Deep Thought
(and Randomness)

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

The "Ten Commandments"

Doesn't it seem sometimes that the ten commandments form the bedrock of Christianity? The first thing some people come up with when they hear about the bible or Christianity is exactly that portion of scripture in Ex 20:1-17, or at least some bits of it. 

But what if these words are not part of today's dealings of God with humanity. What if the ten commandments are not for the believers today, but for a completely different body of faithful ones? 

The context of the section in the 20th chapter of the so-called book of exodus is that of a people (sing.) and the God of this universe, who rescued this people out of bondage, and then led them to the mount to enter into a covenant with them. This is even the introduction of the chapter in question: 

Elohim spoke all these words, saying: I am Yahweh (will be - being - was) your Elohim Who brought you forth from the land of Egypt, from the house of servants. (20:1,2) 

The whole context of this passage demands us to say that the words that follow are spoken to Israel and no other nation or even individual. And, if we remember that the statutes, and the judgements, and the laws of the mosaic law as a whole were put between Yahweh and the sons of Israel on Mount Sinai by means of Moses (Lev 26:46), we cannot but see the things written in the law (the pentateuch, the five books of Moses) written for a specific people. Almost all in the five books is connected with Israel (except for some of Genesis); it all relates to the one people, their God, and the words of the covenant from Mount Sinai. 

Bearing this in mind, we can now focus in on the "Ten Commandments" and consider one aspect of them that is more than excitingly enlightening. 

Usually, the ten words in Exodus 20 are thought to be commandments, rules or regulations that need to be heeded and done. This is true, but there is much more about them that is usually unheard of. 

If we look into Wigram's Hebrew Concordance, we will soon find out that the tense of the ten words is the future. This is confirmed by Mk 12:30, where it says, You [Israel] shall be loving the Lord your God out of your whole heart, and out of your whole soul, and out of your whole comprehension, and out of your whole strength. Just like in the Hebrew, this verse is in the future tense. 

Obviously, finding out this fact enlightens us as to what the so called ten commandments signify. They predict much more what Israel will be doing for their God, rather then give them instructions what to do. Of course, they are precepts, laws that God wants His people to adhere to, but they are rather laws in the sense that they are uttered by God, who, in His omnipotence, brings about what He predicts, which is like a law of nature. 

Additionally, not only are the ten words of Exodus twenty really predictions, but we should also be mindful of the fact that law came in by the way, that the offense should be increasing (Ro 5:20), and that through law is the recognition of sin (Ro 3:20). 


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