Holy Family Academy of Angeles, Pampanga, Inc.

Grade School Department

S.Y. 2023-2024

Christian Living Education 4

Third Quarter
Lecture – Ten Commandments

TEN COMMANDMENTS
• The Ten Commandments are also called Decalogue. These were written in two tablets of stone and given by
God to Moses in Mount Sinai. (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:1-22) The Ten Commandments are
summary of the hundreds of laws found in the Old Testament. These were designed to guide the Israelites
into a life of practical holiness.
• The Ten Commandments have two major parts. The first part is about our relationship with God (First to
Third Commandment) and the second part is about our relationship with our neighbor (Fourth to Tenth
Commandment).

The First Commandment:

I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.

• The first Commandment expresses the duty of worship. It enjoins us: Give the Father His rightful place at
the center of our lives. The first commandment forbids any other gods than the Lord.
• This commandment prohibits believing in superstitious beliefs, fortune tellers, or anything that would take
the place of God. We should not give more importance to anyone or anything over God. We must not also
make image into idols and treat them as gods. We should not disrespect sacred places and religious things,
too.
• We can help our faith grow by praying often, attending Mass regularly, going to confession, and being active
in the Church.

The Second Commandment:

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

• The Second Commandment reminds of the respect due to God's name. "I AM WHO I AM" – God revealed
Himself as the creator and the one responsible for the existence of everything. All believers are enjoined to
respect the name of God which represents God Himself. To respect God's name is to show our gratitude to
Him.
• The commandment does not allow blasphemy or speaking of God as an insult, cursing or calling down
punishment to others, and perjury or making a promise under oath without the intention of keeping it.
• Some ways to show reverence for God’s name are using His name only to wish for other’s wellness, saying
the name of God whenever we pray, and fulfilling our promises made in God’s name.

The Third Commandment:

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

• The Third Commandment would like to emphasize: to set a day for God.
• This is the Lord’s Day. This is the day when all believers are called to worship together as a community to
listen to the Word of God and take part in the Eucharist. (CFC 914)
• Today, the Church celebrates Sabbath on the first day of the week, which is Sunday, to commemorate Jesus’
resurrection.
• Aside from Sundays, the Church also proclaims special feast days as obligatory days of worship for all
Catholics like during the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and Solemnity of Birth of Jesus.
• To make the Sabbath day holy, we participate in the Holy Mass, reflect on the goodness of God throughout
the week, bond with our family, and do acts of kindness.

The Fourth Commandment:

Honor your father and mother.
• The fourth commandment calls us to respect our parents. Our parents are the best gifts of God to us. They
are the closest people through whom we experience God's presence in our lives.
• The fourth commandment also reminds us to honor all those given authority over us, even the leaders of
the Church, government officials, and the elderly.
• To develop mutual love and respect in the family, we must learn how to communicate openly with one
another, be willing to admit our errors in the family, and be ready to forgive.
• By saying “Thank You”, “I’m Sorry”, and “I love you”, we can show that we appreciate and respect our
parents.

The Fifth Commandment:

You shall not kill.

• The fifth Commandment reminds us that life is the greatest gift from God. Life is sacred and precious. All
of us are called to respect, care, and preserve life.
• Jesus came into the world to teach and show us that God alone is the ultimate Lord and Master of life. Since
life comes from and is sustained by God, it belongs to Him, and He alone has the authority to take it back
from an individual.
• This commandment prohibits physical abuse of oneself, murder, abortion, mercy killing, suicide, death
penalty, and war.
• As God’s children, we are called to respect and care for our life and the lives of others. We should also
respect the rights of others, especially their right to live.

The Sixth Commandment:

You shall not commit adultery.

• The sixth commandment speaks of faithfulness and loyalty between husbands and wives. Jesus teaches
that married couples should love and respect one another.
• The woman and man, who share a special kind of love for one another, are blessed by God in the Sacrament
of Marriage. They are blessed to be one mind and one heart. Then, they create a home together.
• When the husband or wife cheats, he or she is committing sin against God. When the Lord is in the center of
the relationship, temptations can be avoided.
• We should pray for families, especially the couples, to be blessed by God even during their dark moments in
life.

The Seventh Commandment:

You shall not steal.

• Steal – to take something without asking for permission.

• The seventh commandment tells us that it is wrong to take the property of others. Taking the properties of
other people is disrespecting and hurting their right to own them.
• Whenever we take what others have or possess – money, food, things, and others – that is stealing. When
you cheat and copy the answer/s of your classmate/s, you are stealing his idea.
• To refrain from stealing, we should practice the virtue of justice. We must also observe moderation in
whatever we do and detach ourselves from the love for money or material things.

The Eighth Commandment:

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

• The Eight Commandment tells us to be honest and true to ourselves and to others. To speak the truth in all
things, most especially in what concerns the good name and honor of others, is God's eighth
commandment.
• God wants us to avoid telling lies and all kinds of gossips, suspicions, and rash judgments.
• Jesus Himself is the Truth. He reminds us: "You will be My disciples if you keep My Word. Then, you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
• To speak the truth about one's neighbor involves every Christian in bearing witness to Jesus Christ. (CFC
1247)
• A truthful person is the one who acts sincerely without any pretension.
The Ninth Commandment:
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

• Covet – to want something very much that you do not have.

• The ninth commandment prohibits the desire for someone who is married already. Thinking of impure
thoughts toward someone is also prohibited by this commandment.
• This commandment can be fulfilled by keeping the minds and senses clean and pure. We should also avoid
looking at indecent pictures, instead read the Bible and the lives of Saints, who showed holiness in their
life. We must also keep our body healthy and clothe it properly.
• As Christians, temptations are within and around us. Through praying to God and making ourselves busy,
we will overcome the snares of the devil. We ask the Holy Spirit to guide us every time and lead us away
from temptations.

The Tenth Commandment:

You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

• This commandment tells us not to desire for the belongings of our neighbors.
• Envy and greed make a person covet for something. Envy means wanting the things that the other person
has, and greed means wanting more things even if we do not have any need for them. Often, it is greed and
envy that can lead a person to steal.
• We must be contented on what we have; we must live a simple lifestyle. Let us be happy with the good
fortune and success of others. Let us share what we have with others, especially with the poor and the
needy.
• We can be satisfied if we count the blessings God is giving us always. We thank God and ask His grace to
remind us always that by being grateful, we will cherish even the small things we receive.