What are the Ten Commandments?

They are instructions from God for leading a godly life, teaching us right from wrong regarding our relationships with God and those around us.

(1st Commandment, Exodus 20:3, NLT)
“You must not have any other god but Me.” This means God should always be FIRST in our hearts and lives, and we should only worship Him.

(2nd Commandment, Exodus 20:4, NLT)
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind…” This does not only mean worshiping a physical idol, like a statue. An idol can be considered anything that would take our focus away from God.

(3rd Commandment, Exodus 20:7, NLT)
“You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God…” Since God is holy, we should keep His name holy, and not use it in careless ways that show disrespect to Him or His character.

(4th Commandment, Exodus 20:8, KJV)
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy…” For the Israelites, Saturday was the sabbath day to stop working, rest, and think about God. For Christians today, Sunday is typically a day for worshiping God and considering the “rest” and peace we find in following Jesus. However, we should take time to worship God regularly, not just on one day.

(5th Commandment, Exodus 20:12, NLT)
“Honor your father and mother…” Most parents do a lot for their children. God wants us to recognize this and show our appreciation for their love and care.

(6th Commandment, Exodus 20:13, NKJ)
“You shall not murder.” Most of us would not think of harming someone, let alone killing them. Jesus took this rule even further and said a person who hates another is also a murderer. (See 1 John 3:15) Let’s be careful about how we treat and think about others!

(7th Commandment, Exodus 20:14, NKJ)
“You shall not commit adultery…” We should be faithful and loyal to our husbands and wives if we are married. God expects us to keep our commitments.

(8th Commandment, Exodus 20:15, NKJ)
“You shall not steal.” We should never take anything that doesn’t belong to us.

(9th Commandment, Exodus 20:16, NLT)
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” Our “neighbor” means everyone around us. We should never lie or gossip about others in order to get them in trouble.

(10th Commandment, Exodus 20:17, NKJ)
“You shall not covet…” To covet means to strongly want something that does not belong to us. Let’s instead be happy when others have good things, and also count our blessings, appreciating all that God has provided for us. In Hebrews, the Apostle Paul says, (13:5, NIV) “…be content with what you have,..”

So, what are the Ten Commandments? Instructions from God to teach us right from wrong regarding our relationships with God and those around us. Their basic, core values will always apply to our lives because they help us build a foundation for living a life that honors God.