3 Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 164 See Also Exodus 18:20. 4
Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 166. 5 Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart,
...
Law – The Ten Commandments Introduction The Law is one of the important sections of the Hebrew Bible along with The Prophets and The Writings. The Pentateuch is often referred to as ‘The Law’.1 It does not have the same meaning as the English word ‘law’, but the Hebrew word ‘torah’ refers to ‘instruction for life’. Along with the Hebrews there were other civilisations such as the Sumerians, Akkadians and Assyrians who also had law codes in the ancient Near East.2 The Law gave the instruction for the life of the Hebrews and formed their ethics. I wish to explore the relevance of the Ten Commandments as given at Mount Sinai during the great exodus, to contemporary society. Background The Israelites were given over six hundred specific commands and they were expected to keep them all to show their loyalty to YHWH.3 The Law formed the basis for the covenant between YHWH and the Israelites.4 Parts of the Old Testament ethical law are retained in the New Testament.5 The Decalogue does not hold a complete list of instructions that by adhering to them would please YHWH; hence in this sense law stands as a paradigm.6 The Ten Commandments are categorised as apodictic law, the list of things to do or not to do.7 As portrayed in the Deuteronomic writing, “These words the LORD spoke with a loud voice to your whole assembly at the mountain, out of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, and he added no more”,8 there was something ‘self-contained’ and final about them. As the Ten Commandments were a binding covenant they also signified the will of YHWH for the Israel community.9 The Decalogue can be classed as a summary of expected and prohibited behaviour of the Israel community on the authority of YHWH by whose grace and power they were liberated and formed into a 1
Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 164 A2011F Lecture Notes – Law in the Old Testament 3 Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 164 See Also Exodus 18:20 4 Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 166 5 Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 168 6 Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 170 7 Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, 2003, Page 171 8 Deuteronomy 5:22, NRSV 9 Christopher J H Wright, 2004, Page 285 2
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new nation.10 Violation of these commandments would be considered a crime. As they set out the boundaries and obligations of the covenant, violation would be considered as crime against the Lord, the covenant and against the community.11 All offences punishable by death penalty are directly or indirectly connected to one of the Ten Commandments.12 The Decalogue The Decalogue became the constitution of the community and defined how it was to live its life.13 The first part of the commandments focused on the relationship with God and the second set of commandments were regarding the relationship amongst the people.14 The commandments written in Exodus and Deuteronomy do not generalise all communities but addresses a chosen community who enjoy a unique relationship status with YHWH.15 Obedience to YHWH takes precedence over obedience to humans. The only command that comes close to obeying humans was the fifth command calling to honour your father and mother. There was no reference to obeying the king. But as the king was considered as part of the community he was expected to obey YHWH.16 The Decalogue is at the core of the message portrayed in Deuteronomy. It is the foundation and the standard set by YHWH to form and nurture relationships.17 Even though it consists of a set of instructions to follow and to keep, it has a greater purpose than its legal function. It is a symbol of the love that YHWH has for his people, calling for his people to relate and respond likewise.18 The responsibility of the people in the covenant relationship with YHWH is to be absolutely faithful to YHWH.19 The warning is not to worship, follow or be influenced by the gods of their neighbours.20 The Israelites having wondered in the desert, may 10
Christopher J H Wright, 2004, Page 290 Christopher J H Wright, 2004, Page 291 12 Christopher J H Wright, 2004, Page 291 13 William P Brown, 2002, Page 57 14 William P Brown, 2002, Page 58 15 William P Brown, 2002, Page 58 16 William P Brown, 2002, Page 63 – 65, See Also Deuteronomy 17:18 - 20 17 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 149 18 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 150 19 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 151-152 20 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 152 11
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have been influenced by the Canaanite gods of fertility as the Israelites were expected to depend on agriculture initially.21 YHWH had proved Himself during the desert experience, hence they were expected to trust Him in the land of honey and milk too.22 Not God of the past but God of the future too. For the contemporary society this implies that our relationship to this one God should permeate every part of our life.23 The second commandment explicitly prohibits making or worshiping an image of God. God can only be described by the means of language. Neither can God be confined or limited to anything else in this world.24 The near eastern religions had idols but Israelites were forbidden from using them.25 Even today the Lord is known in our history, and nature, and experience but not confined to them.26 The next commandment deals with blasphemy and prohibits them from using the Lord’s name in vain.27 Today’s message for us would be that we cannot force God’s hands for selfish gains.28 The Sabbath day is for rest and worship, which further stresses the importance of relationship.29 The Sabbath is linked to the Lord’s Day and the resurrection of Jesus.30 Even though the day has been changed, the forth commandment can be applied to the Gentile Christian world.31 Children were told to honour their parents, to enjoy long life and prosperity in the land. This in turn will ensure continuous relationship between YHWH and His people.32 Honouring the parents would provide a framework for a stable family, which would build a healthy and sustainable nation.33 21
Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 152 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page152 23 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 153 24 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 153-154 25 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 154 26 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 155 27 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 155 28 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 155 29 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 156 30 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 158 31 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 158 32 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 158 33 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 159 22
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The sixth commandment prohibits murder. If we love our neighbour we will not harm them. Jesus explained the wider significance of this command.34 Love for our neighbour requires us to accept them as fellow humans created in the image of God.35 Adultery is prohibited in the seventh commandment. This commandment deals only with adultery. Other sexual sins are dealt with elsewhere in Deuteronomy. Adultery is given prominence in the Decalogue because it involves unfaithfulness.36 Faithfulness is paramount in a covenant relationship such as marriage. But we need to be aware of spiritual adultery too.37 At face value the eighth commandment may look like a simple prohibition of theft, but this could mean kidnapping, or selling humans for personal gain.38 In today’s society human trafficking, hijacking planes, conscripting child soldiers and manipulating other humans would all violate the eighth commandment. Any violation of freedom of another would violate this commandment, which in turn disrupts relationships.39 The ninth commandment prohibits giving false witness, which may or may not result in a miscarriage of justice.40 Once again this will lead to a breach of faith and trust resulting in broken relationships.41 The prohibition of coveting in the tenth commandment is primarily an issue of motivation.42 Commandments six to nine deal with a wrong and sinful action against our neighbours, but the tenth command deals with the desire which leads to these actions.43 Hence the reason that Jesus compares the desire as equal to the action and condemns it.44 34
Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 160 Also see Mark 5:21-22 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 160 36 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 160 37 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 161 38 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 161 39 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 161 40 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 162 41 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 162 42 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 163 43 Peter C Craigie, 1976, Page 163 44 Matthew 5:21-48 35
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The commandments facilitated the Israel society to progress from a state of disorder and slavery into order and freedom. However the Decalogue was interpreted. In reality it lays out guidelines, directions and parameters for the community to be formed.45 From the time the commandments were given at Sinai (Exodus account) to the period of recollection, (Deuteronomical record) the evidence for the growth and progress of Israel as a community can be witnessed. When people genuinely engage with each other in the moral community formed into existence by the commandments they have the potential to discover their true identity.46 Contemporary Relevance As opposed to some of the law codes of the Near East of the Old Testament times, Israel’s laws were given by YHWH to create and nurture a just society for its entire people regardless of their status.47 Evangelicals are often accused for not paying attention to social justice issues.48 But culture perceives that life lived in a good neighbourhood would be peaceful and a nightmare in a bad one.49 William Brown further says, “The commandments offer an inviting place to live, a locus for human existence that is defined in ways that makes the space and existence within its bounds desirable and good”.50 It would be ideal if a nation could mirror God’s passion for justice and impartiality. Generations have passed, but still the commandments given to an ancient civilisation continues to define a good neighbourhood, and the development of a community that appeals as a peaceful place to live.51 Carson takes it even further and says,
45
William P Brown, 2002, Page 66 William P Brown, 2002, Page 67 47 D A Carson, 1984, Page 203 48 D A Carson, 1984, Page 195 – 197 49 William P Brown, 2002, Page 55 50 William P Brown, 2002, Page 56 51 William P Brown, 2002, Page 56 46
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“Social legislation and rules for worship are juxtaposed in the Pentateuch to underscore the principle that God commands not only that people maintain a proper vertical relationship with himself, but also give due importance to their relationship with the creation and especially with their neighbours”.52 The Decalogue begins with ‘I am the Lord your God’53 and concludes with ‘your neighbour’54. Between those two statements a community is created through the covenant with YHWH.55 The Jews revered the Ten Commandments as it was believed to have been spoken and inscribed on stone by YHWH himself.56 Above the East entrance of the United States Supreme Court building there is a sculpture with Moses standing in the middle with two tablets in his hands. There are statues of others who have contributed to the development of law facing him. There are two others supposedly Confucius and Solon on either side of Moses facing forward like Moses. The tablets in the sculpture are blank. The office of the curator of the Supreme Court says ‘although inspired by the Ten Commandments they have come to symbolically represent the tablets of the law’.57 MacNeil the architect who sculptured the statues has this to say, “Law as an element of civilisation was normally and naturally derived or inherited in this country from former civilisations. The ‘Eastern Pediment’ of the Supreme Court building suggests therefore the treatment of such fundamental laws and precepts as are derived from the east”. Jesus summarised the whole law in response to the question asked by the scribe, ‘which commandment is the first of all?’58 Jesus did not stop with the commandment to love God but he mentions a second commandment to love your neighbour too. Even though this is a combination of phrases from Deuteronomy59 and Leviticus60 it 52
D A Carson, 1984, Page 203 – 204 Exodus 5:2, NRSV 54 Exodus 5:17, NRSV 55 William P Brown, 2002, Page 57 56 Christopher J H Wright, 2004, Page 284 57 Truthorfiction.com 58 Mark 12:28 – 31, NRSV 59 Deuteronomy 6:5, NRSV 60 Leviticus 19:18, NRSV 53
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signifies the two parts of the Ten Commandments as well. Jesus stated them as the first and the second commandments but the tone suggests that they are not imposed but calls upon everyone to whole-heartedly commit to them.61 Yet this statement of Jesus left a lasting impression on the apostolic teaching that followed, such as, in his letter to the Romans Paul states that by showing your love to a neighbour you would fulfil the requirements of the law.62 Conclusion The Decalogue as a whole can be summarised as setting significant principles regarding relationships.63 Even though primarily it was given to the Israelites we could apply it to us today concerning our relationship to our God, our relationship with our family and our relationship to the world at large.
61
William L Lane, 1974, Page 432 – 433 Romans 13:8 – 9, Galatians 5:14, NRSV 63 John I Durham, 1987, Page 300 62
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Bibliography 1 Gordon Fee &
Douglas Stuart
How to Read the Bible for all its worth
2003 2D
A Carson 1984
3 William P
Biblical Interpretation and the Church
Brown
2002 4 Christopher J H
Wright
Character & Scripture: Moral Formation, Community, and Biblical Interpretation Old Testament Ethics for the People of God
2004 5 Peter C Craigie
Eerdmans - 1976 Durham Nelson - 1987
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament - The Book of Deuteronomy
6 John I
Word Biblical Comentary - Exodus
7 William L Lane
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament - The Gospel of Mark
Eerdmans - 1974
truthorfiction.com
8
Accessed - October 2007 www.truthorfiction.com/rumours/r/reigious-depictions.htm
architecture.about.com
9
Accessed - October 2007 www.architecture.about.com/library/blgilbertsupremecourt.htm
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