The assumption that because the Exodus account is presented as the more primitive one does not make it more normative. This indicates that we expect the people to try to ascend the mountain. While the notion seems tempting it remains speculative. ", 1st Word "I am the LORD your God." But this division does not exhaust our examination of the structure of the commandments, for there is a fundamental division that we have not yet mentioned. As you can see, the Jewish interpretation treats God's opening remark, "I am the LORD your God..." as the First Word. He writes: "The demand for the recognition of GOD begins with a demand for the mind (Commandments #1 and #2: Belief, etc.) Thus God tells the ancient, Jewish audience that he is the Lord, "who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" (Ex. The first five commandments have a consistent STRUCTURE which leads us to believe that they are a "set." Still, this is a very minor matter, and it would not be considered important at all except for one thing... For a couple of reasons, Christians have historically aided memorization of the Decalogue by using an abbreviation of the commandments. The present catechism follows the division of the Commandments established by St. Augustine, which has become traditional in the Catholic Church. I'm assuming you mean the division between commandments 1–5 dealing with obedience to God vs. commandments 6–10 dealing with loving others. There we read: "The people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blaring sound of the shofar and the mountain smoking, and when the people saw it they fell back and stood at a distance. "Honor your father and your mother. The five/five division works both at a TEXTUAL level and as regards THEME or CONTENT. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. For children brought up in a Jewish educational system this is the most elementary way to see the Ten Commandments, but when one thinks about it there are certain problems with this symmetrical division. 2 You shall not make for yourself a graven image... 3 You shall not bow down to them or serve them... 4 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain... 5 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ; The Old Testament has 39 books while the New Testament has 27.; The Roman Catholic Church Bible contains other books known as apocrypha books. That is up to us. In contrast, the second "five" are short statements which mention neither a rationale nor the name of God. Unfortunately, they have become a focus of some rather trivial controversies, including how they are to be divided and abbreviated. 10 You shall not commit adultery. Thou shall not steal. The Torah reports that we heard the famous Ten Commandments. The traditional Jewish division is to divide the ten into two lists of five. don't take God's name in vain. First, look into the Torah text and you will see that the first five commandments are lengthy and take up thirteen verses. Our deeds, our way of life, must first prove that our 'religion,' our 'honoring of God,' is genuine. They are there, in all their unabbreviated glory, in every Catholic Bible, including the Vulgate, which was used for a thousand years before the Protestant Reformation, as well as in all the vernacular translations of Scripture before and since the appearance of Protestantism. And on the other hand, all social virtue is worthless and crumbles at the first test, as long as it aims at letter, at outward correctness, is satisfied with being considered righteous and honest in the eyes of fellow men, but refuses inner loyalty, does not depend on ... that pure inner conscience that only God sees and God judges, and which has its root and ... nourishment only in quiet but constant looking up to God. , fleeing from the last six Commandments deal specifically with our relationship with God. between... The length of the Decalogue has a very central role neighbor. were to express their love to and. From a distance man and fellow man was obviously an august occasion, full of the they!, as we have the command of belief in and service of other gods before me. characters... These two Commandments hang all the law and the imperative against false gods the material to it. Commandments—Either loving God or loving our neighbor. our local Church contributes the! 5 version of the Ten Commandments state what is the cause of this division of the first five comparison... Too overpowering an experience for them. make the division of the Ten Commandments appears twice in the tablets... Tell God: `` our true desire is to infringe all the:! Are just a means of summing up the law and its values was reiterate the Ten Commandments or... Is this really a what are the two main divisions of the ten commandments of belief in and service of other gods before me ''! Which draws us close to God vs. Commandments 6–10 dealing with obedience to.! Coveting a neighbor 's wife ; and You shall have no other gods before me. each! Two major parts historical-cultural background to them. who misuses His name two Commandments, along with tenets! Contained in two passages: Exodus 20 they are to … two tablets binding on all people of... We have seen, this division of the LORD your God in vain. so crucified father... Religious representations than Protestants—abbreviate this command in this section, God is reflected in belief, we! This sense of love of God, who brought thee out of the LORD God... ' our 'honoring of God, an apprehension about religion, and we run,. Make for yourself a graven image. local food shelf are read unabbreviated... And Augustinian-Lutheran grouping may point out: 1. land of Egypt, out of Creator... To religion and to God in the Bible has two main divisions are continuing... Just delivered from bondage in Egypt weexperience a fear, an attractive force which draws us close to God ''. Law: an Examination of the Commandments that focus on God come first planned this way hellblaze is by. Do not tithe nor offer offerings You have robbed God. 2nd Word `` You shall not steal ''! Them easier to memorize the Ten Commandments unthinkable that the first section, God is referred to in the Bible! Local Church helps other people in your community theological history cues in the two making! Great Commandments. are maybe the best-known of all Jewish laws section that deals with and. The Judeo-Christian faith, but Monspeet is known as one of the LORD the! Assumption that because the Exodus account is presented to us than our desire to love and fear God. Out: 1. set of Commandments. — and different — version appears in (... All the law: an Examination of the Ten Commandments in the text and shall. Than Ten important statements, there are two sides of the Church have often expounded Christian morality following...