The Ten Commandments aren’t as clear and straightforward as you might think they would be. Due to this, there are many interpretations, some of which have been the subject of debate for centuries. In this post, we try to clear up 17 misunderstandings about them.
That There Is Only One God
As Christians, we’re meant to worship only one God – Yahweh. But this doesn’t mean that other gods don’t exist. The first commandment, ‘thou shalt have no other gods before me,’ acknowledges that there are other deities, so we can too! You only sin against God when you idolize these deities.
The Commandments Are Universal
When you compare Christianity and Judaism, you see that the numbering and even interpretation of the Ten Commandments differ, as Brittanica shares. For instance, the Jewish interpretations keep the command against covetousness (desire for wealth or possessions) as one law, while some Christian interpretations separate it as two – not coveting your neighbor’s wife and not coveting your neighbor’s property.
All Images are Considered Idols
There are debates about how to correctly interpret the commandment in Exodus 20:4-6, where God instructs believers not to make images of anything in heaven, on earth, or in the sea. While many say all images are sinful, the specific mention of ‘idols’ and ‘worship’ in the same verse means that God only rebukes the worship of these images.
Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain Refers Only to Swearing
Of course, swearing in the name of God on frivolous or sinful matters is taking His name in vain. However, it doesn’t stop here. You also take God’s name in vain when you use it deceitfully to get a favor from someone, to justify a bad deed, or simply don’t fulfill a promise on which you said God was your witness.
Honoring Your Father and Mother Only Applies to Children
Your father and mother don’t stop being so when you become an adult. And this means that God’s commandment to honor them applies to individuals of all ages. What’s more, beyond listening to their advice and respecting their decisions, the command extends to caring for them in old age.
“You Shall Not Murder” Applies to All Forms of Killing
Understand that the Bible makes a clear distinction between murder and killing. In the commandment “thou shalt not murder,” the word ‘ratzach’ was used and means “unlawful killing”. This is different from ‘harag,’ a word used to describe killing unintentionally or for self-defense. The Bible only sees ‘raztach’ as a sin punishable by death.
Adultery is Strictly a Physical Act
Many see only physical, intimate acts of infidelity as adultery. But this doesn’t acknowledge why the commandment exists in the first place. God intends to preserve the sanctity of marriage and the trust between two people united as one. BibleRef explains how we must also be loyal in our thoughts and emotional affairs.
Bearing False Witness Only Applies in Legal Settings
The concept of slander that God frowns upon doesn’t only apply to court matters; it covers even the most basic social interactions you engage in. Written in Exodus 20:16, the commandment calls out lies spread against “neighbors,” intending to promote honesty in all communities and any context.
Coveting Something is Harmless If It Doesn’t Lead to Action
Exodus 20:17 doesn’t tell us not to do things out of covetousness but commands that we don’t covet (desire) anything that’s our neighbor’s in the first place. We’re told not to envy or be discontent because of what other people have, and this tries to encourage gratitude for what God has provided us.
They Are Outdated and Irrelevant in Modern Society
The commandments in Exodus are one of the first sets of religious laws sent to humans as guidance from God. However, they are also repeated multiple times in the New Testament. This means they are timeless rules guiding human behavior, applicable as religious laws to us until our last generation.
Remembering the Sabbath Means Simply Not Working
The word ‘Sabbath’ can be translated literally to “rest,” as explained by Merriam-Webster. However, God doesn’t just tell us to observe the day of the Sabbath but says we should keep it a holy day as well. This means that it’s not enough to rest on Sundays; we should do more to dedicate it to the remembrance of God.
The Commandments Are a Complete Moral Code
Yes, the Ten Commandments have a special place among the Mosaic laws and every other law in the Old Testament. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean they’re the only divine rules to live by. For example, we have laws against gluttony that aren’t included, and laws on divorce that expand on some of the commandments.
They Promote Gender Inequality
Historical interpretations (and applications) of the commandments, especially those on adultery, have been unfavorable to women. But this is only the fault of human error. The commandments apply to everyone, regardless of gender, as we’re all seen as equal before God.
The Commandments Inhibit Personal Freedom
The Ten Commandments play the same role in our morality as the laws we have in our states and countries today. They provide us with a safe moral and spiritual environment by ensuring there’s a balance between our personal freedom and the rights of others.
Covetousness Is the Least Important of All
Many people believe that the commandments have been listed in their order of importance, and covetousness, being the last, is less important than the others. However, after reading James 2:10–26 from Bible.com, we can understand that if someone breaks any one law, they could break the others – “For the same one who said, ‘do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘do not commit murder.’”
They Are Exclusively Religious, Not Ethical
Although the Ten Commandments have immense religious significance in Christianity, they also provide a moral compass for human-to-human relations. We see that in many places, God instructs against offending our neighbors, establishing social norms essential for a stable and harmonious society.
There Are Two Groups of Commandments
Many also believe that the commandments came in two separate sets: the laws about God and the laws about humans. This is an incorrect way to look at them. Remember that David coveted his neighbor’s wife (a supposed sin against man), and God punished him, his family, and his entire kingdom for it.
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