The Ten Commandments, is a set of instructions given to the Israelites by God through Moses. In Hebrew it is actually translated to the Ten Words , or in the Greek it is Decalogue. They are seen as guidelines on moral behavior. The Decalogue appears in the Bible two times, first in Exodus 20:1-17. This is when God first tells Moses the Law and expectations of His people. In Exodus 31:18, God inscribed on two tablets the law and commandments. The second time the Decalogue is given is in Deuteronomy 5:4-20. Here the Commandments are being given to the younger generation; those who with inherit the Promised Land. The Ten Commandments have stood the test of time because they provide a universal and timeless standard of right and wrong. They are thought to …show more content…
According to Arnold & Beyer (2008), “the terms of the covenant were a result of God’s grace and love for his people… [and they] established His bond of intimate relationship with them” (p113). All the Commandments show God’s redeeming grace for His people, “He gave them His law in the context of His redemption” (Clowney, 2013, p. 106), and are a “positive expression of God’s will for His people” (Arnold & Beyer, 2008). Clowney (2013) writes,
The Ten Commandments begin with God’s description of Himself as the Redeemer of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery’ (Exodus 20:2). The great mistake of legalism is to detach the law of God from the God who gave it. (p 106)
God is making it known to His people that He is their God, who saved them and is worthy of their love, worship and praise. Clowney (2013) writes, “God’s commandments call His people to acknowledge Him as their Savior and Lord” (p107). The first commandment conveys the importance of His people accepting this reality and “governs the rest: ‘You shall have no other gods before me’” (Exodus 20:4) (Clowney, 2013, p.