Why do you have the 10 commandments?

Answer 1

They are commandments direct from God himself for the benefit of mankind. They are guides to leading the sort of life all men, and women should lead. They cannot be altered in anyway to suit the whims of man, to do so will bring the wrath of God upon that man.

When one reads the commandments one must also read what they do not say. Take the commandment "Though shalt not commit adultery" does it not also mean "Though shalt not even think of committing adultery'?

Remember thought always precedes the deed. Originally given to Moses on Mt Sinai, and recorded in Genesis 20, the Ten Commandments were an important part of the Law given to Israel. As such, it is the heritage passed on to the Christian from the Old Testament, of which Christ had said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17. Most Bible-believing churches would agree that the intent of the Ten Commandments is still the guidance needed for the Christian today. James, speaking in context of the Ten commandments, upheld their importance: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10.

Answer 2

The Ten Commandments are the basic laws that one should live their life around. Everyone listens to the laws made by the police and the government. These are the laws of God and are more important. If everyone followed these commandments the world would really know peace. If no one killed, lied, or stole, and everyone loved each other, the world could live truly in God's light. God created these on a stone tablet to signify the importance of their words. He created them for the goodness of ourselves and of others. He wants us to be all that we can be and only wants the best for us. By following these, we can achieve all he dreamed and hoped for.

Answer 3

God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai so that His chosen people could live holy lives and glorify Him by following His commandments. The people were surrounded by foreign nations practicing adultery and idol worship, so God gave them the Ten Commandments so the Israelites could see wrong from right. Think of the Ten Commandments as a guide for getting into heaven.

Since then, the Ten Commandments have become a pillar of Western civilization. They have improved the conduct of billions of people; but because of His covenant with them (Exodus ch.24), God specifically honored the Israelites with being the nation which would be the ones to receive and treasure these Commandments (Exodus ch.19-20) until they had been absorbed by humanity in general.
These Commandments are so important that God revealed His presence to the entire Israelite nation when He spoke these Commands. And He inscribed them in stone (Deuteronomy ch.9); unlike the rest of the Torah, which He had Moses write (Deuteronomy 31:24).

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What would Western society look like without these Commandments?
1) "I am the Lord your God..." has shaped the Western beliefs about God. Pantheism and polytheism, which were excuses for immorality, are out.
2) The 7-day week, including a day of rest for everyone, is thanks to the Fourth Commandment.
3) Without the Fifth Commandment, society might still permit abandoning our aged parents to die.
4) Without the Sixth Commandment, we might still be killing our own children, as was done in Classical European nations until Judaism and its daughter-religions put a stop to it.
The above are just a few examples.

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And how do Jews live by the Commandments in our daily lives?
1) "I am the Lord your God" is our reminder to be aware of God constantly. The very first paragraph in the Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Arukh) reiterates this command.
2) "You shall not have other gods" means not to make anything other than God too important. Example: not to "worship the almighty dollar" or anything other than God.
3) "You shall not use God's name needlessly" teaches us to deal with God's names with the utmost reverence. Other than in prayer and reading the Tanakh, we don't pronounce any of God's names at all.
4) "Remember the Sabbath day": to learn the halakhot (laws) of Shabbat (Sabbath) and to prepare for the holy day properly (nice clothes, food ready, etc.). The Sabbath is a testimony to the Exodus and to the Creation of the world (Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14).
5) "Honor your father and mother": to do our best to honor and assist them; and to avoid being cheeky to them. No "generation gap" should be allowed to spoil family ties.
6) Do not kill: also hints at avoiding character assassination or endangering someone. Slander is forbidden in Judaism even when it's not untrue.
7) Do not commit adultery: flirting is playing with fire.
8) Do not steal: even a paperclip should not be filched.
9) Do not bear false witness.
10) Do not covet: to avoid jealousy and gazing longingly at what is not ours. To realize that the other fellow's possessions have been allotted to him by God.

ANOTHER ANSWER:

Some people are able to see significance in some numbers as they are used in The Bible. As for the TEN Commandments; at first glance the number TEN doesn't seem to be significant. But when queried by a young man as to "what he MUST DO" in order to have ETERNAL LIFE, Jesus broke the TEN Commandments down into TWO main themes: LOVE GOD and LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now TWO is a significant number in the Bible, in that, DUALITY runs throughout the Scriptures. For one thing, Jesus tells us that HE and His FATHER are ONE [John 10:30]. That is: as one in purpose, attitude and thinking... like a close father and son are devoted to one another with the disciplined son completely loyal and obedient to all of his father's wishes for the happiness and well-being for his children.

Jesus does NOT SAY that He and His Father and the Holy Spirit - THREE -- are ONE, as this deceived world teaches; but that they are TWO.

The Bible reveals that there are TWO BIRTHS [John 3:3], TWO DEATHS [Rev.2:11; 20:6 & 14], TWO RESURRECTIONS [Rev.20:5] inherent in God's plan for His creation, mankind.

A study of creation reveals that GOD MADE TWO SEXES [contrary to popular belief]. Take note that, barring certain birth defects or accidents, we each have TWO eyes, ears, arms, legs, hands, feet, etc..

The Bible is composed of TWO testaments. It reveals that there are TWO kinds of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding; God's and mans! [see I Cor.1:17-30]

But TEN isn't so readily significant, until Jesus breaks the Ten Commandments down into TWO categories. THEN we see the significance of TWO other numbers: THREE and SEVEN.

The first THREE Commandments pertain to MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY to his Creator - worshiping, respecting, and obeying HIM ONLY, which begins with OBEDIENCE TO HIS LAWS [since disobedience to them is what God tells us constitutes SIN - I John 3:4]!

The last SEVEN Commandments pertain to EACH MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY to LOVE AND RESPECT HIS FELLOW MAN:

"...'thou shalt Love the LORD thy God with ALL THY HEART, and with ALL THY SOUL [with your very mortal life], and with ALL THY MIND [your spirit], and with all thy strength: THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.

And the SECOND is like, namely this, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. There is none other Commandment greater than these...'" (Mark 12:30-31).

The significance of THREE and SEVEN throughout the Bible is evident, in that THREE signifies PERFECTION, and SEVEN signifies COMPLETENESS.

Most folks don't consider that the SEVEN-day week is the result of God's decree, and is not a natural measurement of time, like a 24 hour day is the result of one rotation of the earth in relation to the sun as observed from a fixed position on earth.

The physical creation of man was COMPLETED in SEVEN days. Although man was made on the sixth day, God established, blessed, and hallowed the SEVENTH-day to REMIND MAN every SEVENTH day to REMEMBER CREATION, which He COMPLETED in SEVEN days. God HALLOWED and BLESSED the SEVENTH day and COMMANDS all men everywhere to REMEMBER Him and creation... and to REMEMBER that man himself is CREATED... and not a cosmic evolutionary accident.

Oh... by the way... it's the FOURTH Commandment - which the world has FORGOTTEN to remember, as evident from its global teaching of the religion of evolution.

A number of other examples come to mind, but the use of THREE and SEVEN in the book of Revelation will suffice here. Throughout the book runs a thread of THREE sets of SEVENS: one set of SEVEN seals on the scroll, a second set of SEVEN trumpet plagues, and a third set of SEVEN final vial [or bowl] plagues poured out on the earth before Christ's ultimate return to earth in Revelation's chapter 19.

The significance of the THREE sets of SEVENS in the book of Revelation denotes the PERFECT COMPLETION of God's plan of Salvation for the earth and mankind.

So, why are there TEN Commandments? Well, the THREE Commandments pertaining to man's responsibility to God and the remaining SEVEN Commandments pertaining to man's responsibility to his fellow man add up to TEN!

The Ten Commandments are a PERFECTLY COMPLETE set of Laws listing MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY to the Creator as His CHILDREN!

If obeyed, they would result in PEACE and HARMONY on planet earth... along with the well-being of everyone.

"Hear therefore, O Israel [O mankind, wherever you live], and OBSERVE TO DO IT; that IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE, and that YE MAY INCREASE MIGHTILY... and THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, and WITH ALL THY SOUL, and WITH ALL THY MIGHT. And these Words, which I command thee this day, SHALL BE IN THINE HEART: and thou shalt TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UNTO THY CHILDREN..." (Deut.6:3-7).

The religions of this world don't know enough to teach that BREAKING God's PERFECTLY COMPLETE Law, the Ten Commandments, IS WHAT SIN IS:

"...SIN IS the transgression of the Law." (I John 3:4)

But God doesn't want them "hung on a wall"... but "written in our hearts!"

"For we know that THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL..." (Rom.4:14).

"For this is the covenant that I WILL MAKE... after those days [at the conclusion of God's plan]... I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MIND, and WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS... and they shall not teach... saying, 'Know the LORD': for ALL SHALL KNOW ME [not just Jews or so-called 'Christians'... but all of mankind], from the least to the greatest...'" (Heb.8:10-11).

A blind, Satan-deceived world [Rev.12:9] HATES LAWS of any kind. Human nature is SELFISH and REBELLIOUS to laws and authority, whether it's the laws of man or the laws of God. Man's nature says: 'Don't tell me what to do or how to live my life.'

That's why the government AND many of the denominations of so-called mainstream professing "Christianity" IGNORE both the Constitution of America and God's PERFECT Commandments. That's why America grows steadily LAWLESS with each passing day... drawing steadily toward its ultimate demise: lawlessness and anarchy when the false society we've made for ourselves, bowing to our vile nature which is subject to Satan's hatred of God, creation, and authority in general finally collapses.

God's TEN Commandments [WHEN OBEYED and when WRITTEN IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL MEN] are COMPLETELY PERFECT for global PEACE and HARMONY... that IT MIGHT GO WELL FOR US.

That's at least ONE REASON why there are TEN of them. THREE that focus on our responsibility to our Creator [Jesus Christ, who MADE ALL THINGS - see John 1:3 & Gen.1:3]... and SEVEN that focus on each of our responsibilities to one another: with THREE and SEVEN adding up to TEN!

Together all ten of them focus on our relationship to our Creator, because God reveals that when we treat each other with disdain, and disrespect, WE ARE ACTUALLY TREATING HIM THE SAME WAY!

It will all come out in the Judgment:

"...'For I was hungry, and you didn't feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give Me anything to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit Me.' Then they will reply, 'LORD, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?

And He will answer, 'I ASSURE YOU, when you refused to help THE LEAST OF THESE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU WERE REFUSING TO HELP ME.'" (Matt.25:42-46 NLT New Living Translation)

For what mankind needs to learn NOW in this "first taste" of Life Eternal: the TEN Commandments that God has revealed to us in His Word is COMPLETELY PERFECT in its construction and content.

As I said before: the PHYSICAL creation of man was COMPLETED on the SEVENTH DAY of the Genesis account -- but man's SPIRITUAL creation has been ongoing since then in God's, SEVEN-thousand year plan that's composed of six one-thousand-year days ending with Christ's one-thousand-year SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH DAY reign on earth.

Man needs to have God's SPIRITUAL LAWS "written in his heart and mind" in order to LIVE THEM"... and not merely hang a placard of them on a wall for our rebellious nature to complain about - or reject and otherwise remove them from sight as being "abominable religious teachings."

The COMPLETELY PERFECT Ten Commandments are the crux of what every man, woman and child throughout the generations of man NEED TO KNOW... and OBEY... to attain to Eternal Life:

"...'Good Master, what GOOD THING shall I DO, that I MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?'

And He [Jesus] said unto him, '...if thou wilt enter into Life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS...'" (Matt.19:16-17).

"Let us hear THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: Fear God, and KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS: for THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. For God shall bring EVERY WORK into JUDGMENT, with every secret thing, whether it be GOOD [keeping the Ten Commandments] or whether it be EVIL [sinning: breaking the Ten Commandments]."

The PERFECTLY COMPLETE Ten Commandments.

Answer 4

This question begs a very long answer, and gets to the heart of a discussion of ethics and morals. However, a short answer will at least get the ball rolling...

In the time of Moses the children of Israel did not have a moral code for right living. Moses is generally credited with creating the first 5 books of the Old Testament -- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deutoronomy -- and together those books make up a history and in essence a codified set of laws for right living. Principal among those laws are the 10 commandments.

Together, the commandments make up a short list of "DO" and "DO NOT" statements, which, taken together, provide a very simple way to live a moral and just life. Thus, the reason for keeping the 10 Commandments is simple: keeping the commandments (at laest to the best of one's ability) allows one to live a moral and just life.

It should be noted that Jesus neither refuted the 10 Commandments nor did He state the 10 Commandments were the only things a Christian needed to do.

Answer 5

The Ten Commandments are a pillar of Western civilization. They have improved the conduct of billions of people; but because of His covenant with them (Exodus ch.24), God specifically honored the Israelites with being the nation which would be the ones to receive and treasure the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.19-20) until they had been absorbed by humanity in general. These Commandments are so important that God revealed His presence to the entire Israelite nation when He spoke these Commands. And He inscribed them in stone (Deuteronomy ch.9); unlike the rest of the Torah, which He had Moses write (Deuteronomy 31:24).

See also the Related links.

• Link: Where are the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments?

Link: The Ten Commandments

Link: How has the Hebrew Bible influenced Western society?

Link: What is the history of the Hebrew Bible?

Answer 6

They created the ten commandments for us so we could start to behave and honour others and to worship God