THE TEN THE TEN COMMANDMENTSCOMMANDMENTS

Yesterday and TodayYesterday and Today

An eye for an eye An eye for an eye ……

In an attempt to deal with lawlessness, In an attempt to deal with lawlessness, people were carrying enforcement of people were carrying enforcement of laws and punishment too far. (in O.T. laws and punishment too far. (in O.T. times)times)

““An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth…An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth…” ”

NOT to NOT to increaseincrease punishment, but to punishment, but to LIMITLIMIT punishment. punishment. ONLYONLY an eye for an an eye for an eye, NOT an eye, NOT an ARMARM for a for a loaf of breadloaf of bread!!

The punishment must fit the crimeThe punishment must fit the crime..

Protestant Version vs. Catholic Version

Protestant version divides 1st commandment into two:

1. Put God before all

2. No false gods

– And combines last two into one:– Do not covet.

10 Commandments (Catholic Version)

1. No false gods.

2. Don’t use God’s name in vain.

3. Keep Sabbath

4. Honor parents

5. Don’t kill

6, No Adultery

7. Don’t steal

8. Don’t lie about another (give false witness).

9. Don’t covet neighbor’s wife.

10. Don’t covet neighbor’s goods.

Protestant 10 Commandments

1. One God

2. No false gods

3. Don’t use God’s name in vain

4. Keep Sabbath

5. Honor Parents

6. Don’t kill

7. No adultery

8. Don’t steal

9. Don’t give false witness (lie about another)

10. Don’t covet: another’s wife or goods

1. I am the Lord your God, you shall 1. I am the Lord your God, you shall place no other Gods before Me.place no other Gods before Me.

OLD TESTAMENTOLD TESTAMENT Implies Implies

“henotheism” “henotheism” rather than rather than monotheismmonotheism

Many Gods were Many Gods were worshippedworshipped

Place “Yahweh” Place “Yahweh” above all the above all the others.others.

NEW TESTAMENTNEW TESTAMENT

Prioritize ValuesPrioritize Values Be true to our Be true to our

deepest beliefsdeepest beliefs Can even apply to Can even apply to

an atheist!an atheist! Respect the Respect the

“things” of God as “things” of God as well.well.

2. You shall not take God’s name in vain.

OLD TESTAMENT

• Believed to invoke divine power which had powerful effects.

• Acceptable to use in cursing true enemies.

NEW TESTAMENT

• Have respect for God’s name.

• Avoid words that offend. (Words have MEANING!)

• Mean what you say!

3. Keep the Sabbath Day holy.

• OLD TESTAMENT

• Sabbath (Shabbat) = sundown Friday through sundown Saturday. (“seventh”)

• Day God “rested”

• NEW TESTAMENT

• Sabbath = Sunday (The day Jesus rose from the dead).

• Sunday Mass• Take time for God

4.Honor your mother and father.

OLD TESTAMENT

The Israelites were nomads

Patriarchs were leaders of tribe or clan.

Needed to maintain civilization

NEW TESTAMENT Honor includes: A. respectB. affectionC. gratitudeD. and commitment

to grow in love within the family.

5. You shall not kill.5. You shall not kill. OLD OLD

TESTAMENTTESTAMENTKill = murder Kill = murder

(unjustifiable (unjustifiable homicide)homicide)

One could kill in One could kill in self-defense.self-defense.

NEW NEW TESTAMENTTESTAMENT

Could also include: Could also include: murder, suicide, murder, suicide, euthanasia, war, euthanasia, war, abortion, hostage abortion, hostage taking, kidnapping, taking, kidnapping, terrorism, etc.terrorism, etc.

ALSO INCLUDES: Killing ALSO INCLUDES: Killing spiritually or emotionally spiritually or emotionally through anger.through anger.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

OLD TESTAMENT Matter of “justice” Violated

“property rights.” (women property of

husband)

NEW TESTAMENT Commitment to

the marriage by both parties.

Physical AND EMOTIONAL fidelity.

7. You shall not steal.

OLD TESTAMENT

Taking other’s property.

Especially -- the stealing of people!

(kidnapping)

NEW TESTAMENT

Taking property. Also: not to cheat, or

damage another’s property

AND: To be good caretakers

– (earth, animals, etc.)

8. You shall not give false 8. You shall not give false witness against your neighbor.witness against your neighbor.

OLD TESTAMENTOLD TESTAMENT

Critical to the Critical to the Hebrew’s legal Hebrew’s legal system: 2 people system: 2 people testifying against testifying against someone could put someone could put them to deaththem to death

NEW TESTAMENTNEW TESTAMENT

Perjury is wrong.Perjury is wrong. Also against: Also against:

dishonesty in dishonesty in general, gossip, general, gossip, slander, spreading slander, spreading rumors, etc.rumors, etc.

Respect for: Respect for: reputation, privacy, reputation, privacy, and personal and personal freedomfreedom

9. You shall not covet 9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s spouse.your neighbor’s spouse.

OLD TESTAMENTOLD TESTAMENT

Like the 7Like the 7thth commandment, it commandment, it is a matter of is a matter of “justice.”“justice.”

NEW TESTAMENTNEW TESTAMENT

Respect for the Respect for the love/relationship love/relationship in this marriage.in this marriage.

Rejects: moral Rejects: moral permissiveness permissiveness or an “or an “anything anything goesgoes” attitude.” attitude.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. OLD TESTAMENT

Stealing property, other than a neighbor’s spouse.

NEW TESTAMENT

Against attitudes of:

a. greed b. putting money

above other values

c. jealousy

Not resenting the good fortune of others.

““The commandments, ‘You shall not The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not

murder; You shall not steal; You murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’ and any other shall not covet’ and any other

commandment, are summed up in commandment, are summed up in this, ‘Love your neighbor as this, ‘Love your neighbor as

yourself.’”yourself.’”

Romans 13:9Romans 13:9

Quiz1. Explain the difference between

the Protestant version and the Catholic version of the 10 Commandments.

2. What number is the commandment to respect your parents

1. In the Catholic version

2. In the Protestant version

3. Why do we say that the first commandment implies that the Israelites were henotheistic rather than monotheistic. (define both terms in your answer).

4. What is the Old Testament meaning of the 5th Commandment. (Catholic version)

5. What is the New Testament meaning of the 5th commandment?

6. What was the attitude toward women in Old Testament times?

7. Name 2 traditions we have today, connected to marriage, that shows this (#6) ancient belief toward women?

8. Why was breaking the 8th commandment in OT times even more serious than it might be considered today?