In all religions there are what we understand as norms of behavior that are part of the daily life of the faithful. This is the case with the 10 commandments, a code of laws based on the Old and New Testaments that are part of the moral fabric of Christianity.
Surely most readers know, either by religion or by general culture, these commandments so important to Christians. However, it is essential not only to know what these commandments are, but also what they symbolize and what importance they have in the daily life of believers. Next, from a HOWTO, we invite you to know What are the 10 commandments and what meaning do they have.
The 10 commandments of the Catholic Church, also called “Decalogue” or “The 10 commandments of God”, refer to a behavior guide that, according to the believers, God revealed Moses on Mount Sinai. The Catholic Church recognizes these laws as a series of guidelines that mark the good conduct of all Christians, so that disobeying them implies moving away from the good path that has been entrusted to them.
It should be noted that among the faithful themselves there is some reluctance to say “commandments”, since they consider that God does not force them to do anythingInstead, he gives advice to Christians on how to live a good life. Likewise, the 10 commandments should not be confused with the five commandments of the Catholic Church, by which it is dictated:
- Go to mass on Sundays
- Confession of sins
- Commune
- Refrain from eating meat on the days indicated by the Church
- Help the Church in its needs
The ten commandments are divided into those referring to love towards God (which are the first three) and love towards one’s neighbor (which are the remaining seven). Each commandment alludes to concrete practices of daily life that the Christian must abide by and that we detail below in a HOW TO.
Following the order of the Decalogue of the Catholic Church, the 10 commandments are as follows:
You will love God above all things
This commandment is based on the belief that there is only one God, creator and almighty. Monotheistic religions such as Christianity recognize and venerate this figure as a Divinity that cannot be compared to anything or anyone and, therefore, is the only God to be worshiped.
You will not take God’s name in vain
The believer should never use God’s name to curse, blaspheme or swear. Sometimes his name is used in foul phrases, which is considered by Christianity to be an enormous lack of respect for the Creator. Furthermore, this commandment appeals that all actions of Christians in the name of God should contribute to glorifying his name.
You will sanctify the holidays
This point is very important for the daily practice of Christians, since it refers to breaks on the days designated for it. According to the Decalogue, believers will work six days and on the seventh they will rest and honor God. This also implies attend mass on Sundays.
You will honor your father and mother
One of the most relevant commandments of God today, as it refers to the daily practice of believers in their family and personal relationships. Parents are the base of the pyramid of a Christian’s life, as they are the first to educate them with love to follow the good path of God, which is why they deserve all respect and love.
You will not kill
Murder goes against the precepts of good behavior that God has dictated, so this act, as well as other acts of violence, are considered sin. It should be remembered that for Christians life is God’s most precious gift mortals, so it is not in our hands to take it from anyone.
Thou shalt not commit impure acts
This commandment appeals the sexual acts of persons outside of marriage and the disloyalty to the spouse. In the Catholic religion there are morally unacceptable behaviors related to sexuality, and this commandment is a clear example of this.
You will not steal
In Christianity, theft is harshly condemned, since it is based on the idea that the faithful who commit theft are not treating their brothers fairly. The same happens with the word, since Christians consider that promising something and not keeping it is inadmissible in the eyes of God.
No lies
The eighth commandment refers to the fact that we must be honest and not lie or bear false witness to benefit our own interest and / or harm others. Believers reject any kind of lie and try to live an honest and sincere life with themselves and with others.
You will not tolerate impure thoughts and desires
This command refers to the fact that the believer must not have negative thoughts and / or wishes against himself or other people, since even in private he must follow the right path. The ninth commandment refers especially to those thoughts related to sexuality and adultery, since as Matthew says in verses 5:28: “He who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
You shall not covet
The tenth commandment has a close relationship with greed and envy, since it does not refer to desiring needs but to envy other people’s possessions. We must not succumb to this evil, as it has dire consequences such as unhappiness, hatred and pride.
You may also be interested in this other article about How to explain the ten commandments so that they are easily understood.
The history of the 10 commandments goes back to the origins of the ancient people of Israel, when they fled the slavery to which they were condemned in Egypt.
According to the Bible, after a long journey of three months by the Hebrew people through Egypt, they arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai To take refuge. Moses, a prophet to whom God had revealed his word and who accompanied the Hebrew people, decided to climb to the top of the mountain to speak with the Creator. Once there, the prophet received the Tables of the Law, some mandates addressed to the Hebrew people that were shaped on two stones of the mount. These commandments were known as the Mosaic Law and their main function was to guide the Israelites on the right path and prepare them for the arrival of the messiah.
Later, and as we have already seen, in the Catholic religion these texts have had great importance, since these instructions are an essential guide for good Christian behavior today.
Do you want to test your religious knowledge? If so, don’t miss this other article from Biblical Questions with Answers.
