The Ten Commandments - A Way to Life
While commonly referred to as the "Ten Commandments," the original Hebrew texts in Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 5 refer to them as Aseret Devarim—literally translating to "Ten Words," "Utterances," or "Principles".
God's Direct Voice: Unlike other historical laws relayed through Moses, these ten principles were spoken by God’s own voice directly to the people of Israel at Sinai, causing them to fear and marvel at His presence.
Revealing His Name: At Sinai, God specifically revealed His personal name (YHWH) to the people, initiating a covenant built on mutual identity and relationship.
The division of the Ten Commandments across two stone tablets reflects two essential dimensions of human life:
Tablet 1: Relationship with Creator & creators
Tablet 2: Relationship with Peers & Community
In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles consistently affirm these moral foundations. When asked which commandment was the greatest in Mark 12, Jesus summarised the law into two primary principles:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:4–5).
Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18).
Rather than abolishing these principles, Christ demonstrated that genuine obedience comes from a heart of love rather than rigid obligation. As recorded in John 14:23: "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."