The Ten Commandments are a set of rules given by God to the Israelites, found in the Bible in Exodus 20:1-17. These commandments are important because they show how God wants people to live and treat each other.
Receiving the Commandments
Bible Verse: Exodus 19:20
“The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up.”
God called Moses to the top of Mount Sinai. There, He gave Moses the Ten Commandments, written on two stone tablets, as a guide for how the Israelites should live.
The Ten Commandments
- No Other Gods
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
- This means that God should be the most important in our lives, and we shouldn’t worship anything else.
- No Idols
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:4-5
“You shall not make for yourself an image… You shall not bow down to them or worship them.”
- We shouldn’t make or worship idols, which are images or things that people sometimes treat as gods.
- Use God’s Name with Respect
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:7
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
- We should always speak God’s name with respect and not use it thoughtlessly or in bad ways.
- Remember the Sabbath Day
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:8-10
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
- This commandment tells us to rest on the seventh day of the week, just like God rested after creating the world.
- Honor Your Parents
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother.”
- We should respect and obey our parents, as they take care of and teach us.
- Do Not Murder
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:13
“You shall not murder.”
- This commandment teaches us the importance of respecting life.
- Be Faithful in Marriage
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:14
“You shall not commit adultery.”
- Married people should be loyal to each other.
- Do Not Steal
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:15
“You shall not steal.”
- Taking something that doesn’t belong to us is wrong.
- Do Not Lie
- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:16
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
- We should always tell the truth.
- Do Not Be Jealous of Others
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- Bible Verse: Exodus 20:17
“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.”
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- We shouldn’t be jealous or want what others have.