The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments form the moral and spiritual foundation of Christian life. They guide our relationship with God, with others, and with ourselves—calling us to love, justice, and integrity.

The Ten Commandments

Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me

Commands:

  • Faith, hope, love, and worship of God
  • Reverence for holy things
  • Prayer

Forbids:

  • Idolatry and superstition
  • Spiritism and tempting God
  • Sacrilege and false worship

Commands:

  • Reverence in speaking about God and holy things
  • The keeping of oaths and vows

Forbids:

  • Blasphemy
  • Irreverent use of God’s name
  • Speaking disrespectfully of holy things
  • False oaths
  • Breaking of vows

Commands:

  • Going to church on Sundays and holy days of obligation

Forbids:

  • Missing church through one’s own fault
  • Unnecessary servile work on Sundays and holy days of obligation

Commands:

  • Love, respect, and obedience on the part of children
  • Care on the part of parents for the spiritual and temporal welfare of their children
  • Obedience to civil and religious superiors

Forbids:

  • Hatred of parents and superiors
  • Disrespect
  • Disobedience

Commands:

  • Safeguarding one’s own life and bodily welfare
  • Safeguarding the life and bodily welfare of others

Forbids:

  • Unjust killing
  • Suicide
  • Abortion
  • Sterilization
  • Dueling
  • Endangering the life and limb of self or others

Commands:

  • Chastity in word and deed

Forbids:

  • Obscene speech
  • Impure actions alone or with others

Commands:

  • Respect for the property and rights of others
  • Paying just debts
  • Paying just wages to employees
  • Integrity in public office

Forbids:

  • Theft
  • Damage to the property of others
  • Not paying just debts
  • Not returning found or borrowed articles
  • Giving unjust measure or weight in selling
  • Not paying just wages
  • Bribery and graft
  • Cheating and fraud
  • Accepting stolen property
  • Not giving an honest day’s work for wages received
  • Breach of contract

Commands:

  • Truthfulness
  • Respect for the good name of others
  • Observance of secrecy when required

Forbids:

  • Lying
  • Injury to the good name of others
  • Slander
  • Tale bearing
  • Rash judgment
  • Contemptuous speech
  • Violation of secrecy

Commands:

  • Purity in thought

Forbids:

  • Wilful impure thoughts and desires

Commands:

  • Respect for the rights of others

Forbids:

  • Desire to take, keep, or damage the property of others

The Seven Deadly Sins

Pause & Reflect

The Commandments are not restrictions meant to limit freedom, but guides that shape a life rooted in love, responsibility and respect

The Greatest Commandment

When someone asked Jesus which commandment in the Law is the greatest, He replied:

“You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

This is the greatest and first commandment.
The second is:

“You shall love your neighbour as I have loved you.”