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Christians and scholars often heralded the Ten Commandments as foundational to Western ethics, a moral compass influencing legal systems and societal norms. For a large segment of Christians, the Ten Commandments shape fundamental ethical principles, prohibiting actions such as murder, theft, and dishonesty, and are viewed as integral to the Judeo-Christian tradition that has shaped Western culture.
However, this idea of the Ten Commandments serving as a divine decree has more to do with Hollywood's influence on Christianity than reality. There's no question that the story of the Ten Commandments comes directly from the Hebrew Bible. Specifically, the book of Exodus (chapters 19 and 20) tells us that God gave Moses the sacred laws that shaped the Hebrew Bible.
Christians and scholars often heralded the Ten Commandments as foundational to Western ethics, a moral compass influencing legal systems and societal norms. For a large segment of Christians, the Ten Commandments shape fundamental ethical principles, prohibiting actions such as murder, theft, and dishonesty, and are viewed as integral to the Judeo-Christian tradition that has shaped Western culture.
However, this idea of the Ten Commandments serving as a divine decree has more to do with Hollywood's influence on Christianity than reality. There's no question that the story of the Ten Commandments comes directly from the Hebrew Bible. Specifically, the book of Exodus (chapters 19 and 20) tells us that God gave Moses the sacred laws that shaped the Hebrew Bible.
Despite Christianity's desire to take credit for shaping the modern world's moral codes, the Ten Commandments reveal prejudices, stereotypes, and cultural conditioning rather than timeless truths. This article demonstrates that the Hebrew Bible presents the Ten Commandments as culturally conditioned rather than divine decrees.
Exposing Immorality and Prejudice in the Ten Commandments
One of the most significant indicators that the Ten Commandments were human and not divine decrees is how we see the Israelites violate them when dealing with non-Hebrews.
Not Bearing False Witness
For example, the ninth Commandment forbids lying, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." In Exodus, we see Moses trying to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go on a three-day journey to worship their God. Moses does this based on what God tells him.
In Exodus 3:18, God says,
“They will listen to your voice; you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; let us now go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’”(NRSVUE)
We then see Pharaoh's response to Moses' obedience to God in trying to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go on a three-day journey to worship God.
Exodus 5:1-4,
"Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.’ But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.’ Then they said, ‘The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with a plague or with a sword.’ But the king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labor!’” (NRSVUE)
Three pieces of evidence in this text show that Pharaoh sees through Moses' lies and refuses to be fooled. In Exodus 5:1-5, Pharaoh demonstrates his disbelief in Moses and Aaron’s claims. First, he questions their authority by stating, “Who is the LORD, that I should heed him?” indicating he does not recognize the God of Israel and considers their request lacking credibility. Second, he dismisses their request to allow the Israelites to worship, insisting, “Get to your labor!” This response suggests he views their claim as a mere excuse to escape their work rather than a genuine need for worship. Finally, Pharaoh accuses Moses and Aaron of inciting rebellion, noting that the Israelites are “more numerous than the people of the land” and implying that their request threatens his control. These reactions reveal Pharaoh’s belief that Moses is lying and attempting to undermine his authority.
Here's a massive problem: Exodus 3:18 is God telling Moses what to say. Not only does Moses, along with Aaron, have no issue with lying to Pharaoh that they intend to return to slavery after a three-day journey, but they do so because God told them to! Moses has no intention of leading the enslaved Hebrews on a three-day journey to worship God and then return to Egypt. Moses is lying to convince Pharaoh to permit the Hebrews to leave Egypt.
You Shall Not Murder
Another example is the Sixth Commandment, which forbids murder, "You shall not murder." In Joshua 10:22-27, we see a story in which Joshua murders five captive Canaanite kings. In 1 Samuel 15:32-33, the prophet Samuel cuts a King named Agag into pieces. As if this wasn't enough, again, in 1 Samuel 15:1-13 and Judges 21:8-13, God orders the Hebrews to go to war against two nations. In both situations, God orders that "every man, woman, and child" are killed. Much like the Commandment against lying, in the Hebrew Bible, it seems even God is on board with ignoring it when dealing with non-Hebrews.
Exposing the Patriarchy and Sexism in the Ten Commandments
Commandment seven is "You shall not commit adultery," while Commandment ten is "You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, or possessions. Historically, Christians interpret the Seventh and Tenth commandments to promote a sexual ethic centered on fidelity, integrity, and the sanctity of marriage.
The Seventh Commandment emphasizes marital faithfulness, viewing adultery as a betrayal of the marriage covenant and a sin against God while reinforcing that sexual relations should occur only within marriage as an expression of commitment. The Tenth Commandment warns against lustful desires, which can lead to sinful actions, thereby advocating for self-control and purity of thought.
This interpretation has led to a clear stance against premarital sex, extramarital affairs, and same-sex relationships, framing marriage as a sacred covenant that fosters stable families and communities. Ultimately, these commandments serve as foundational texts that establish a framework for a sexual ethic that prioritizes fidelity and the integrity of relationships.
Here's the problem: These commandments are about patriarchy and sexism. Neither has anything to do with serving as a framework for a timeless sexual ethic. Let me explain; the full context for the tenth Commandment is this:
Exodus 20:17,
*"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (NRSVUE)
Have you ever wondered why both enslaved males and females are mentioned, but only wives are cited as not being coveted? It's because enslaved males and females, along with wives, were considered property but not husbands!
The list within the Commandment lists the male's assets in descending order. A man's most valuable asset was his house, wife, the enslaved ox, and the donkey. Talk about patriarchy on steroids; not only do the Ten Commandments view wives as an asset, they're not even the most valuable ones. If these are timeless decrees from God, what does this say about the value of women across time and history?
Considering this context, the Seventh Commandment takes on a different meaning. For one additional piece of context, within the Ancient Near East, most cultures were polygamous, not monogamous. This context is significant because not only does not commit adultery have nothing to do with what we call the "Christian sexual ethic," but it's rooted back into the notion that wives are property.
The literal meaning of the Seventh Commandment forbidding adultery is about prohibiting a man from violating a woman who was the property of another man. The reason for this was that if a man slept with another man's wife or a father's unmarried daughter, he was devaluing the 'net worth' of the man the woman belonged to. Viewing women this way is immoral and no better than how Americans viewed enslaved Africans during chattel slavery.
The Uncomfortable Truth: The Commandments Are Disregarded When Inconvenient
History is full of examples of Christian cultures disregarding and abandoning commandments when they become inconvenient. For example, the third Commandment says, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." The Commandment originally had nothing to do with profanity. The Commandment refers to matters of legal issues. When a civil contract was made, it was done in the name of the Lord. Therefore, when one party broke the contract agreement, they "took the Lord's name in vain." Today, contracts are not written in the name of the Lord but in the name of courts, so offending parties cannot take the Lord's name in vain.
Since the advent of the Church, the sabbath has not been kept by the majority of Christians. Except for Seventh-Day Adventists, virtually no Christian sects regularly remember or observe the sabbath on Saturdays.
In examining the Ten Commandments, we unearth an uncomfortable truth: they are cultural relics, deeply embedded with societal prejudices and historic patriarchy, rather than the divine and immutable moral codes they are often proclaimed to be. Their selective interpretation, malleability to fit narratives, and blatant disregard for inclusivity expose them as constructs of their time, wielded more as tools of control than genuine ethical guidelines. In a world that continues to evolve, clinging to these commandments as the bedrock of morality risks perpetuating outdated and unjust ideologies. It’s long past due for us to question the divine veneer and reevaluate these dictates within a modern, inclusive, and ethical framework.
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