The Ten Commandments and an Examination of Conscience The Peaceful Life www.SaintPaulMinistries.net If you would like a high resolution PowerPoint of this and other presentations please email [email_address] and the high resolution PowerPoint will be returned to you in an email. Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing.

Ten Commandments Have Three Essential Parts Hearing is the absorbing and accepting information given to us by God. Learning is seeking to understand the their meaning and implications in our life today. Following is putting into action all we have learned and understood. All three parts are important to a growing relationship with God.

Hearing is the absorbing and accepting information given to us by God.

Learning is seeking to understand the their meaning and implications in our life today.

Following is putting into action all we have learned and understood.

All three parts are important to a growing

relationship with God.

Where Did The Ten Commandments Come From? The term “Ten Commandments” is used to designate a collection of God given laws, written on two tables of stone and given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex. 20). Another name for the Ten Commandments is “Decalogue.”

The term “Ten Commandments” is used to designate a collection of God given laws, written on two tables of stone and given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex. 20).

Another name for the Ten Commandments is “Decalogue.”

They Appear Twice in the Bible First in Exodus 20:2-17, when God gives the commandments to Moses and again in Deuteronomy 5:6-21, when Moses delivers his interpretation of them to the Israelites

First in Exodus 20:2-17, when God gives the commandments to Moses and again in

Deuteronomy 5:6-21, when Moses delivers his interpretation of them to the Israelites

Are There Differences? – Yes Exodus 20:2-17 – God gave Moses a very detailed list of instructions. Deuteronomy 5:6-21 – Moses then delivered nearly the same message to the Israelites. They have been simplified over time to make them easier to remember.

Exodus 20:2-17 – God gave Moses a very detailed list of instructions.

Deuteronomy 5:6-21 – Moses then delivered nearly the same message to the Israelites.

They have been simplified over time to make them easier to remember.

Differences Occur When The Commandments Are Simplified 2 “I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery 3 You shall not have other gods besides me (Ex. 20:2-3). 6  “‘ I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage 7  “‘ You shall have no other gods before me. (Dt. 5:6-7) The same first commandment now reads I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.

2 “I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery 3 You shall not have other gods besides me (Ex. 20:2-3).

6  “‘ I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage 7  “‘ You shall have no other gods before me. (Dt. 5:6-7)

The same first commandment now reads

I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.

The Two Paths Why should we live by the Ten Commandments? This question is best answered by Psalm 1  1  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;  2  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  3  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Why should we live by the Ten Commandments?

This question is best answered by Psalm 1

 1  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 

2  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  3  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

 4  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away.  5  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;  6  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 4  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away.  5  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

 6  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Hub of the Wheel The Ten Commandments are like the hub of a wheel that holds together the spokes and gives perfect roundness to the wheel. The first four commandments, or spokes in the wheel, are the relationship between God and the Israelites, and the other six spokes deal with social relationships within the Israelite community. The spokes, working together, give the spiritual and social community the harmony and unity found in a well ordered wheel.

The Ten Commandments are like the hub of a wheel that holds together the spokes and gives perfect roundness to the wheel.

The first four commandments, or spokes in the wheel, are the relationship between God and the Israelites, and the

other six spokes deal with social relationships within the Israelite community.

The spokes, working together, give the spiritual and social community the harmony and unity found in a well ordered wheel.

Rules of Conduct The Ten Commandments are an excellent summary of righteous human conduct and might be called rules of (1) religion, (2) worship, (3) reverence, (4) time, (5) authority, (6) life, (7) purity, (8) property, (9) speech, and (10) contentment.

The Ten Commandments are an excellent summary of righteous human conduct and might be called rules of

(1) religion, (2) worship,

(3) reverence, (4) time,

(5) authority, (6) life,

(7) purity, (8) property,

(9) speech, and (10) contentment.

1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. It is the moral virtue by which we are willing to give to God the worship he deserves. The first commandment summons man to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him above all else. (CCC 2134) The veneration of sacred images is based on the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. It is not contrary to the first commandment. (CCC 2141) CCC=Catechism of the Catholic Church

It is the moral virtue by which we are willing to give to God the worship he deserves.

The first commandment summons man to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him above all else. (CCC 2134)

The veneration of sacred images is based on the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. It is not contrary to the first commandment. (CCC 2141)

Satan Temped Jesus in the Desert and Jesus responded:  9  and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”  10  Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written, ‘ You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Mt 4:9-10).

 9  and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

 10  Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written,

‘ You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Mt 4:9-10).

Again, Jesus speaks of the 1 st Commandment in Matthew 22: 34-38  34  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together.  35  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.  36  “ Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  37  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  38  This is the great and first commandment.

 34  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together.  35  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.

 36  “ Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

 37  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

 38  This is the great and first commandment.

Who or What is Your God? Whatever people put first in their lives becomes their god. Some join cults or strange religions. Some worship Satan If your greatest desire is to acquire money, popularity, or a big house. Then God isn’t first in your life. Recognize what is taking place in your life. You’re alive, without God’s help you wouldn’t have been born (Jer. 1:5). Set aside money, power and control. Put God first. Ask God’s help and forgiveness in avoiding sinfulness. Examine yourself – Are you living as God would want you to?

Whatever people put first in their lives becomes their god.

Some join cults or strange religions.

Some worship Satan

If your greatest desire is to acquire money, popularity, or a big house.

Then God isn’t first in your life.

Recognize what is taking place in your life. You’re alive, without God’s help you wouldn’t have been born (Jer. 1:5).

Set aside money, power and control. Put God first.

Ask God’s help and forgiveness in avoiding sinfulness.

Examine yourself – Are you living as God would want you to?

2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. The second commandment requires respect for the Lord's name. The name of the Lord is holy. (CCC 2116) The second commandment forbids every improper use of God's name. Blasphemy [disrespect] is the use of the name of God, of Jesus, of the Virgin Mary, and of the saints in an offensive way. (CCC 2162)

The second commandment requires respect for the Lord's name. The name of the Lord is holy. (CCC 2116)

The second commandment forbids every improper use of God's name. Blasphemy [disrespect] is the use of the name of God, of Jesus, of the Virgin Mary, and of the saints in an offensive way. (CCC 2162)

Perjury and Swearing False oaths call on God to be witness to a lie. Perjury is a grave offence against the Lord who is always faithful to his promises. (CCC 2163) Have you used the name of God to coerce others in to doing your will?

False oaths call on God to be witness to a lie. Perjury is a grave offence against the Lord who is always faithful to his promises. (CCC 2163)

Have you used the name of God to coerce others in to doing your will?

“ Swear to God!” Have you sworn a false oath or lied, using God’s name to prove your sincerity? We must seek God’s forgiveness, if not  8  But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Re 21:8.

Have you sworn a false oath or lied, using God’s name to prove your sincerity?

We must seek God’s forgiveness, if not

 8  But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Re 21:8.

We Should Call Upon the Name of God In sincere devotion At the beginning of our work day In time of trouble In thanksgiving for all that God has done for us in the past, the present and all that he will do in the future. We need to show respect for all worshipers, for the religious, holy places, sacred things, and religious ceremonies.

In sincere devotion

At the beginning of our work day

In time of trouble

In thanksgiving for all that God has done for us in the past, the present and all that he will do in the future.

We need to show respect for all worshipers, for the religious, holy places, sacred things, and religious ceremonies.

End of Part One