Why are not 10 commandments something else?

[PeterKovac]

Everyone knows what are 10 commandments. My question is, why one cannot kill, steal, have other gods, commit adultery and so on. Have you ever thought why? Please share your opinions.

 

[PeterKovac]

Well, it seems that it needs some more. I'd asked friend of my the same question. He said that thats because they are moral rules and everyone knows in heart that it is so. But I think thats not true. What if in some culture is to kill someone, an enemy for instance, a good thing? Or what about cultures where its ok to make love with someone elses wife. They certainly dont have such moral rule in their heart. Commandment say that thou shall not kill. I see that like statement not rule to obey. And when this and others statements from commandments are true? When one have found kingdom of heaven in his heart. If I am not fearfull, jealous, envious and so on, then those statements are true. I dont kill, steal and so on.

 

[Aibrean]

God said so.

 

[PeterKovac]

God said so.

Thank you Aibrean for your reply. What I ment was, why God said so? Why He didnt say something else? Why exactly those 10 commandments?

 

[Aibrean]

They hinge on two principles: love God and love others. God had more laws than just that. It is the base for the other commandments that are in the book of the covenant (to set the Jewish people apart and identify them). Consider it similar to a contract. You have the headings for each area and then you have an in-depth explanation. The 10 commandments are similar to the headings, then later on you have an in-depth explanation. Now, we aren't tied down to those laws but the two principles on which they were founded: love God and love others. You can't love someone and yet kill them, take their spouse, steal from them. You can't love God if you "cheat" on him with idolatry.

 

[PeterKovac]

They hinge on two principles: love God and love others. God had more laws than just that. It is the base for the other commandments that are in the book of the covenant (to set the Jewish people apart and identify them). Consider it similar to a contract. You have the headings for each area and then you have an in-depth explanation. The 10 commandments are similar to the headings, then later on you have an in-depth explanation. Now, we aren't tied down to those laws but the two principles on which they were founded: love God and love others. You can't love someone and yet kill them, take their spouse, steal from them. You can't love God if you "cheat" on him with idolatry.

Yes I agree. accept last sentence. I think that idolatry dont have to break law of loving God and others.

 

[Aibrean]

Idolatry is in essence cheating on God.

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

 

[MrPolo]

These 10 summate that which is of its very nature good or evil. Loving God above all else is inherently good. God decreed it so because it is good to love God. It sounds circular but is no less true when we are talking about an infinite, uncreated, divine being.

 

[PeterKovac]

Idolatry is in essence cheating on God.

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

I am sorry Aibrean. That was my mistake. What Ive been thinking of is adultery not idolatry. What do you think about this commandment? About adultery?

 

[Aibrean]

Do you know anyone who has been cheated on? I have never known anyone to have felt loved because their spouse decided to leave them for someone else o(or have sexual relations with them).

 

[PeterKovac]

These 10 summate that which is of its very nature good or evil. Loving God above all else is inherently good. God decreed it so because it is good to love God. It sounds circular but is no less true when we are talking about an infinite, uncreated, divine being.

What does mean to love God to you MrPolo?

Do you know anyone who has been cheated on? I have never known anyone to have felt loved because their spouse decided to leave them for someone else o(or have sexual relations with them).

Yes I know some. As I have mentioned in my second post.... what if its OK to have sexual relations with someone elses spouse in some culture. They would certainly do not feel that fear of loss of love which is one of basic fears. What if someone love his or hers spouse with unconditional love? If someone thinks that he/she may be loved only if his/hers mate if faithful, that is because he or she would stop loving him or her in this case. I think thats because so few of humans are able to love with UNCONDITIONAL love.

 

[Aibrean]

Man's laws are not God's laws. Just take a look at Sodom and Gomorrah for a prime example. God wiped them out.

"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.

When you abuse the sanctity of marriage, this is against God's law. Disobeying God's law is not a sign of love for God.

 

[MrPolo]

What does mean to love God to you MrPolo?

Giving of self in favor of God. True love is sacrificial love. When God came to earth, He showed us how much He loved us. You can tell when you look at the Cross.

 

[ThomasDa]

Everyone knows what are 10 commandments. My question is, why one cannot kill, steal, have other gods, commit adultery and so on. Have you ever thought why? Please share your opinions.

Because these things are not arbitrary.
They are inherently wrong.
These things are not wrong because God says they are wrong.
God tells us, because they are wrong.
God did not pull these things out of His hat.
God reveals to us that they are wrong so we can avoid pain...because He loves us.
These thing were wrong before God told us they were wrong.
These things have always been wrong and will always be wrong.

 

[Deut 5:29]

Because these things are not arbitrary.
They are inherently wrong.
These things are not wrong because God says they are wrong.
God tells us, because they are wrong.
God did not pull these things out of His hat.
God reveals to us that they are wrong so we can avoid pain...because He loves us.
These thing were wrong before God told us they were wrong.
These things have always been wrong and will always be wrong.

You are right about that. Things aren't right or wrong because God says they are; things are right or wrong because they are right or wrong.
In revealing these things to us God expresses and reveals His love and concern for us.

 

[PeterKovac]

Man's laws are not God's laws. Just take a look at Sodom and Gomorrah for a prime example. God wiped them out.

When you abuse the sanctity of marriage, this is against God's law. Disobeying God's law is not a sign of love for God.

You have mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah....its very interresting part of Scriptures but its worth of special thread :-D .....what about kids disobeying parents laws? Is it ok for parents to stop loving their kids for that? ...I dont think that keeping laws or rules of anybody is the only sign of love. It may be sign of fear also. I mean that God knows better than anyone of us if someone loves him or not. Keeping His laws may be one thing to do to show that. But probably not only one. .....sanctity of marriage... what if someone is married more than once? What if first marriage was not blessed by God? Who can judge what is right in Gods eyes? Only Him I think.

Giving of self in favor of God. True love is sacrificial love. When God came to earth, He showed us how much He loved us. You can tell when you look at the Cross.

Nice reply mrPolo. One question comes to my mind anyway. What if is there a couple which dont have to sacrifice anything. They are happy with their soulmates in every aspect. They dont want to change anything about them. Looks like they are "born" to live with each other.... without sacrifice is it not a true love blessed by God? I think that true love is unconditional love. To love no matter what. Like God. He loves us no matter what.

Because these things are not arbitrary.
They are inherently wrong.
These things are not wrong because God says they are wrong.
God tells us, because they are wrong.
God did not pull these things out of His hat.
God reveals to us that they are wrong so we can avoid pain...because He loves us.
These thing were wrong before God told us they were wrong.
These things have always been wrong and will always be wrong.

Since God have created everything, He must create them the way that they are wrong to us. And He told us that they are wrong. But even though holding hand on hot stove is definitely wrong to us, touching that stove and feeling some pain may be actually good to us. You may learn something which may save your life later.

 

[solarwave]

In my opinion the 10 commandments as incomplete because they leave out some fundementally wrong things. For example I don't think it says anywhere that you can't harm another person.

 

[Aibrean]

Solarwave...the issue is people think the 10 commandments is all the law and it's not. There is more in Exodus and also Leviticus that explains more in-depth.

 

[ThomasDa]

In my opinion the 10 commandments as incomplete because they leave out some fundementally wrong things. For example I don't think it says anywhere that you can't harm another person.

Jesus came to magnify the Law, to give us a fuller understanding of it, to show us the spiritual intent of God's commandments. That's is what He was saying when He said He did not come to destory but to fulfill. The word He used, translated "fulfill" in this passage means to fill up, to add to our understanding, not to do away with. As He explained it's not good enough to just not murder someone or commit adultery, we must not even hate or lust.
God's commandments are all about love.
When we begin to understand them as expounded by Jesus it is more than obvious that they teach us we must not harm others; that is their very essence.

 

[solarwave]

Solarwave...the issue is people think the 10 commandments is all the law and it's not. There is more in Exodus and also Leviticus that explains more in-depth.

Some of which are immoral?

Anyway I don't want to really argue this, my point is just that the 10 commandments are incomplete but can be helpful.

Jesus came to magnify the Law, to give us a fuller understanding of it, to show us the spiritual intent of God's commandments. That's is what He was saying when He said He did not come to destory but to fulfill. The word He used, translated "fulfill" in this passage means to fill up, to add to our understanding, not to do away with. As He explained it's not good enough to just not murder someone or commit adultery, we must not even hate or lust.
God's commandments are all about love.
When we begin to understand them as expounded by Jesus it is more than obvious that they teach us we must not harm others; that is their very essence.

That still leaves a few hundred years without fulfillment.

But I do agree that true goodness is found in Jesus.