Many people see the Ten Commandments as a list of rules — but they are much more than that. They are a gift of love. When God gave these commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, He was revealing not just what to do, but who He is and how we are meant to live in His love. They are not chains that restrict us; they are the path that leads us to freedom and peace.
The first three commandments teach us how to love God with all our heart. They call us to place Him first, to honor His holy name, and to keep the Sabbath — the day of rest and worship — as sacred. These are not merely obligations but invitations to relationship. God asks for our love, not because He needs it, but because we do. When He is at the center of our lives, everything else finds its right place.
The remaining seven commandments teach us how to love our neighbor. They protect the sacredness of family, life, truth, and community. “You shall not kill” affirms the dignity of every human person. “You shall not steal” calls us to respect what belongs to others. “You shall not bear false witness” reminds us that truth is the foundation of trust. Every commandment, in its own way, reflects God’s desire for a world where love and justice reign.
Jesus summarized all the commandments in one sentence: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39). The commandments are, in fact, the language of love. They show us how love behaves — how it honors God, respects others, and frees us from selfishness. To follow them is not to live under the law, but to walk in the light of love.
When we meditate on the Ten Commandments, we’re not just remembering ancient words carved on stone. We are listening to the living voice of God calling us to holiness. They invite us to a new way of being — where obedience becomes joy, and morality becomes love in action.
May we learn to see God’s commandments not as burdens, but as blessings — the map that leads our hearts home to Him.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
