to the Sabbath day. In Genesis 2:1-3 he says:
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all that is in them. When the seventh day arrived, God rested because he had finished the work that he had undertaken. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because on that day he rested from all his creative work.
(Genesis 2:1-3)
God sanctified the Sabbath day, set it apart as a day of rest, not because he needed it but to show us the importance of keeping it. The day of rest should be used to seek God’s presence and rest. We have the other days of the week to work, but the day of rest should be to recharge our batteries and seek the presence of God in a special way.
5. Honor your father and your mother
Those who focus on our relationships with others begin with this commandment. Our parents are the first important people in our lives and our survival in the early years depends on them. Although parents are imperfect (like all human beings), the commandment calls us to honor them and even gives us a promise if we keep it: we will enjoy long life.
As the years go by we grow up and lead independent lives, but the commandment does not end: we must honor our parents throughout our lives. What we learn at home forms the foundation of our relationship with each other and with God. If from childhood we give due honor or respect to our parents, as we grow older it will be easier for us to honor and respect others and God.
bible verses about family
6. Thou shalt not kill
God values our life from the moment of conception (Psalm 139:15-16) and in this commandment we are prohibited from ending the lives of people. God loves us greatly and his plan or desire for us is that we have abundant life and receive eternal life through Jesus (John 10:10; John 3:16).
However, this commandment has a broader implication. In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus says that it is not just about ending another person’s life but…
“…everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to the judgment of the court. Furthermore, anyone who insults his brother will be subject to judgment by the Council. And whoever curses him will be subject to hellfire.”
So in order to fulfill the commandment to its full extent we need to examine our hearts well and make sure we remove any anger or hatred against our brothers.
7. You shall not commit adultery
This commandment prohibits any married person from having a voluntary sexual relationship with someone other than their spouse. However, Jesus explained this commandment in an interesting way in Matthew 5:27-28. His words were:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that whoever looks at a woman and covets has already committed adultery with her in her heart.”
We see that adultery begins in the heart with the desire to have someone else instead of one’s spouse. Let’s take care of the heart! Let us be obedient to God, let us seek to strengthen our love and loyalty towards our spouse every day.
Learn more about what the Bible says about marriage.
8. You shall not steal
Here we are exhorted to respect the private property of others and not to try to take away what belongs to them. There are many other things we can steal from people, not just money and their possessions. In Leviticus 19:11-13 we see that the commandment refers to those things as well.
For example, if we try to deceive someone by promising something that we will not deliver, that is stealing because we are offering something that we will not give. We can also steal by not paying for a product or service, or by giving an unfair or less than deserved payment. Let us examine ourselves and seek to always act fairly when treating other people.
9. You will not bear false witness
God forbids all kinds of lies. We must not lie or slander seeking to benefit, defend or harm others. We must strive to be honest, seek justice and always walk in the truth.
Who, Lord, can dwell in your sanctuary? Who can live on your holy mountain? Only the one with impeccable conduct, who practices justice and speaks the truth from the heart; that he does not slander with his tongue, that he does not harm his neighbor or bring misfortune to his neighbor…
(Psalm 15:1-3)
10. You shall not covet
The tenth commandment focuses on our heart attitude and what is going on deep within us. To covet is to crave for something that belongs to someone else. By coveting we show dissatisfaction with what God has given us in life. Instead of thanking him for his blessings and goodness, we compare ourselves with others and find fault with what God has provided for us. How sad!
We see that this commandment links the other nine: dissatisfaction with what God has provided me leads me to desire to obtain what belongs to my neighbor. Therefore, we must strive to fill our hearts with gratitude and contentment for all that God has given us. As we focus on his goodness and love, on the salvation that he has granted us, there will be no room in our hearts for dissatisfaction.
It may seem difficult to keep the Ten Commandments at all times. However, it does not depend on our effort but on how filled we are with the love of God and the Holy Spirit. The more we fill ourselves with him, the more we want to please him and obey him.. Spend time with God every day, bring your burdens and struggles before him and he will give you the strength to remain faithful and glorify him in everything you do, feel and think.
Learn more about how we should treat other people
Look at 15 verses with blessings from God for those who obey him
Read the text of the 10 commandments in three different versions of the Bible