What are the 10 Commandments?

Write them down with your partner.

• 1 God • 2’s misused • 3’s on your knees• 4 front door• 5’s alive, • 6’s stray• Sticky 7’s• 8’s tell tales• 9’s him & hers• 10’s want more

1. Worship one God2. Do not take God’s name in

vain3. Keep the Sabbath day holy4. Honour your father and

mother5. Do not kill6. Do not commit adultery7. Do not steal8. Do not bear false witness/

lie about others9. Do not desire another

man’s wife10. Do not envy your

neighbour’s goods

The Torah

To define key terms

To explain the difference between the written and Oral Torah

To evaluate the importance of the Oral Torah

1. Follow the colours of the rainbow (ROYGBIV) to put the info about the Torah in the right order, and write it out.

2. What is the difference between the written and the Oral Torah?

**Why would having the Oral Torah be important?

Torah means “law”

What Moses wrote (The written Torah) is in the first 5 books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Numbers)

When Moses went up the mountain, he was given the 10 Commandments on tablets of stone.

People needed explanations about how to follow Gods’ instructions. The Pharisees taught how to follow the law. This was passed on orally = the Oral Torah.

For Jews, the Torah is the word of God. There is nothing more important than keeping the Torah.

God also told Moses many other instructions. This was written down = the written Torah.

Pharisees taught and followed the written and oral Torah very carefully because they believed it would bring the Messiah down to earth.

God said “do not steal”. But this rule is not entirely clear. What should we do in these situations ??

What about damaging

property? Is that stealing?

How long can I borrow

something without

repaying?

What if that person is dead? Is

that stealing?

What about charging a

slightly higher fee?

The Oral Torah expands on the Written Torah – it gives more instructions about what you should do – as decided by the Pharisees.

The 613 Laws (Mitzvots)

There are 613 laws of Moses – instructions God gave to Moses when He gave him the 10 Commandments. These

are the written law. The laws are called mitzvots. We the Pharisees developed the Oral Law to explain how

you should keep the Mitzvots, in case you are unsure.

1. Explain what the Mitzvots are

2. Give 2 examples of Mitzvots

3. Using one of your examples of a Mitzvot, explain why the Oral Torah would be needed (PEE)

**What could be a problem of having so many mitzvots? Examples of 613 Mitvots:

• Marriage Mitzvots how to get engaged, divorced, divorce settlements, people Jews were forbidden to marry, BUT WHAT SHOULD THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY BE LIKE? Oral Law explains this.

• Justice and Property Mitzvots – about inheritance , injury, compensation and revenge “an eye for an eye”. BUT WHAT IF SOMEONE BLINDS YOU ACCIDENTALLY? Oral Law explains this.

• Prayer Mitzvots: you should wear on your body the saying that God is the Only God. BUT HOW? Oral Law explains this.

• Sacrifice Mitzvots: how and when sacrifices should be offered to God in the Temple. BUT WHICH SACRIFICES ARE APPROPRIATE? Oral Law explains this.

Summary• Torah means…• It is believed to have been given to ….• It was written down became the ..……..Torah • It consists of 613……...(laws)• The Oral Torah explains how to …• The Pharisees taught the …….. Torah

The Law: was it a good things to have or not?

I can’t keep all these Laws – so I am condemned as a

sinner !

I’m so hung up & perfect about

keeping all 613 Mitzvots, I

haven’t got time to be a nice

person !

There were some rather odd “mitzvots” as well…

Using the cartoon, explain why the following the Law actually did NOT please God.

Master, please heal

me !!

He’s healing the sick! On the Sabbath!

The Law says you must rest!

Healing on the Sabbath

He is not a good Jew!

HW• Summarise the story of the

Pharisee and the Tax Collector in your own words

• Explain what was wrong about the Pharisee’s attitude.

• Explain what pleased Jesus about the Tax Collector’s attitude.

• Do you agree with Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisee ?