In our first devotional about the Ten Commandments, we noted that our God is a “jealous” God and that He wants all of us to belong to Him and to Him only. Then we looked at the Ten Commandments as a whole. Rather than examining them one by one as separate and individual commandments, we looked at how each one is intertwined with the others. Now, we will look at the Ten Commandments as written in two distinct parts with a great correspondence between the first five and the last five.
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
· Discuss how the Ten Commandments may be viewed as written in two distinct sections.
· Share how you have been able to live out one of the commandment dyads and how they fit together in your life experience.
Background Information
Jewish tradition and theologians have posited that the first five commandments each has its corresponding commandment in the second five commandments. The second five are images on earth of what the first five represent in the heavens. For example, the first commandment states, “I am the Lord, they God.” This commandment’s correlate is the sixth commandment, stating “Thou shalt not murder.”
To continue, the second, “Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me,” goes with the seventh, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
The third, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain” goes with the eighth, “Thou shalt not steal.”
The fourth, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” goes with the ninth, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
The fifth, “Honor thy father and thy mother,” goes with the tenth commandment, “Thou shalt not covet (thy neighbor’s wife).”
As you look at these dyads of commandments, what are your thoughts? Do you see a correspondence between each pair?
Instructions
1. Navigate to the threaded discussion below and respond to the following:
a. Discuss how we can regard the Ten Commandments as written in two distinct sections.
b. Share how you have been able to live out one of these dyads and how they fit together in your life experience.
2. Your postings should also:
a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.
b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.