The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Emily M. during the 2007-2008 League.
The Ten Commandments
You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself an idol
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
Honor your father and your mother
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not give false testimony
You shall not covet
-Exodus 20:2-17
There is a battle in America's courtrooms over the Ten Commandments. The fight is over whether or not it is constitutional to display the Ten Commandments in courtrooms or on any government property. Why is there so much debate? What are the Ten Commandments and why are they so important?
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt after four-hundred years of slavery. They had been in Egypt for so long they hardly knew the Lord. The Ten Commandments are the first revelation of God's law. In Romans 3:20 (NIV) Paul says, ".Through the law we become conscious of sin," and then in Romans 7:7 (NIV) ".I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'Do not covet.'" Without a law there is no standard by which we can determine right from wrong. One problem some people have with the Ten Commandments is that the very first commandment says, "I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other God's before me." The very first commandment says the worship of other gods is sinful, which is not "politically correct." The Ten Commandments declare the law of a God who is holy, and many don't want Him honored in any way by the government.
The law is also the beginning step to salvation; because, if we don't know that we sin, why should we believe we need to be saved? The Ten Commandments are too hard for human beings to keep, and when we don't keep them, we sin. We have all lied, coveted and dishonored our father and mother. In the New Testament, Jesus even expands our understanding of the commandments, as in Matthew 5:21-22 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Jesus says that what we think in our hearts is just as sinful as what we physically do; it's hard enough not to do these things, much less not even think about them. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the greatest, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV). The only way we can do these things and obey the Lord, is with Jesus's help and by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
Psalm 1 talks about a man who is blessed and says, "His delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither." Psalm 1: 2-3 (NIV). The Ten Commandments can help us to grow and learn to become better Christians; it is the standard by which we can judge right from wrong. So, as it says in Psalm 119:18 (NIV), "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."
