| What is the 11th commandment? What are the 10 commandments? |
| I suppose
we've all heard the jests about the Eleventh Commandment being "If you do
it, don't get caught!" or "Thou shall be found out!" But in truth there are
in the Scriptures many references to there being just the Ten Commandments.
There are a number of references in the different books of the Old
Testament, and these are in varying languages and translations, so there is
no one definitive final text. But see Exodus 20 : 2 - 17 and Deuteronomy 5 :
6 - 21 for examples. The books and learned interpretations written about the
Commandments are too numerous for words. So just to remind us, the Ten Commandments, known as the Decalogue, or the Ten Words, are as follows. In capitals the shorter version: 1. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD YOU SHALL NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make a graven image, or likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 2. YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VAIN. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 3. REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH DAY. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. 4. HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER. Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord God gives you. 5. YOU SHALL NOT KILL. You shall not kill. 6. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY You shall not commit adultery. 7. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL. You shall not steal. 8. YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOUR. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. 9. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOUR'S WIFE. You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant. 10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOUR'S GOODS. You shall not covet your neighbour's ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbour's. This code of ethical and moral behaviour has many echoes in differing cultures throughout history and is not confined to the Judaeo Christian traditions. Christians will be reminded of the episode in the time of Jesus, when he was asked, "Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?" Jesus said, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it. You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also." [ Matthew 23: 35 - 40 ] If I may add a personal thought. Family groups, neighbours and nations who follow the principles of the decalogue seemed to have prospered in having the benefit of a common set of values. While we may welcome the freedom of expression which is found today, and be ready to recognise human rights, there is also the thought that with every right comes a responsibility. In many respects this ancient decalogue captures the spirit of the Christian understanding that we should only do to others what we would like done to us. The two commandments of Jesus provide balance. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I hope, if at some length this answers the question as asked. Peter Harrison Pilgrim in faith Email: fisherpeteruk@yahoo.co.uk |