The Ten Commandments | Catholic Central 

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The issue you’ve brought up is a common topic of discussion in both this forum as well as within religious circles. Different religious traditions have different and varying perspectives on this matter. You are correct in saying that the 10 Commandments were written by the finger of God. Catholics believe this as well - that the tablets that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai were indeed created by God. These are the fundamental moral laws give by God to the people of Israel. When it comes to variations in the wording of the 10 Commandments, there are not only differences in the way different faith denominations see them today, but there are even differences in how they are represented in the Bible, particularly in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. There are also differences due to translations and versions of the Bible, however, the core ideals and moral issues conveyed by the 10 Commandments remain consistent across these versions. Most Catholic scholars and theologians feel that these differences are variations in expression rather than contradictions in substance. The essential “Truths” or moral teachings in the 10 Commandments, such as prohibitions of murder, theft, adultery, and bearing false witness, as well as the worship of God as the one true God and the only God are consistent throughout these variations. These variations do not diminish the divine origin or authority of the 10 Commandments. These commandments reflect the eternal and unchanging moral law of God.

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We have answered this question several times in this forum, please refer to those answers.

Hi @ml565, we have answered this question innumerable times - the gist of it is that we did not change the Commandments. Please scroll through the comments to see more in-depth replies to both parts of your comment.

@@CatholicCentralVideos Well where did the original second commandment go on graven images? You deleted it completely. You re-wrote the sabbath commandment deleting the text that says 6 days shall you work and you shall rest the seventh day and moved it to 3rd. You then had to shift the 5th through 9th commandments up to 4 through 8. To make the number come out to 10 again you split the original 10th commandment on coveting into 2 commandments. All of this is in violation of what Matthew wrote in Matthew 5:18.

​​@@macfranks2456, no. The Catholic Church lists the Ten Commandments in their entirety. The short form used in this video is a catechetical tool. You should have the Commandments memorized so that your memory automatically fills in "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work," etc. when you see or hear "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." And your memory should fill in "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments" when you see or hear "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." And yes, the Christian Church does *indeed* have the authority to change the Sabbath to Sunday, which is the Lord's day, no matter what pagans claim for it, and no matter that rather silly "Christians" like you and your ilk falsely ascribe the change to paganism seeping into the Church, rather stupidly ignoring the facts 1) that the Resurrection changed everything, 2) that it occurred on the first day of the week. You also ignore the fact that Jesus gave to His Apostles His authority to bind and loose, and that the Apostles passed this authority on to their successors, the bishops. Furthermore, you ignore the historical reality that, in the early days of the Church, Jewish Christians worshiped on Saturday while Gentile Christians worshiped on Sunday, but before the third century, the bishops of the Church, using the authority of Jesus that came to them from Jesus through the Apostles, loosed Jewish believers from worshiping on the Sabbath and bound them to worshiping on the Day of the Resurrection.

@@macfranks2456 The division and numbering of the Commandments have varied throughout the centuries. The numbering that is common within Catholic teaching is that of St. Augustine, which differs from other Christian formulations found among Orthodox Churches and Reformed communities (Catechism 2066). Concerning the commandment in question, Augustine saw it as merely an extension of the first: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exod. 20:3). In light of the context, it seems Augustine was right, for immediately after God prohibits “graven images,” he says, “You shall not bow down to them or serve them” (Exod. 20:5). The prohibition is idolatry, which is the same commandment as the first. Augustine would also distinguish between “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house” and “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” as two distinct commandments. Sure, covetousness is the subject of both commands, but the object of coveting is not. Your neighbor’s wife is not merely a material good like your neighbor’s house.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d0Bi5xrsE-s.htmlsi=rbB_C0p6KAxDcdLA

We are not sure what you are asking.

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Yes that's the arrangements of God commandments "TRU"

We could tell you but we would prefer that you watch the video. 😊

The Catholic Church and most of the Christian denominations that followed centuries later did not change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Sabbath, which means "rest" in Hebrew, is traditionally observed on Saturday in Judaism. Christians, however, believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, which they refer to as the "Lord's Day" or the "Day of Resurrection." As Christianity grew and became more distinct from Judaism, Sunday became increasingly recognized as the primary day of worship among Christians. Over time, this became the norm for the Catholic Church and most Christian denominations. It's worth noting that the concept of a weekly day of rest is not unique to Christianity or Judaism. Many cultures and religions have their own traditions of weekly or periodic days of rest and worship.

@@CatholicCentralVideos is there problem though upholding the original sabbath?

Hi flipmaster, No, it is not a problem. When you think of it, the day of the calendar week that a faith tradition picks as its “Sabbath” is arbitrary. For all we know, when creation was wrapped up in 7th days, that day could have been what we now call Wednesday. The Bible does not specify "Saturday" or "Sunday," and the Hebrew calendar itself was based on astronomical configurations unrelated to Scripture. What is important is that we set aside that one day a week and keep it “holy” to recognize our Maker as the benevolent and all-powerful creator of everything that is.

This is not the whole story. Please see the official papal cannon 29 from the council of Laodicea which reads “Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Chr-st”. I am Jewish believer in Chr-st, and while we are all one in messiah, the changing of the sabbath date, as the cannon shows, has a basis in hatred, not love. Since I am both a Jew, and a believer in Chr-st, am I anathema? Would Jesus really tell you to condemn his people to hell, for honoring his father’s commandments? No. Of course not. It’s time to start following what G-d says; stop honoring a false doctrine that has no basis in the law and is an abomination to the lord, as it is written.

@@RighteousAL Hi Righteous Al, thank you for your comment. We do not believe you to be an anathema. We also do not think that anyone would go to Hell for celebrating their sabbath on a different day from another faith tradition. What is important is that they keep their sabbath. The Church fathers, in the Council of Laodicea, wrote this decree to definitively separate Christianity from Judaism. While in the longview, it seems as if this is particularly harsh (and it was), you have to keep in mind the time when this was written. Christianity was making a break from Judaism as well as becoming the recognized faith of the Roman Empire. Basically, it was coming out of the catacombs and flexing its muscles. The Church has grown in numerous areas in the intervening 1700 years.

Thanks for bringing this up. The distinction between "kill" and "murder" in the context of the commandment "thou shalt not kill" is often debated, particularly within religious and ethical discussions. The Catholic Church's interpretation of this commandment is rooted in the broader principles of the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of every person. In Catholic teaching, the commandment "thou shalt not kill" is understood as a prohibition against the unjust taking of innocent human life. This encompasses both intentional killing, which would be considered murder, and other actions that directly result in the death of an innocent person, such as abortion, euthanasia, and certain forms of warfare. The Catholic Church recognizes the legitimacy of self-defense and the defense of others in certain circumstances. However, even in these situations, the Church emphasizes the importance of ensuring that such actions are necessary, proportionate, and carried out with a respect for human dignity. Therefore, while the distinction between "kill" and "murder" may be debated in some contexts, the Catholic understanding of the commandment emphasizes the broader principle of respecting the sanctity of human life and refraining from actions that unjustly deprive others of this fundamental right.

@@CatholicCentralVideosoh friend, I understand the Catholic interpretation, I grew up Catholic. I suppose I am a rebel, because I study the Bible for myself. My dad, a dedicated Baptist taught me scriptures when Mom wasn't around, because reading scriptures was discouraged in the Catholic church. I didn't understand that. Years ago, when I first began studying scriptures I just wanted to know who was right....Mom or dad? But, after a while I was hooked! Back on track...🤔 The Septuagint scripture actually reads, "murder". I make my life simple...if scriptures say it, that's what I Believe. God Bless

This is all true, but we should also not capitalize pronouns for Mary, that only helps to confuse the issue.

The "Catholic Version" has not omitted anything. The translations may differ, but we believe in the same 10 Commandments as everyone else. If you would take a moment to read the several replies we have already made to similar comments, you could see for yourself.

​@@CatholicCentralVideos no offense to you at all, but having read all your other responses, this feels a bit like gaslighting. You'll answer differently depending on how someone phrased their statement. If they didn't mention what the second commandment is and just say that they were changed, then you discuss translational differences in depth in your reply to them without addressing the complete lack of graven images or acknowledgement that graven images is what they're referring to. However, if they make clear that #2 is graven images and say you've omitted it completely, then you tell them to seek out other replies to other comments, though in those replies you haven't addressed the issue of number 2 being completely skipped at all. So rather than just argue with people that are correct by the way, you might do better for yourself by pausing to reflect and think about it. It really is okay to dwell on a thought or ask the holy spirit for godsend guidance on an issue. Stand on the truth even if you stand alone.

It all comes down to numbering. As you know, the biblical text itself (Exodus 20: 1-17) is not numbered. The Catholic Bible uses a numbering system for the Ten Commandments that was created by St. Augustine in the 5th century. This system was based on the Hebrew text. It was later adopted by the Council of Trent. German Lutherans also follow this numbering, except for those who follow the teachings of Bucer. In this system, the First Commandment is about false worship and worshiping false gods, treating them as one sin to avoid. This means the prohibition against idolatry is seen as part and parcel of the command to worship only one God. It does not mean that the prohibition against idolatry itself is unimportant. Likewise, many Protestant traditions combine into a single Commandment what Augustine listed as Commandments 9 and 10 - lust for another’s spouse, and the coveting of another’s wealth and status. The point is that all Christian traditions, regardless of their numbering systems, believe that every word of the biblical text of the Commandments reflects the binding authority of Almighty God. To quibble over numbers is to give the Divider a chance to do his work. In hindsight, which is always 20-20, we should have found a way to present the full and complete text of what Catholics consider the First Commandment. Obviously it would have avoided a good deal of misunderstanding. So here it is - words we cherish, whatever number or numbers precedes them. Let us listen as brothers and sisters, and be of one mind and one heart. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Ex 20: 2-6).

God also never said that the Sabbath was a Friday or a Saturday.

Please see the numerous replies to similar questions on this topic.

@@CatholicCentralVideos Sorry for not scrolling down the multitude of comments that all say the same thing. Having been to many Roman Catholic services, I can confirm that I have personally witnessed both the clergy and the congregation bow to the statue of the Virgin Mary, and even devout followers kiss her feet. I am not making fun of other's beliefs, I am merely commenting that this looks odd. Having been taught to pray "Our Father who art in Heaven...." to an ignoramus like me, it also looks odd that people pray to the Virgin Mary. I suppose I am merely uneducated. Sorry for asking a stupid question.

Hi Polythene WrappedMe, we have answered this one quite a bit as well but, rather than sending you off to look at those answers, we can try to give you an abridged version. We also appreciate the tone of your comments and do not feel as if you are making fun of our beliefs and we doubt that you are an ignoramus. Yes, this may look odd to some, but it is not idolatry. We are not worshiping the statue (nor Mary, for that matter), we pray in front of statues as a way of inspiration. We do not believe that the statue has any power and that God alone should be the focus of our worship. Catholics believe the saints are simply people who have died and gone to heaven. As such, they have a close relationship to God and we ask them to intercede for us - much in the same way you would ask a friend to pray for you. When you see people bow in front of a statue, it is out of reverence for the person. We would suggest you check out our episodes on "Saints" and "Mary" for a more in-depth explanation.

@@CatholicCentralVideos Thank you for your time and patience. I have seen with my own eyes, people bow to a statue of Mary, and I have seen with my own eyes people kiss the feet of the statue. You might call it reverence, kind Sir, but I am sure you are wise enough to see how these actions could cause genuine misunderstandings. Furthermore, do you not pray to Mary ? Do you not pray "Hail Mary" in penitence ? If you can point me to Scripture to show me where I am going wrong; you might be saving a soul. But if these actions are based on the words of man, you can see my concern for your soul, dear Brother. Salvation is a free gift based on Grace, and not [solely] on good works least any man may boast [Ephesians 2:8]. Of course, good works are required in Matthew 5:16.

Yes, it is possible that physical attitudes of prayer can, and do, cause misunderstanding. But that is an issue that falls on the observer to clarify by asking us. Kissing the photograph of a loved one could also be misunderstood as idolatry by someone not familiar with our culture. As for the "Hail Mary," we do not say the prayer in penitence. The first part of the prayer is lifted from scripture, based on the salutations Mary received from the angel Gabriel and Mary's cousin Elizabeth. The second half illustrates our belief that she is in heaven, not a deity, but an intercessor - “pray for us now and at the hour of our death," a request we might ask of anyone we know. Just because Mary is a special person as the Mother of God doesn't mean we hold her as a goddess, or her likeness as a talisman of supernatural power.

Hi Emmison, please see our replies about this elsewhere in the comments section.

The Jewish Sabbath (from Hebrew shavat, “to rest”) is observed throughout the year on the seventh day of the week-Saturday. 😊

@@NewB_12 Again, please see the numerous replies on this issue elsewhere in the comments section.

The Catholic Church teaches that Sunday is the day for Christian worship based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the practice of the early Church. This observance has theological roots in the New Testament and the early Christian community, and the formal recognition by Constantine was a later development that aligned with existing Christian practice rather than creating it.

Please see the many, many responses we have already given on this topic.