Religious interpretations Ten Commandments

1 religious interpretations

1.1 judaism

1.1.1 2 tablets
1.1.2 use in jewish ritual


1.2 samaritan
1.3 christianity

1.3.1 references in new testament
1.3.2 roman catholicism
1.3.3 orthodox
1.3.4 protestantism

1.3.4.1 lutheranism
1.3.4.2 reformed
1.3.4.3 methodist


1.3.5 church of jesus christ of latter-day saints


1.4 main points of interpretative difference

1.4.1 sabbath day
1.4.2 killing or murder
1.4.3 theft
1.4.4 idolatry
1.4.5 adultery

religious interpretations

the ten commandments concern matters of fundamental importance in judaism, christianity , islam: greatest obligation (to worship god), greatest injury person (murder), greatest injury family bonds (adultery), greatest injury commerce , law (bearing false witness), greatest inter-generational obligation (honour parents), greatest obligation community (truthfulness), greatest injury moveable property (theft).

the ten commandments written room varying interpretation, reflecting role summary of fundamental principles. not explicit or detailed rules or many other biblical laws , commandments, because provide guiding principles apply universally, across changing circumstances. not specify punishments violation. precise import must worked out in each separate situation.

the bible indicates special status of ten commandments among other torah laws in several ways:

they have uniquely terse style.
of biblical laws , commandments, ten commandments alone said have been written finger of god (exodus 31:18).
the stone tablets placed in ark of covenant (exodus 25:21, deuteronomy 10:2,5).

judaism

the ten commandments form basis of jewish law, stating god s universal , timeless standard of right , wrong – unlike rest of 613 commandments in torah, include, example, various duties , ceremonies such kashrut dietary laws, , unobservable rituals performed priests in holy temple. jewish tradition considers ten commandments theological basis rest of commandments; number of works, starting rabbi saadia gaon, have made groupings of commandments according links ten commandments.

the traditional rabbinical jewish belief observance of these commandments , other mitzvot required solely of jewish people , laws incumbent on humanity in general outlined in 7 noahide laws, several of overlap ten commandments. in era of sanhedrin transgressing 1 of 6 of ten commandments theoretically carried death penalty, exceptions being first commandment, honouring father , mother, saying god s name in vain, , coveting, though enforced due large number of stringent evidentiary requirements imposed oral law.

two tablets

the arrangement of commandments on 2 tablets interpreted in different ways in classical jewish tradition. rabbi hanina ben gamaliel says each tablet contained 5 commandments, sages ten on 1 tablet , ten on other , is, tablets duplicates. can compared diplomatic treaties of ancient near east, in copy made each party.

according talmud, compendium of traditional rabbinic jewish law, tradition, , interpretation, 1 interpretation of biblical verse tablets written on both sides , carving went through full thickness of tablets, yet miraculously legible both sides.

use in jewish ritual

the ten commandments on glass plate

the mishna records during period of second temple, ten commandments recited daily, before reading of shema yisrael (as preserved, example, in nash papyrus, hebrew manuscript fragment 150–100 bce found in egypt, containing version of ten commandments , beginning of shema); practice abolished in synagogues not give ammunition heretics claimed important part of jewish law, or dispute claim christians ten commandments handed down @ mount sinai rather whole torah.

in later centuries rabbis continued omit ten commandments daily liturgy in order prevent confusion among jews bound ten commandments, , not many other biblical , talmudic laws, such requirement observe holy days other sabbath.

today, ten commandments heard in synagogue 3 times year: come during readings of exodus , deuteronomy, , during festival of shavuot. exodus version read in parashat yitro around late january–february, , on festival of shavuot, , deuteronomy version in parashat va etchanan in august–september. in traditions, worshipers rise reading of ten commandments highlight special significance though many rabbis, including maimonides, have opposed custom since 1 may come think ten commandments more important rest of mitzvot.

in printed chumashim, in in manuscript form, ten commandments carry 2 sets of cantillation marks. ta elyon (upper accentuation), makes each commandment separate verse, used public torah reading, while ta tachton (lower accentuation), divides text verses of more length, used private reading or study. verse numbering in jewish bibles follows ta tachton. in jewish bibles references ten commandments therefore exodus 20:2–14 , deuteronomy 5:6–18.

samaritan

the samaritan pentateuch varies in ten commandments passages, both in samaritan deuteronomical version of passage closer in exodus, , in samaritans count 9 commandments others count ten. samaritan tenth commandment on sanctity of mount gerizim.

the text of samaritan tenth commandment follows:

and shall come pass when lord thy god bring thee land of canaanites whither thou goest take possession of it, thou shalt erect unto thee large stones, , thou shalt cover them lime, , thou shalt write upon stones words of law, , shall come pass when ye cross jordan, ye shall erect these stones command thee upon mount gerizim, , thou shalt build there altar unto lord thy god, altar of stones, , thou shalt not lift upon them iron, of perfect stones shalt thou build thine altar, , thou shalt bring upon burnt offerings lord thy god, , thou shalt sacrifice peace offerings, , thou shalt eat there , rejoice before lord thy god. mountain on other side of jordan @ end of road towards going down of sun in land of canaanites dwell in arabah facing gilgal close elon moreh facing shechem.

christianity

most traditions of christianity hold ten commandments have divine authority , continue valid, though have different interpretations , uses of them. apostolic constitutions, implore believers remember ten commands of god, reveal importance of decalogue in church. through of christian history decalogue considered summary of god s law , standard of behaviour, central christian life, piety, , worship.

references in new testament

during sermon on mount, jesus explicitly referenced prohibitions against murder , adultery. in matthew 19:16-19 jesus repeated 5 of ten commandments, followed commandment called second (matthew 22:34-40) after first , great commandment.

and, behold, 1 came , said unto him, master, thing shall do, may have eternal life? , said unto him, why callest thou me good? there none one, is, god: if thou wilt enter life, keep commandments. saith unto him, which? jesus said, thou shalt no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honour thy father , thy mother: and, thou shalt love thy neighbour thyself.

in epistle romans, paul apostle mentioned 5 of ten commandments , associated them neighbourly love commandment.

roman catholicism

in roman catholicism, jesus freed christians rest of jewish religious law, not obligation keep ten commandments. has been said moral order creation story natural order.

according catechism of catholic church—the official exposition of catholic church s christian beliefs—the commandments considered essential spiritual health , growth, , serve basis social justice. church teaching of commandments largely based on old , new testaments , writings of church fathers. in new testament, jesus acknowledged validity , instructed disciples go further, demanding righteousness exceeding of scribes , pharisees. summarized jesus 2 great commandments teach love of god , love of neighbour, instruct individuals on relationships both.

orthodox

the eastern orthodox church holds moral truths chiefly contained in ten commandments. confession begins confessor reciting ten commandments , asking penitent of them has broken.

protestantism

after rejecting roman catholic moral theology, giving more importance biblical law , gospel, protestant theologians continued take ten commandments starting point of christian moral life. different versions of christianity have varied in how have translated bare principles specifics make full christian ethic.

a christian school in india displays ten commandments


lutheranism

the lutheran division of commandments follows 1 established st. augustine, following current synagogue scribal division. first 3 commandments govern relationship between god , humans, fourth through eighth govern public relationships between people, , last 2 govern private thoughts. see luther s small catechism , large catechism.

reformed

the articles of church of england, revised , altered assembly of divines, @ westminster, in year 1643 state no christian man whatsoever free obedience of commandments called moral. moral law, understand ten commandments taken in full extent. westminster confession, held presbyterian churches, holds moral law contained in ten commandments forever bind all, justified persons others, obedience thereof .

methodist

the moral law contained in ten commandments, according founder of methodist movement john wesley, instituted beginning of world , written on hearts of people. reformed view, wesley held moral law, contained in ten commandments, stands today:

every part of law must remain in force upon mankind in ages, not depending either on time or place, nor on other circumstances liable change; on nature of god , nature of man, , unchangeable relation each other (wesley s sermons, vol. i, sermon 25).

in keeping wesleyan covenant theology, while ceremonial law abolished in christ , whole mosaic dispensation concluded upon appearance of christ, moral law remains vital component of covenant of grace, having christ perfecting end. such, in methodism, important aspect of pursuit of sanctification careful following of ten commandments.

the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints

according church of jesus christ of latter-day saints (lds) doctrine, jesus completed rather rejected mosaic law. ten commandments considered eternal gospel principles necessary exaltation. appear in book of mosiah 12:34–36, 13:15–16, 13:21–24 , doctrine , covenants. according book of mosiah, prophet named abinadi taught ten commandments in court of king noah , martyred righteousness. abinadi knew ten commandments brass plates.

in october 2010 address, lds president , prophet thomas s. monson taught ten commandments that—commandments. not suggestions.

the strangite denomination has different views of decalogue.

main points of interpretative difference
sabbath day

all abrahamic religions observe weekly day of rest, called sabbath, although actual day of week ranges friday in islam, saturday in judaism (both reckoned dusk dusk), , sunday, midnight midnight, in christianity. sabbath in christianity day of rest work, dedicated religious observance, derived biblical sabbath. non-sabbatarianism principle of christian liberty being bound physical sabbath observance. dictionaries provide both first-day , seventh-day definitions sabbath , sabbatarian , among other related uses.

observing sabbath on sunday, day of resurrection, gradually became dominant christian practice jewish-roman wars onward. church s general repudiation of jewish practices during period apparent in council of laodicea (4th century ad) canons 37–38 state: not lawful receive portions sent feasts of jews or heretics, nor feast them , not lawful receive unleavened bread jews, nor partakers of impiety . canon 29 of laodicean council refers sabbath: christians must not judaize resting on [jewish] sabbath, must work on day, rather honouring lord s day; and, if can, resting christians. if shall found judaizers, let them anathema christ.

killing or murder


the sixth commandment, translated book of common prayer (1549).

the image altar screen of temple church near law courts in london.

multiple translations exist of fifth/sixth commandment; hebrew words לא תרצח‎ (lo tirtzach) variously translated thou shalt not kill or thou shalt not murder .

the imperative against unlawful killing resulting in bloodguilt. hebrew bible contains numerous prohibitions against unlawful killing, not prohibit killing in context of warfare (1kings 2:5–6), capital punishment (leviticus 20:9–16) , self-defence (exodus 22:2–3), considered justified. new testament in agreement murder grave moral evil, , references old testament view of bloodguilt.

theft

some academic theologians, including german old testament scholar albrecht alt: das verbot des diebstahls im dekalog (1953), suggest commandment translated thou shalt not steal intended against stealing people—against abductions , slavery, in agreement talmudic interpretation of statement thou shalt not kidnap (sanhedrin 86a).

idolatry

idolatry forbidden in abrahamic religions. in judaism there prohibition against worshipping idol or representation of god, there no restriction on art or simple depictions. islam has stronger prohibition, banning representations of god, , in cases of muhammad, humans and, in interpretations, living creature.

in christianity s earliest centuries, christians had informally adorned homes , places of worship images of christ , saints, others thought inappropriate. no church council had ruled on whether such practices constituted idolatry. controversy reached crisis level in 8th century, during period of iconoclasm: smashing of icons.

in 726 emperor leo iii ordered images removed churches; in 730 council forbade veneration of images, citing second commandment; in 787 seventh ecumenical council reversed preceding rulings, condemning iconoclasm , sanctioning veneration of images; in 815 leo v called yet council, reinstated iconoclasm; in 843 empress theodora again reinstated veneration of icons. settled matter until protestant reformation, when john calvin declared ruling of seventh ecumenical council emanated satan . protestant iconoclasts @ time destroyed statues, pictures, stained glass, , artistic masterpieces.

the eastern orthodox church celebrates theodora s restoration of icons every year on first sunday of great lent. eastern orthodox tradition teaches while images of god, father, remain prohibited, depictions of jesus incarnation of god visible human permissible. emphasize theological importance of incarnation, orthodox church encourages use of icons in church , private devotions, prefers two-dimensional depiction reminder of theological aspect. icons depict spiritual dimension of subject rather attempting naturalistic portrayal. in modern use (usually result of roman catholic influence), more naturalistic images , images of father, however, appear in orthodox churches, statues, i.e. three-dimensional depictions, continue banned.

the roman catholic church holds 1 may build , use likenesses , long object not worshipped. many roman catholic churches , services feature images; feature statues. roman catholics, practice understood fulfilling second commandment, understand these images not being worshipped.

some protestants picture jesus in human form, while refusing make image of god or jesus in heaven.

strict amish people forbid sort of image, such photographs.

adultery

originally commandment forbade male israelites having sexual intercourse wife of israelite; prohibition did not extend own slaves. sexual intercourse between israelite man, married or not, , woman neither married nor betrothed not considered adultery. concept of adultery stems economic aspect of israelite marriage whereby husband has exclusive right wife, whereas wife, husband s possession, did not have exclusive right husband.