What Makes the 10 Commandments Special?
What comes to mind when you hear “Thou shalt not”? Probably the 10 Commandments! Even if you know very little about the Bible, you’re probably familiar with “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal,” “Honor your father and mother,” and many others. They’re all over movies, literature, and even carved into public buildings. In the Exodus scroll, these are the core commands God gives to Israel on tablets of stone at the foot of Mount Sinai. And there’s a lot that sets them apart from the hundreds of other laws God gives to Israel. In this episode, Jon and Tim kick off a new series on the 10 Commandments, exploring what makes them special and how they are quoted throughout the rest of the Bible.
Episode Chapters
Show Notes
Reflection Questions
How does the narrative context of the 10 Commandments shape how we understand them?
How does knowing that Scripture actually calls the 10 Commandments the “10 Words” change how you think about them?
These are the only commands that God himself etches onto stone. Why is this distinction important?
In what ways do the 10 Commandments point toward eternal life in the new creation?
Chapter 1: The 10 Words
For most of Jewish and Christian history, the 10 Commandments were known as the 10 Words, because this is actually how the Bible refers to them! In Hebrew, they’re called the ‘aseret haddevarim, which literally means “the 10 words” (Exod. 34:27-28; Deut.4:12-13; Deut. 10:1-5). Throughout most of church history, they were referred to as the Decalogue (from the Greek deka for “ten” and logos for “word”). By contrast, mitsvah is the Hebrew word for “command,” showing that the 10 were never introduced as laws, but as covenant words from Yahweh to the specific people of ancient Israel.
Chapter 2: What Sets These Words Apart?
The 10 Words appear twice in the Torah: first in Exodus 20:2-17 and then in Deuteronomy 5:1-21. While the Torah contains hundreds of commands, the 10 Words stand out for a number of reasons. They’re the only words God etches in stone, making them a pure expression of his will for his people (Exod. 31:18; Deut. 4:13). Their explicit and implicit meanings cover all wisdom on human behavior and flourishing. Even the prohibitive commands, like “Don’t murder,” imply positive wisdom, like “Do protect life” (Exod. 20:6).
Chapter 3: The Foundation for Righteousness and Pathway to Eternal Life
Throughout the rest of the Hebrew Bible and into the New Testament, the 10 Words serve as the foundation for loving God and loving neighbor (Hos. 4:1-2; Jer. 7:8-10; Matt. 5:21, 27). Ultimately, Jesus sees living by the 10 as the pathway to eternal life and the new creation (Matt.19:16-19). The apostles continue this tradition, seeing the 10 Words as wisdom that leads to life through love and faithfulness (Rom. 13:9; Eph. 6:1-3).
Scripture References
Referenced Resources
- The Ten Commandments: Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church by Patrick D. Miller. Miller explores how each command contains both explicit prohibitions and implicit invitations to love and protect others.
Interested in learning more? Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.
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Show Music
- “Aquarelle” by Magiksolo
- “Air” by Magiksolo
- “Atlantic Way” by Stefano Mastronardi
- BibleProject theme song by TENTS
Show Credits
Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.