1. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
“YOU SHALL
NOT MURDER.”
(Ex. 20:13 / Dt. 5:17)

2. This commandment is basically against
murder and thus affirms and upholds
the sanctity of human life.
In its original sense, this commandment was
meant to put an end to “the practice of
killing a fellow-Israelite in the context of
blood-vengeance.” In ancient times, revenge
was a common practice of getting “a rough
form of justice between tribes.”

3. It is against the putting of the law into
one’s hands.
With this law and with the advent of
judicial system in Israel, assurance was
made that each man receives a fair trial.
This is a new way of implementing justice
in Israel.

4. FOR US TODAY:
God commands us to respect the life and
health of our body and soul as well as that
of our neighbor.
We sin against it by: suicide, murder,
fighting, striking or wounding without
reasons or authority, and by shortening or
exposing life and health unnecessarily to
risks. Included also are: uncharitable words,
feelings of hatred, envy, anger, scandal.

5. In general, this commandment is extended
beyond revenge to Anything that assaults the
dignity of human life. It takes into
account not only the physical killing but even
psychological and/or moral killing.
Note: “Life is the most precious gift from God.
Nothing can take its place. We must remember
that life is a gift which we receive from God only
once. Life must always be protected and upheld.

6. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
“YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.” (Ex. 20:14)
“NEITHER SHALL YOU COMMIT ADULTERY.” (Dt. 5:18)
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
“YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR
NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE . . . WIFE . . . “
(Ex. 20:17)
“NEITHER SHALL YOU COVET
YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE.” (Dt. 5:21)

7. Historically and even now, these
commandments uphold the sanctity of
marriage and the preservation of the bonds
of marriage.
We can say therefore that the immediate aim
of these commandments is the protection of
the basic unit of the society, family. It was so
basic that respect for every member of the
family was demanded.

8. Violation of these commandments was a sin
against the married person, the community
and Yahweh Himself.
These commandments also protect the
sacredness of marriage in which the couple
freely chooses to give themselves totally to
each other. It forbids married persons from
entering into sexual union with someone
other than their spouse.

9. In particular, the 9th commandment stresses
the source of sin as the covetousness of the
heart.
“All that is in the world, lust of the flesh, enticement of
the eye, pride of life, is not from the Father.” (1 Jn
2:16) (cf. also Mt. 15:19ff.; Mt. 5:7; Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5 )
Today, these commandments extend to all human
acts and even thoughts and desires pertaining to
the “flesh” or purity in one’s sexual life.

10. THE SEVENTH
COMMANDMENT
“YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.”
(Ex. 20:15)
“NEITHER SHALL YOU STEAL.”
(Dt. 5:19)

11. Historically, this commandment does not necessarily refer
to the stealing of property, rather “it referred to the theft
of persons for the purpose of slave-trade.”
This commandment therefore
upholds and defends human freedom.

12. On the other hand, it cannot be denied also that
this Commandment “protected the property of
an Israelite against the claim of another person.
It protected the right of another person over his
legally acquired possessions.”
At present this commandment is often understood
in reference to the 10th Commandment.

13. THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
“YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE
WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR.”
(Ex. 20:16)
NEITHER SHALL YOU BEAR FALSE
WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR.”
(Dt. 5:20)

14. Historically, this commandment “is meant to
maintain the proper functioning of the society’s
legal system . . .”
This commandment therefore assures
man’s right to fair trial.

15. Today, we have the obligation to speak the truth
and to respect the good name and reputation of
every person.
We can say therefore that anything that has
something to do about the “denial of truth or
attacks against truth” is against the eighth
commandment.

16. THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
“NEITHER SHALL YOU COVET YOUR
NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE . . . OR ANYTHING
THAT BELONGS TO YOUR
NEIGHBOR.”
(Dt. 5:21)

17. The Hebrew word for “covet” denotes the entire process
of theft, i.e. from conceiving the idea to the very act itself.
This commandment therefore protects and
upholds man’s right to property.
“This commandment also protected each Israelite’s
property from envy and greed of others. This
commandment was a constant reminder for the Israelites
not to fear deprivation, for the Lord would provide.”
Today: “There is the temptation in a consumer society to
possess everything that we see around us. There is the urge to
own things just to be accepted by others. But we have to
realize that our friends have to accept us for what we are, and
not for our wealth nor the goods that we possess.”