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The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments are a set of Biblical principles relating to ethics (right vs. wrong) and worship that play a central role in Christianity and Judaism. The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Bible in the books Exodus and Deuteronomy. As you read, take notes on the values and priorities the commandments teach. [1]

And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not 1 bow down to them or worship them; for I, the "Austin State Capitol" is licensed under . Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

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You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 2

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. [10]

You shall not steal. ; 3

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 1. 2. 3.

Worship (verb): to honor a god or other deity Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, considered a holy day of rest. "False testimony" refers to a lie.

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You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in 5 smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” [15]

The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

The Ten Commandments by Unknown is in the public domain.

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Covet (verb): to want something that is not yours Moses is a major prophet in many religions, pertaining mostly to Judaism and Christianity. According to the Book of Exodus, Moses led the Hebrew people out of Egypt and to the Promised Land.

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Text-Dependent Questions Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences. 1.

How does the speaker describe God and the relationship with His followers? A. B. C. D.

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B. C. D.

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B. C. D.

[RI.5] [RI.2]

The first three commandments differ from the rest because they include punishments if not followed. The first three commandments all discuss the power and jealousy of God. The first three commandments all pertain to how to worship and honor God properly. The first three commandments differ from the rest because they discuss the image of God and How he must be portrayed in speech and art.

Why were the Israelites commanded not to work on a certain day? A.

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The speaker (God) describes Himself as a jealous god who will either punish or reward generations depending on if they follow His commandments. The speaker describes God as jealous and unpredictable, and that the best chance one has is to follow His commandments, despite it not being a guarantee of salvation. The speaker (God) describes Himself as merciful and forgiving of his people, even when they break or forget his commandments. The speaker describes God all-knowing and all-powerful, lurking in the darkness; yet the people are not frightened of Him and choose to follow God.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the first three commandments? A.

[RI.3]

[RI.3] [RI.2]

The Israelites were instructed not to work on the Sabbath, because God had a strong preference for worship over work. The Israelites were instructed not to work on the Sabbath, the day dedicated to only worship. The Israelites were instructed not to work on the Sabbath because to do so would be to claim to be better than God, who rested on the seventh day. The Israelites were instructed not to work on the Sabbath, the seventh day, reflecting God’s rest after six days of creation.

Do the Ten Commandments generally require people to take action or refrain from certain actions?

[RI.3] [RI.2]

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At the end of the passage, what do the Israelites’ reactions to the commandments reveal about how they view God? A. B. C. D.

[RI.6]

They are willing to follow His commandments; however, they clearly fear Him for they keep their distance. They are only willing to speak to God through Moses, indicating that they actually worship the prophet more than God. They keep their distance from Moses and God (in the mountain), revealing that they are not likely to keep the commandments. They happily promise to keep his Commandments, though they keep their distance so as to avoid having the fear of God put in them.

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Discussion Questions Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to share your original ideas in a class discussion. 1.

Some of our modern laws have similar principles to those found in the Ten Commandments. What elements of the Ten Commandments influence modern law?

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Are there some commandments that are less relevant in modern times? Explain your answer.

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How do moral codes emerge? Does every society need a written moral code? Explain your answer.

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In the context of this passage, what is “good” and “bad” and how do cultures decide this? Use evidence from this text, your own experience, and other art or literature in your answer.

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