The Gospel commandments are nothing more than instructions, instructions to people that they should follow in their earthly life every day. They were not left in the form of a list or any other set of rules. These commandments are the instructions of Jesus Christ himself, spoken by him during his sermons and subsequently written down by his disciples.
These instructions are often confused with the main Christian commandments given to Moses by God himself. Because of this confusion, disagreements often arise in understanding their quantity, as well as their essence and content.
What are the main Christian commandments?
These commandments are the pillar of faith; they are a kind of main set of Christian laws and regulations. In other words, each of the basic commandments is a dogma, an inviolable injunction, which every believer is obliged to follow in life.
The main difference between these instructions and those called “gospel commandments” is their origin. The main precepts of Christianity, according to the Bible, were compiled by God himself, that is, the father of Jesus, and transmitted to people long before the birth of the Savior. In other words, Christ himself followed these moral laws and relied on them in his sermons.
The Eighth Commandment speaks of those who were persecuted for the sake of righteousness
Christians know that Truth is the Lord. That is why He is also called the Sun of Truth. For him, for the Truth, Christians accepted and accept suffering.
That is why the path of a Christian is considered the path of a warrior of Christ. Even if there is no persecution or oppression, a Christian is always forced to fight sin.
Ilya Glazunov. Eternal Russia. The period of persecution of Orthodoxy in Russia during the Soviet era is an example of the commandment about those expelled for their faith
Many of those around him do not accept a righteous lifestyle. Therefore, a believer can be subject to ridicule and reproach. That is why the Lord promises the Kingdom of Heaven to those who suffered for the truth.
On the origin of the basic commandments
The Bible describes in great detail the story of the transmission to Moses of the tablets with the law of God carved on them, that is, with a list of commandments. This happened on the fiftieth day after the Jews left Egypt, on Mount Sinai, located on the peninsula of the same name.
The description in the Bible is filled with colorful details. Mention is made of the shaking of the earth, fire around the mountain, thunder, and flashes of lightning. The roar of the elements blocked the voice of God, uttering the words of moral instructions and commandments. After everything calmed down, Moses came down from the mountain, holding two “Tablets of the Covenant” in his hands. They are often called “Tablets of Testimony.”
After Moses descended from the foot of Sinai with the Commandments in his hands, he saw that the people he had led out of Egypt had forgotten about God and were indulged in revelry, feasting and merriment around the Golden Calf. The Golden Calf refers to idolatry. A similar name for an idol is often found on the pages of the books of the Old Testament when describing the actions of people who apostatized from the faith in one God.
Seeing this, Moses fell into an indescribable rage and broke the tablets given to him. Of course, this action caused strong repentance not only in the soul of the prophet, but also among the people. Seeing the depth of sorrow in people's hearts, God commanded Moses to ascend Sinai again. The data are again tablets and are described in the book of Deuteronomy. For this reason it is named so.
Story
When Moses, saving Christians, led the Jews out of Egypt, where they had been slaves for the last 200 years. When, in search of land to settle, they came to Mount Sinai, they heard the commandments of God.
The mountain was completely covered with clouds, thunder roared and lightning flashed. Among the riot of nature and the noise of the wind, the Jews clearly heard the voice of God reading his commandments to them. Then Moses, at the behest of the Almighty, prepared two stone slabs and climbed up the mountain. God himself inscribed his 10 commandments on the tablets.
Moses spent 40 days on the mountain. When he went down, he saw the fall of his people. They worshiped the golden calf, forgetting about God and the rules of righteous life. Then the prophet in his hearts broke the tablets against the rock. The Jewish people were amazed by this act and repented. After this, the Lord ordered him to cut out 2 more stone plates and bring them to him to write new commandments.
According to church scripture, the second text of the Commandment is slightly different from the first. They were conventionally divided into Jewish and Christian. In fact, nine commandments were proclaimed. The Orthodox Church, most Protestants and Greek Catholics divide the 2nd commandment into two. The Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches divide the ninth commandment into two parts.
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ announced the Beatitudes - 9 provisions for the life of a blessed person. Next came the interpretation of the commandments and rules of behavior during holidays, fasts and how a Christian should behave in everyday life and communication with other people. On the pages of the Gospel of Matthew, you can read the speech of Christ, presented in a recitative form for easy memorization and mastery.
INTERESTING: The Crucifixion of Christ.
What does God's basic commandments say?
Moses was given ten instructions designed to become a guide for every believer in life. They are extremely simple and well known:
- I am the Lord your God; Let you have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth below, or that is in the water under the earth; do not worship them or serve them.
- Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall work and do all your work, but the seventh day, the Sabbath, is for the Lord your God.
- Honor your father and your mother, so that your days on earth may be long.
- Dont kill.
- Don't commit adultery.
- Don't steal.
- Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house; You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
Different Christian denominations attach different importance to the texts of the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. However, these discrepancies are not particularly significant and do not have fundamental differences in understanding the essence of the commandments. Rather, disagreements serve as topics for theological debate.
The list of commandments called the “Decalogue” is considered separately. These texts have significant differences from the generally accepted ones. They list direct instructions, a kind of rules of behavior. For example, the list of the Decalogue opens with an injunction stating that the sons of Israel should not enter into alliances, including marriage, with the inhabitants of the countries where they find themselves. There are also lines calling for the destruction of altars and the burning of images of other gods. These regulations are also called commandments. However, the set of instructions from the book of Deuteronomy is still accepted as a moral guide for life, a pillar of faith.
Book of Commandments. Commandments "Thou shalt not": 11-15
Prohibitions of idolatry.
11th commandment -
the prohibition to erect sacrificial pedestals around which people would gather and show them signs of respect, even if these pedestals are created to serve
Hashem
, so that our service to Him, blessed be He, is not likened to idolatry.
After all, this is what idolaters do: they put up pedestals and place their idols on them. And about this is His saying, may He be exalted, prohibiting it: “ And do not set up for yourself sacrificial pedestals, which are hateful
to Hashem your G-d
” ( Devarim
16:22). Anyone who violates this prohibition is punishable by scourging.
12th commandment -
the prohibition to prepare stone floorings in order to bow down on them, prostrating before the idol.
And this is prohibited even if the flooring is laid out for the worship of Hashem
, exalted be He. This prohibition serves the same purpose as the previous one: so that we do not become like idolaters. After all, this is what they do: they lay out a skillful pattern of stones in front of their idols and worship them on this flooring.
Hashem said
, may He be exalted: “
Do not make stone flooring with images on your land to worship on it
” (
Vayikra
26:1). Anyone who violates this prohibition is punishable by scourging.
And in Sifra
(
Bear
) it is said: ““Do not do it on your land” - throughout your land you are forbidden to fall on your face on the stone floors, but in the Temple it is allowed.”
The laws related to the fulfillment of this commandment are explained in Tractate Megillah
(22b).
13th commandment -
the prohibition of planting trees in the Temple or near the altar in order to decorate it and show honor to the Sanctuary, even if a person intended to do this for the sake of serving
Hashem
. After all, this is how idols are revered, by planting beautiful, eye-catching trees near the temples of idols and inside them.
Hashem said
, may He be exalted: “
shall not plant for yourself idolatrous trees or any trees at the altar of
Hashem your G-d
” ( Devarim
16:21). Anyone who violates this prohibition is punishable by scourging.
The laws related to the fulfillment of this commandment are explained in Tractate Tamid
(28b), and it is explained there that planting trees is prohibited throughout the Temple.
14th commandment -
prohibition to swear by the name of an idol, and even to swear before idolaters by the name of the idol they serve.
And it is also forbidden to take an oath from idolaters in the name of an idol, as explained in the saying of our sages ( Mekhilta
,
Shoftim
): “Do not take an oath from a Gentile by his gods.”
And about this is His saying, may He be exalted: “ Do not mention the names of other gods
” (
Shemot
23:13) - do not take an oath from a Gentile in the name of his god.
And it is also said there (in the Mekhilta
): “Do not mention...” - do not promise or make a pledge in the name of an idol.”
And the treatise Sanhedrin
(63b) says: “Do not mention...” so that one does not say to another: “Wait for me near such and such an idol.”
And the one who violated this prohibition, i.e. whoever swears by something deified by idolaters is punishable by scourging. And it is said in the treatise Sanhedrin
(63a) that, although all forms of manifestation of love and respect for idols are prohibited, for example, hugging them, kissing them, etc., of all such actions, “only swearing and taking a vow in the name of an idol is punishable by scourging.”
The laws related to the fulfillment of this commandment are explained in the 7th chapter of Tractate Sanhedrin
.
15th commandment -
the prohibition to call and persuade others to serve idols, even if the caller himself does not serve them and does not commit any other prohibited actions other than this incitement;
and this is the case if he seduces many (the majority of the inhabitants of the city). Such a person is called a madiah
(instigator).
And about this is the saying of Hashem
, may He be exalted: “If... villains came out from among you and incited the inhabitants of their city, saying: “Let us go and serve other deities” ...” (
Devarim
13:14).
But about the one who tempts only one or a few, it is said in another saying of Hashem
: “If your brother... or your son, or your daughter, or your wife, or your soulmate tempts you, saying secretly: “Let us go and serve other gods” ...” (ibid. 13:7);
such a person is called a mesit
(tempter). However, this 15th commandment refers only to the “instigator.”
The warning to the “instigator” is contained in the following saying of Hashem
, may He be exalted: “
Let it not be heard
(the name of other gods)
from your lips
” (
Shemot
23:13).
Said in Tractate Sanhedrin
(63b): “The prohibition “Let it not be heard from your mouth” does not apply to the secret “tempter,” because he is clearly spoken of in another verse (
Deuteronomy
13:12): “And all Israel will hear and fear, and will no longer be to do such evil…” (ND 16). But this is a warning to the “instigator.”
And the same is said in the book Mekhilta Derabi Ishmael
: “Let it not be heard from your lips” - a warning to the “instigator.”
Anyone who violates this prohibition is sentenced to stoning. In the treatise Sanhedrin
(67a) says: “Those who incite the city to serve idols are sentenced to stoning.”
The laws associated with the fulfillment of this commandment are explained in the tenth chapter of Tractate Sanhedrin
(111-113).
Reprinted with permission from Shvut Ami Publishing House
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What is meant by the gospel commandments?
This name refers to all those sayings that Jesus spoke during his sermons. They in no way contradict the commandments of Moses, that is, God's law transmitted to people on the tablets. The Gospel commandments of Jesus Christ are a kind of explanation of the instructions set out on the tablets, additions to them.
The sayings recorded by the apostles from the sermons of Jesus are not a set of laws or rules. These are a kind of pointers, guidelines, by listening to which and following them, a person will be able to live righteously and get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the fourth commandment, Christ promises to satisfy those who seek true knowledge of God
This commandment is not about those who constantly complain, conflict with others, are outraged by the actions of the authorities, etc. Jesus Christ here speaks about those people who desire the Highest Truth, that is, life in God. For such people, God's law is more important than all human laws.
An antique bible from the 16th century. The Bible sets forth Divine teaching. The Lord appointed the Church as the bearer of God’s Truth
The Lord gave us the word of God. This is the Bible. It sets forth the Divine teaching. The bearer of God's Truth is the Church. Every Christian should thirst for this truth like a hungry man.
To do this, you need to visit the Temple, read church literature, the Gospel, and pray. As a result, such people receive saturation from the eternal source - our Savior Lord Jesus Christ.
What books contain these commandments?
The commandments of Christ are evangelical precisely because they were written down by his disciples, the apostles. Of course, they are given a lot of attention in all existing Gospels. However, the sayings of Jesus are most detailed and intelligibly described in the books of Luke, Matthew and Mark. It is these Gospels that are most often quoted when it comes to Christ’s commandments.
The main moral precepts, called the “Gospel Beatitudes,” are described in the books of Luke and Matthew. The Apostle Mark pays more attention to the entire Sermon on the Mount as a whole, without placing emphasis.
What is the difference between the commandments of Moses and those of Christ?
The basic precepts of Christianity list what leads to sinfulness. In other words, what is not appropriate for a Christian to do. The Gospel commandments of Jesus, on the contrary, explain to people what properties of the soul and qualities of character must be possessed in order to live righteously and enter the Kingdom of God.
The law of God was given to people in ancient times. Even during the life of Christ, the times of the Old Testament were already considered days long past, a very distant past. Man at that time was much weaker spiritually than in the first years after the advent of our era. He was much closer to primitiveness and could not always keep his own primitive impulses and nature “in check.” Accordingly, the direct purpose of the main Christian commandments was to keep people from the primitive and sinful properties of their nature - from anger, inability to value other people's lives or property, greed, desire for base bodily pleasures and other similar things.
The Gospel commandments appeared in much later times. They became a kind of evolutionary step, the next step in the spiritual development of people. They are not called upon to keep us from sinfulness or to show what is evil and bad. These instructions are addressed to people who are already enlightened, who understand what virtue is and what is its opposite. These instructions show people exactly how to live, act and think in order to get closer to Christian holiness and gain the Kingdom of God.
The sixth commandment speaks of the pure in heart who will see God
Purity of heart in this commandment means spiritual and mental purity. A person must abstain not only from sinful acts, but also from sinful thoughts. A person may not kill another or steal, but still be absolutely sinful.
Video: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:
- Osipov A.I.
Any dark thoughts will subsequently become dark deeds. Only a person with pure thoughts can become closer to God and see him.
He who is unclean will not see the Lord. You can see the Lord only with the help of a pure heart and a pure soul. If they are clouded by sin, then a person will never see God.
Why are Jesus' commandments called "blessed"?
The simplest explanation for this name is that it came from the content of the texts of the instructions. The lines of the commandments begin with the words “Blessed are those...”. But there is a more complex explanation of this name.
The Gospel Beatitudes received their name in accordance with their purpose and purpose. In other words, the name tells people that following these injunctions in their normal daily life will lead them to eternal bliss.
How many of these commandments are there?
Orthodox icons with complex, composite plots depict the 9 Gospel commandments. The same number of covenants of Jesus is spoken of in the Gospel of Matthew. However, it is quite difficult to imagine that Jesus, who actively preached during his life, constantly talking with his disciples, with people who came to him and with the Pharisees, limited himself to only nine instructions.
Of course, Christ said much more; the famous Sermon on the Mount alone, mentioned in each of the Gospels, contains a much larger number of sayings. The nine precepts are the basic gospel commandments. In other words, these are the covenants that express the essence of Christianity.
However, when asking the question about the number of covenants left by Jesus, we must not forget that they have reached our days not directly, but through the prism of perception and understanding of the teachings of the apostles, who were ordinary people. The Gospel of Luke, for example, presents the commandments of Christ in a completely different way. According to the authorship of Luke, there are four Beatitudes and the same number of their opposites, called the Commandments of Woe.
The Ten Gospel Commandments are often mentioned in theological works. In this case, we are not talking about the basic instructions left by Jesus, but about what he said in the Sermon on the Mount. Most of it concerned the explanation and commentary of the basic laws of God, transmitted on the tablets to Moses.
What do these commandments say? Scroll
The Gospel commandments tell people how to live in order to find eternal bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven. The list of them, according to the authorship of Matthew, looks briefly like this (all commandments begin with the word “Blessed”):
- the poor in spirit, since the path to the Kingdom of Heaven is open to them;
- those who mourn, because they will be comforted;
- the meek, for they will inherit the earth;
- those who hunger for righteousness will be satisfied;
- merciful ones, because they themselves will find it;
- those who are pure in heart will see the Lord;
- those who humble themselves will be called sons of God;
- those expelled because of righteousness - the Kingdom of Heaven awaits them;
- reviled for their faith, they will receive a great reward after earthly life.
It is not very easy for a modern person to understand the meaning of the Christian commandments listed in the Gospels without additional explanation. Especially often questions arise regarding the meaning of the first commandment, which speaks of the poor in spirit.
Love is the basis of the gospel law
The Bible contains the commandments of the Old and New Testaments. The commandments of the Old Testament were given to people by God, who sent the prophet Moses to write them down. The purpose of the commandments is to protect humanity from evil, as well as to warn about the dangers of sin.
Having appeared in the world, Jesus Christ concluded a New Covenant with people and gave them the commandments of the Gospel. The basis of this law is called love. It should be noted that Christ did not abolish the old commandments, but filled them with new content.
Thus humanity was brought to a new level of holiness. The New Testament already talks about how a Christian should live, and does not simply establish prohibitions in order to protect humanity from sin.
Icon. Moses receives the Tablets of the Covenant, Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery. God gave commandments to people through the prophet Moses
Jesus Christ, having atoned for the sins of mankind, concluded a New Covenant with God and gave him new commandments.
There are two commandments of love in the Old Testament. They are declared in the Gospel to be the basis of the entire Divine Law and determine the content of all other commandments.
In addition, these commandments are declared by Jesus to be the most important in answering the question of the highest human law. Thus, when the Pharisee, who knows the laws, asks Christ which commandment is the most important of all the commandments, He answers like this:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart...
The second one is similar to it:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
(Matt. 22:37-40)
Love for God is the main characteristic of a Christian. Next comes love for your neighbor. At the same time, Christ speaks not only about forgiveness, but also love. For example, by saying “love your enemy,” the Savior goes further than the commandments of the Old Testament. He calls to forgive each other, and not to take revenge for evil deeds.
What is the first commandment about? Interpretation
What should be understood by poverty of spirit? Is spiritual poverty capable of opening the way to the Kingdom of God? Why then develop, strive for righteousness, protect the soul from the fall? These and other similar questions invariably arise in everyone who has read the Gospel commandments. The interpretation of the expression “poor in spirit” is quite multifaceted. But all existing options for understanding this phrase come down to one thing - we are not talking about poverty or mental underdevelopment.
The most famous interpretation of the meaning of this expression given by John Chrysostom, theologian and archbishop of Constantinople. Its essence is that the commandment is about the presence of humility as a spiritual quality. Other theologians interpret the first commandment of Jesus in the same semantic vein.
Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov), in a work called “Ascetic Experiences,” complements the interpretation of John. The bishop writes that the spiritual poverty spoken of in the first commandment is nothing more than people’s humble concept of themselves. That is, the absence of conceit, the presence of sincere trust in the Lord, inner modesty.
What do biblical scholars think about these commandments?
Biblical studies is a separate scientific field within which ancient religious texts are studied. This discipline arose not at all because of a skeptical attitude towards religion, but out of necessity. Without exception, all texts, including the Bible and the Gospels, have been rewritten and translated, adapted and interpreted many times. Accordingly, therefore, the discrepancies are quite large.
Biblical scholars, studying existing versions of texts and subjecting them to scientific criticism, determine what was most likely written in the original sources. Of course, scientists could not ignore the gospel commandments.
When studying the Gospels, it was found that in the original source, with a high degree of probability, only three commandments were mentioned. They were talking about the poor, the hungry and the mourning. Biblical scholars consider the remaining prescriptions to be derivatives of these three, a kind of additions or options for interpretation and clarification.
