Ten Commandments Questioned
- Submitted by: squeela70
- Views: 487
- Category: History: Religion
- Date Submitted: 11/10/2011 03:13 PM
- Pages: 4
- Report this Essay
Ten Commandments Questioned
The Ten Commandments of the Bible have often been a subject of controversy and interpretation. They are felt to be the foundation of the laws of God, which the people of Israel agreed to follow in devotion to God, and in turn, God promised they would be a holy nation. The commandments seem to be written clearly and succinct however many people question their hypocrisy throughout the Bible.
The fifth commandment, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12), is one that is difficult for me to understand with regard to so many parents who abuse their children. It seems to be an impossible demand to make upon a child of an abuser, whether the child is young or even an adult. I believe we sometimes read more into the Commandment than is specifically written because honor does not necessarily include love or respect. God does expect us to be forgiving of others as He is of us (Nickels, 2006). One scripture that can bring more understanding of this commandment is "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them who curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other …Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful" (Luke 6:27-36). There are several other scriptures in the Bible that help this commandment make more sense, including “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:37). I think it is important to understand that exercising mercy as God directs us to do in the scriptures above, does not mean condoning the things that someone may have done.
The sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), also brings to mind the question of how to follow this law of God, when a seemingly opposing commandment (considered of the Book of the Covenant), states “…thou shalt give...
The Ten Commandments of the Bible have often been a subject of controversy and interpretation. They are felt to be the foundation of the laws of God, which the people of Israel agreed to follow in devotion to God, and in turn, God promised they would be a holy nation. The commandments seem to be written clearly and succinct however many people question their hypocrisy throughout the Bible.
The fifth commandment, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12), is one that is difficult for me to understand with regard to so many parents who abuse their children. It seems to be an impossible demand to make upon a child of an abuser, whether the child is young or even an adult. I believe we sometimes read more into the Commandment than is specifically written because honor does not necessarily include love or respect. God does expect us to be forgiving of others as He is of us (Nickels, 2006). One scripture that can bring more understanding of this commandment is "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them who curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other …Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful" (Luke 6:27-36). There are several other scriptures in the Bible that help this commandment make more sense, including “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:37). I think it is important to understand that exercising mercy as God directs us to do in the scriptures above, does not mean condoning the things that someone may have done.
The sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), also brings to mind the question of how to follow this law of God, when a seemingly opposing commandment (considered of the Book of the Covenant), states “…thou shalt give...