“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Exodus 20:1-2
Many people know that the Ten Commandments are located in Exodus 20. God Himself is speaking to Moses and the commandments start in verse 3 and run through verse 17. What many people don’t know is that these Ten Commandments are shared again by Moses to the people of Israel in chapter 5:7-21 of Deuteronomy. This occurred a little while before Israel crossed over the Jordan River and possessed the land that God promised to Abraham approximately 500 years earlier.
Commandment 1
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
“Thou shalt have none other gods before me.” Deuteronomy 5:7
Commandment 2
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:4
“Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:” Deuteronomy 5:8
Commandment 3
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Deuteronomy 5:11
Commandment 4
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8
“Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.” Deuteronomy 5:12
The fact that Moses emphasized that keeping the Sabbath is a commandment, leads me believe that some people had trouble adhering to this commandment, but he could be just strongly reminding the people to continue to keep the Sabbath even after their conquest of the Promised Land.
Commandment 5
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12
“Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Deuteronomy 5:16
This is the commandment with a promise. If you honor your parents, you will have a long or extended life. Even if your life is short (i.e. a child with cancer) regardless of how long or short your life is, if you honor your parents, God will grant you more days or months or years to honor, love and cherish them, and to enjoy your life here on Earth.
Commandment 6
“Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13
“Thou shalt not kill.” Deuteronomy 5:17
Commandment 7
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
“Neither shalt thou commit adultery.” Deuteronomy 5:18
Commandment 8
“Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15
“Neither shalt thou steal.” Deuteronomy 5:19
Commandment 9
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Exodus 20:16
“Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Deuteronomy 5:20
Biblically speaking, anyone that you are in close proximity to or communicate with is your neighbor, whether the communication is in person, phone, letters, e-mail, social networks or any other form of communication, if you’re communicating they are your neighbor.
Commandment 10
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” Exodus 20:17
“Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.” Deuteronomy 5:21
The subtle differences in these 2 verses are irrelevant. The commandment and doctrine rings clear: we are commanded to not strongly desire anything that belongs to another person. We are to be content with what we have or can obtain through God’s grace and working to earn it.
Have a blessed day, living by these commandments, so that you will live a life well pleasing to the Lord and all those around you. Amen!