FIESTA, SKYLA MARIE D.

THE PREAMBLE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS REFLECTION

The Ten Commandments is considered to be of great importance especially to the

lives of Christians. These commandments that we live by as followers of Christ are not
forced on us rather, are manifestations of God’s love for us – an expression of our
covenant with Him. The Ten Commandments of God emphasize two relationships: our
relationship with God and with our neighbors. These are laws revealed by God in order to
teach us how to live, which in turn serves as a guiding path to know how to serve Him
and serve others as well. Through these, we are able to accept God’s gift of grace which
enables us to avoid temptation and do what is righteous.

Before revealing the Ten Commandments, the Lord God spoke these words: “I am
the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage.” (Exodus 20:2) The preamble to the Ten Commandments needs to be
highlighted because it is a reminder that the commandments are not just from anyone, but
from the Lord Almighty. It establishes God’s authority and reminds us who He is and
why He can command these and why we are obliged to obey the commandments. From
the preamble, the words “I am the Lord your God” signifies that God is indeed sovereign
while the words “who brought you out” emphasizes that He saved us, thus strengthening
our commitment to follow Him. We had been delivered from slavery, sin and death not
because of what we have done but what God has accomplished, by His grace that which
is received through our faith in Jesus who sacrificed Himself for us.

We belong to God and God belongs to us. Our union with Him is closer than any
relationship. The Ten Commandments are not just a set of rules to be followed but a
priority to live by. God must be recognized as the One True God, giving due reverence
and respect to His Holiness. More so, the commandments serve as our guiding light
towards Christ – it makes us closer to Him. It reminds us of who we are, who God is in
Himself, who He is to us, where we are, and what He has done.