Understanding the Commandments

From the Catechism for Filipino Catholics(CFC)

The Ten Commandments constitute the basic imperatives needed for life in the
community. They sketch for us the limits or parameters within which we, the people of
God, must live our life of faith, hope and love in our redeeming Lord and among
ourselves. They point in two directions: They call for reverence for God, and respect for
our fellow human beings.
The lasting exceptional value of the Ten Commandments can be grounded in their
historical origin, their covenantal character, and their liberating power. The ten
commandments are terms of the Covenant, “ten words” revealing the pattern of God’s
sight, the way of life which leads to happiness.
The Decalogue, set in the context of the Exodus, is that great liberating act of God
which stands at the center of salvation history. Though the Commandments have the
form of prohibitions, they are also a deliverance from the slavery of sin. They free men
to travel towards God, a journey of faithful service, and so to discover their true selves
and achieve their true destiny. The commandments provide the signposts to authentic
responsible freedom.
Rather then contrast the ten commandments with Christ’s new law of love, then, it is
more accurate, realistic and truthful to understand them as dynamically forming together
a consistent pattern for Christian moral living. The ten commandments are needed to
provide:
a. credible and durable norms for everyday life;
b. a pattern and structure for living according to Christ’s commandment to love God
and neighbor; and
c. a universally accessible source for relating to non-Christians in moral matters.

The Preamble of the Commandments

“I, the Lord, am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
(Ex. 20:2, Dt. 5:6))

A. The First Commandment

“You shall not have other gods besides me.” (Ex. 20:3; Dt. 5:7)

The first commandment is the first because it is the most important. From it, all other
commandments are derived and governed. To know and to love God and gratefully
accept his lordship, is the foundation of all moral life. “Eternal life is this, to know you,
the only true God, and Him whom you have sent, Jesus Christ” ( Jn 17:13).

Fruits of the 1st Commandment

1. Liberating Truth – adoration of the One God frees us from slavery to and idolatry of
the world.
2. Reconciling Truth – adoration of the One God makes us one family
3. Loving Truth – the adoration of the One God makes possible a genuine unified love
of God. “There is but one Lord and Master”.

Offenses against the 1st commandment:

1. idolatry- the substitution of someone or something else for God
2. superstition- the belief in some power over life other than that of God’s own
authority.
Forms of superstition:
a. magic (black) d. astrology
b. sorcery e. satanism
c. witchcraft f. fortune-telling
  Whether these forms of superstition are true or not, or whether they really happen
or not, that’s not the point. The point is, you become superstitious if you think
that indeed these dark forces/spirits have control and power over your life, instead
of God.

3. Irreligious Acts
a. sacrilege- violating sacred persons, places, or things.
b. simony- buying and selling of spiritual goods. (by spiritual goods we don’t
mean religious images or rosary, etc. we mean the gift of grace that comes
from God through the sacraments. Martin Luther spoke against this practice
during his time. The Church then was guilty of simony, encouraging the
faithful, who are afraid of going to hell, to give their money and properties to
the Church so that their sins will be forgiven, thus the buying and selling of
spiritual goods-simony.
c. Tempting God- complaining and demanding for signs. (ex. If you are really
God, I want to be given a sign, will you turn this stone into bread?, etc.

B. The Second Commandment

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Ex. 20:7,
Dt. 5:11)

In the Bible, the “name” stood for the person; the name made the person present and
active. God’s name was conceived as the shekinah,the presence of God himself. So the
name of God was God’s gift to his covenant people. To swear falsely, using God’s name,
was to break the covenant.
The name of God should only be used to bless, praise, and glorify God. His name is
sacred, for through it, he reveals himself intimately and lovingly. We must speak his name
only in adoration. Thus, the 2nd commandment commands us to give reverence/respect to the
holy name of God.
In the Old Testament, God revealed his name to Moses as I am who am. This means
that God is the Lord of history-past, present, future. His name stands forever. In the New
Testament, God revealed himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Blessed Trinity). Now
when we pray, we make the sign of the cross in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God’s name is powerful. Peter and the apostles were able to cure the sick, expel
demons, etc. in the name of Jesus.

Offenses Against the 2nd Commandment

1. Blasphemy- speaking of God with disrespect and contempt. This extends

to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints. If we speak of them with
disrespect/contempt we commit blasphemy.
2. Cursing-calling down punishment on others; wishing others evil in the
name of God (Ipagdasal ko sa Diyos sana mamatay ka na!)
3. False Oaths- using God’s name to confirm a false statement; using God’s
name as a witness to the making of a false oath. (Your classmate is
telling a lie and he says: What I am saying is true, promise to God!)
4. Perjury- giving false testimony under oath (ex. A court witness, after
promising to tell the truth and nothing but the truth (so help me God),
gives a false testimony.
5. Profanity- the use of sacred words in impatience, jest, mere surprise, or
habit with no intention of giving God honor. (ex. You look at a
woman/man lustfully and say Oh my God!; Your mothers scolds you and
says Susmaryosep, you’re so dumb. Susmaryosep stands for Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph.