The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments, taken from the Hearings (primarily Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:4–21), are followed by constitutional and ethical codes in many traditions. Each commandment contains grounds for judgment that reflect principles of integrity, fairness, and accountability. 1 . “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Reason for judgment: - Idolatry, or placing other entities of God above the congregation’s devotion to the source of purity and morality. - It represents disloyalty and spiritual unfaithfulness. 2 . “You shall not make yourself a graven image.” Reason for judgment: - Rejection of idols reflects a change of essence and interferes with belief in the Creator’s invisibility to physical objects. - It is a denial of God’s sovereignty. 3 . “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Grounds for condemnation: - Using God’s name is disrespectful, disrespectful, and dishonest in regard to sacred truths. - It demeans divine authority. 4 . “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.“ Grounds for condemnation: - Not observing the Sabbath shows disregard for spiritual rest and fellowship with God. - It reflects disobedience to divine order and lack of gratitude for creativity. 5 . “Honor your father and your mother.“ Grounds for condemnation: - Disrespect for the foundations of the family structure and the basic unit of society. - This, incidentally, is ingratitude and undermines respect for authority. 6 . “Thou shalt not kill.“ Grounds for condemnation: - Taking an innocent life is an insult to the sanctity of life, since life is considered sacred and given by God. - It results in disregard for the intrinsic value of others. 7 . “You shall not commit adultery.“ Basis for condemnation: - Adultery violates the bond of brotherhood, betrays trust, and distorts the sincerity of faithful relationships. - It often leads to social and interpersonal harm. 8. “You shall not steal.“ Basis for condemnation: - Stealing violates trust between people and infringes on the rights of others. - It shows a lack of honesty and an eye to justice. 9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.“ Basis for condemnation: - Lying or slandering distorts the importance of something that leads to injustice and harms relationships. - It undermines trust and creates division. 10. “You shall not covet.“ Basis for condemnation: - Economic greed, dependency, and discontent that can lead to destructive actions. - It shows a lack of gratitude for your blessings and a disturbance of your inner peace.