The 10 Commandments

In this letter, I would like to share with you how the Orthodox Church understands the Ten Commandments. These were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1–17; Deuteronomy 5:6–21). They are not only laws for ancient Israel but remain the foundation of how we are called to live as Christians.

The First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) This teaches us to love God above all else. Jesus said, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10).

The Second Commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a graven image ... you shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Exodus 20:4–5) This forbids idolatry—worshipping created things instead of God. In Orthodoxy, we venerate icons, but we never worship them; worship belongs to God alone.

The Third Commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) God’s name is holy. Jesus taught us to pray, “Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). We honor His name in prayer, speech, and daily life.

The Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8) For most Christians, Sunday is the Lord’s Day, because Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Mark 16:2). The Orthodox Church gathers daily, but especially every Sunday for worship and Communion.

The Fifth Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.” (Exodus 20:12) This teaches respect for parents and for all who have authority. Saint Paul repeats it: “Honor your father and mother ... that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2–3).

The Sixth Commandment: “You shall not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) This forbids murder, because life is God’s gift. Jesus also deepened it by teaching that even anger and hatred must be overcome (Matthew 5:21–22).

The Seventh Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) This protects the holiness of marriage. Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Purity and faithfulness are part of Christian life.

The Eighth Commandment: “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15) This teaches honesty and respect for others’ property. Paul says, “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work ... so that he may be able to give to those in need” (Ephesians 4:28).

The Ninth Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness.” (Exodus 20:16) This forbids lying and slander. Jesus said, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37). Truthfulness is part of following Him who is the Truth (John 14:6).

The Tenth Commandment: “You shall not covet.” (Exodus 20:17) This guards our hearts against envy and greed. Paul writes, “Be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5), and Jesus warns, “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness” (Luke 12:15).

The Ten Commandments are not just rules, but a guide to loving God and loving our neighbor. Jesus summed them up with these words: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart ... and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39).

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

Next Letter: The Beatitudes