CLVED 4 - last quarter

• As human beings, we tend to control. We are too obsessed that often, it leads to anxiety and frustration. We always thought we could control everything, but reality will always make us realize we are mistaken.
• Reality also teaches us that the universe has its own flow. When we accept that we are part and not above the scheme of things. Our anxieties and frustration will be reduced, and we will be at peace.
• Such realizations or principles henceforth becomes our guide in our journey; they are treasures of great value.
• The Israelites also had principles that guided them throughout their history. These guidelines have directed their lives and society.
• The Decalogue


  The Ten Commandments and God's Covenant with his people
• The Ten Commandments


  • Discusses the relevance and efficacy of the Ten Commandments
  • Realizes his or her responsibility to follow each Commandment
• The Ten Commandments did not "come" from heaven as presented in the films or other story books.
• Aseret Hadevarim


  Literally translates as "ten words, ten things, ten statements, or description"
• The word "Aseret Hadevarim" was translated into Greek by Jews in Alexandria, hence the word "deka logoi" which is the origin of the word Decalogue.
• Later on the term "Aseret Hadevarim" was recasted into "Aseret Hadibrot" which means "ten revealed words"
• The term "commandments" created unnecessary argumentation. According to Elie Munk, the divine laws are not "commandments"(mitzvah), for the term suggests that there should be followers for a command to impose its influence.
• The Divine Laws, whether obeyed or not, remain an immutable and immortal set of precepts for the model society Israel was intended to become despite their modifications.
• The "Decalogue" is written as follows

  • I am Yahweh
  • You shall have no other gods before me
  • You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain
  • Remember to keep holy the sabbath
  • Honor your father and your mother
  • You shall not kill
  • You shall not commit adultery
  • You shall not steal
  • You shall not bear false witness
  • You shall not covet
• The "Aseret Hadevarim"


  • Brief and succinct
  • In their biblical form, they are blunt, dogmatic, and straightforward
  • The number ten has both a mathematical and a symbolic significance
• The Ten Commandments are the "ten words," the touchstone and foundation of the covenant
• The Ten Commandments reflect the essential character of God. God's mighty act of deliverance from Egypt called forth an immediate ethical response from God's people.
• For the Hebrews, worship and behavior were never separated.
• The forbidding tone of the Commandments sets the outer limits of the covenant. To transgress these limits would banish the offender from the established life of the covenant people. Overstepping these boundaries was not just a misdemeanor; it broke the essence of the divine-human relationship.
• According to Jesus, the Decalogue could be summarized into two

  • Love for God
  • Love for Neighbor
• The Principles underlying the 10 commandments

  • Focused on the basic and fundamental values of life and good relationship with others
  • How to maintain these good conditions for the human person
• Dimension of the Commandments

  • Towards God
  • Towards our Neighbor
• There are three versions of the "Aseret Hadevarim"


  • Exodus 20:2–17
  • Deuteronomy 5:6–21
  • "Ritual Decalogue" of Exodus 34:11–26
• Exodus 20:1-11 – the first 4 commandments


  • 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 bow down to them or worship them
  • You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
  • Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
• Exodus 20:12-20 -- full wording of the last six of the Ten Commandments


  • Honor your father and your mother
  • You shall not murder
  • You shall not commit adultery
  • You shall not steal
  • You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
  • 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
• Deuteronomy 5:6–21 (another version of the Decalogue)

  • 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 bow down to them or worship them
  • You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
  • Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
  • Honor your father and your mother
  • You shall not murder
  • You shall not commit adultery
  • You shall not steal
  • You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
  • You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor
• "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" - Exodus 20:2
• Yahweh's name represents his character as the one true God who rescued Israel from bondage in Egypt.
• "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
• This commandment is aimed at honoring God and acknowledging His role as the Creator.
• It emphasizes the importance of setting aside one day a week for rest and worship.
• The Fourth Commandment instructs to "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
• The fifth through tenth commandments deal with how we treat others.
• The first four commandments focus on our relationship with God.
• The second commandment is about idolatry and prohibits creating images of God or any object that can be used as a substitute for him.
• The Ten Commandments were given as part of the covenant between God and Israel at Mount Sinai.
• The Sabbath Day was established as a reminder of God's creation and deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
• God wants us to honor our parents because they are responsible for bringing us into this world and raising us.
• These commands are about our relationships with other people.
• The Sabbath was established by God as a sign between Himself and His people (Exodus 31:16-17).
• These commands are about our relationships with other people.