What Are the Ten Commandments — Meaning Explained

Exodus 20:1-17 records the Ten Commandments, written by God's finger on stone tablets (Exodus 31:18). The first four govern the relationship with God: (1) No other gods before Me. (2) No graven images. (3) Do not take God's name in vain. (4) Remember the sabbath. The last six govern human relationships: (5) Honour thy father and mother. (6) Thou shalt not kill. (7) Thou shalt not commit adultery. (8) Thou shalt not steal. (9) Thou shalt not bear false witness. (10) Thou shalt not covet. Jesus summarized them: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart... Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' (Matthew 22:37-39). The commandments reveal God's character and expose human sinfulness — 'By the law is the knowledge of sin' (Romans 3:20). They cannot save but drive us to Christ: 'The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ' (Galatians 3:24). Jesus did not abolish the moral law but fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17) and wrote it on believers' hearts (Hebrews 8:10).