十 誡
作者： 盧國禮
神用摩西把以色列人從埃及為奴之家領出來，又把紅海分開，讓他們走乾地過去。摩西領以色列人從紅海往前行，滿了三個月，來到西乃的曠野。神吩咐摩西向以色列宣告："你們要歸我作祭司的國度，為聖潔的國民"。神降臨在西乃山上(何烈山)，向摩西立約頒佈了十誡。(出埃及記，十九-二十章)。後來，當以色列人將進入所要承受的土地上，摩西將他們召來，再一次吩咐他們要學習，謹守遵行 耶和華在何烈山上與他們所立的約。(這約不是與他們列祖立的，乃是與他們當日在那裏存活之人立的，這也是當今因信稱義的基督徒與 神所立的約。神對摩西說：要將一切誡命、律例、典章 ，教訓 (以色列人)，使他們在 神賜他們為業的地上遵行， 不可加添，不可刪滅，使他們可以存活得福，並使他們的日子，在所要承受的地上，得以長久。(參閱申命記，第五至六章) 。
現代人的思潮
從 90 年後 (後現代) 的時空來分析，許多人，甚至信基督耶穌的人，都可會發出疑問，"是否 神所吩咐的一切誡命都要謹守遵行？有誰能做得到呢？"
事實上，神並不是用十誡來捆綁或奴役我們。比方，當我們走到十字路口時，怎樣才安全走過去？我們應站著看看，然後要選擇轉左，還是轉右或向前。我們需要交通燈號的指示，亮了紅燈，要站著警醒，亮了綠燈，可小心向前走過去。這行為是自然習慣，是常識，但也是從小學習才學會，同時我們也常常隨機教育我們的下一代。神的教訓使我們知罪，所以我們必要學習，遵行 耶和華眼中看為善的，我們可以蒙福，得保存我們的生命，如此 "謹守遵行，這就是我們的義了。"(申命記 6：25)。
馬太福音二十二章，34-40節記載一位法利賽人，他是律法師，問耶穌 ". . . 族律法上的誡命，那一條是最大的呢？" 耶穌對他說："你要盡心、盡性、盡意，愛主你的 神。這是誡命的第一，且是最大的。其次也相仿，就是要愛人如己。這兩條誡命是律法和先知一切道理的總綱。" 細心思量下，我們便明白，耶穌的第一誡命，就是十誡中的第一，二，三和四條誡命了，而其次的愛人如己，不就是十誡中的五至十條誡命麼？
第一條誡命就是信仰的基石，我們信的是惟一真神，除祂 (耶穌基督) 以外，別無他名可以拯救世人。所以，信仰必須建立在真理上，我們才可站立得穩，才有盼望，才有豐盛的生命，才可行公義，好憐憫，與我們的救贖主同行。那麼，其如的誡命不太重要嗎？耶穌說："其次也相仿，就是愛人如己"。
所以，綜合說，若我們犯了任何一條誡命，我們已犯了十條誡命了。這是耶穌對基督徒說的教訓，不是可用來論斷未信的人。
學懂十誡的意義
第一誡 -- 神說："我是耶和華你的 神，曾將你從埃及地為奴之家領出來。除了我以外，你不可有別的 神。"(出埃及記, 二十：1-3)。
未信耶穌的人，很難理解這頭一條誡命。現今的思潮是人權最重要，自由自主到了無限的境界，你不可影響我的思想行為。此所謂 "民主" 的無限化，很多人都受現今社會的潮流洗腦，奉為真理。
讓我們謙卑一些，細嚼經文：
• 耶和華是 神，
• 耶和華是你(和我)的 神，
• 耶和華曾拯救你(和我)的 神。
如果你不是無神論或惟物論者，你必同意 神是全能，全知的惟一真 神。祂自有永有，不是被造，乃是創造的主 耶和華，神。第一誡至第四誡都是向著至高者 神的敬畏。這就是人生要走的天路，最基礎，和最重要的信仰開始，不可偏差，否則結果如何，不需詳述。
在一穩固的基石上去建立自己的房屋 (生命)，不怕風和雨來侵蝕，我們便能站立得穩，不要怕，只要信靠我們的 神。祂使我們可以存活得福，並使我們的日子，在所要承受的地上，得以長久。
第五誡 -- 神說："當孝敬父母，使你的日子，在耶和華你 神所賜你的地上，得以長久。" 實質上，敬畏 神的人，守前四誡的，第五誡至第十誡也相仿遵行了，就是耶穌所說：" . . . 愛 神 , 愛人如己 . . . " 這真理。
所以，上文曾說，犯十誡其中一誡，就是犯了十條誡命了。故敬畏 神的人，行在 神旨意的人，他門愛人如己，建立美善的人際關係，不殺人，不姦淫，不偷盜，不作假見證，不貪婪，. . . 享受豐盛，平安的人生，活出愛人，信真 神，滿有盼望的生命。這是 神的國度，我們乃是祂的子民。
Moses by Charles R. Swindoll-- in the Desert of Sinai
Ten Commandments
Written by Francis Loo
The Lord God used Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He divided the waters in the Red Sea to allow them to walk through dry land. Then Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea. In the third month, they entered the Desert of Sinai. The Lord God said to Moses: "you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." The Lord God descended to the top of Mount Sinai (Horeb) and made a covenant with Moses asking him to proclaim to the Israelites the Ten Commandments. (Exodus Chapters 19-20). Later, when the Israelites were about to go into the Promised Land, Moses summoned all Israel and edified them to learn the commandments and to follow them -- the covenant made with the Lord God at Horeb. (It was not with their fore fathers that the Lord made this covenant, but with them who were alive then. Also, this is the covenant made with those Christians who have been justified by faith in Christ.) The Lord God told Moses to edify all Israel to observe all the commandments, laws, decrees in the land to possess, do not add to or subtract from them, so that they may live and prosper and prolong their days in the land that they would possess. (See Deuteronomy Chapters 5-6).
The Thinking of the Modern Society
Analysing the situation from the perspective of the 90s (postmodernism) -- many, including those who are believing on Jesus Christ, would ask in doubt whether all the Commandments proclaimed by the Lord must be observed? Who can do that?
In reality, the Lord God does not tie us or enslave us with the Ten Commandments. As a parable goes: When we arrive at the cross road, how to cross safely? We ought to stand still, look and see. Then, decide to turn left or right or go straight ahead. We need to be directed by the traffic lights. When the red light is on, we stand alert, when the green light is on, carefully we can walk across. This kind of behaviour is habitual, common sense but only we learnt about it when young. And oftentimes we take the opportunity to educate our young generation. The precepts of the Lord enable us to be conscious of sins, therefore, we must learn to observe what is good in the eyes of the Lord to be prosperous and be kept alive, and thus abiding by them will be "our righteousness." (Deuteronomy 6:25).
In Mathew Chapter 22: 34-40, a Pharisee, an expert in the law, asked Jesus:" . . . which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' And the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Think carefully, we'll understand the first commandment from Jesus includes the first, second, third and fourth commandments. And the Second is like it: love your neighbour as yourself. Is it not the fifth to tenth commandments in the Ten Commandments?
Therefore, in summary, if we violate any one of the commandments we will violate ten of the commandments. This is the teaching of Jesus Christ—they are not used for judging the unbelief.
Understanding the Meaning of the Ten Commandments
The first commandment says: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the Land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:1-3).
Unbelievers on Jesus find it very difficult to understand this first commandment. Nowadays, the way of thinking in society is the most important is human right, unlimited freedom and self-center, no interference in my thinking and my way. The so-called "democracy" unlimited has brain-washed many people in society and they believe it is the truth.
Let us be humble a little bit. Chew prudently the Scripture:
• The Lord is God.
• The Lord is your (and our) God.
• The Lord God has redeemed you (and us).
If you're not an atheist or a materialist, you may agree the Lord God is omnipotent, omniscience—the only true God. He is "I am who I am." He is the Creator -- has not been created. The Lord's first commandment to the fourth commandments are for fearing (worshiping) the most high. This is the foundation on which one's life begins its pilgrimage. And this is the most important beginning of one's faith; going off the course will lead to consequences that need no detailing inhere.
To build our house (life) on a firm foundation we have no fear that the wind and rain will erode it. We can thus stand firm, without fear, but believe and trust our God. He keeps us alive in grace, and let us live long in our land.
The fifth commandment says: "Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Virtually, those who fear God abiding the first four commandments will be abiding the fifth to the tenth commandments, that is ". . . love God, love your neighbour as yourself . . ." This is the truth.
Therefore, as above-mentioned, in violation of any one of the Ten Commandments one is in violation of the Ten Commandments. So those who fear God will walk as He will, they will love others as themselves, establishing good human relationship, shall not murder, shall not commit adultery, shall not steal, shall not give false testimony, shall not covet. . . They enjoy abundance of life, a peaceful life, with loving kindness toward others, believe in the true God, full of hope in life. This is the Kingdom of God and we're His citizens.