Orthodox Christians are obligated to abide by the commandments of the Bible. This includes the Fourth, Third, Second, and First Commandments. Each of these commandments are incredibly important, and many people would be surprised to learn that they need to be obeyed.
First commandment
The first commandment is the most important one. It tells us that we are the Lord’s and that we must obey His laws. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is the foundation for a moral existence.
The second commandment tells us not to make an idol or graven image. This is a statue made by man. Some primitive people still worship these images. But making an idol or graven image is a serious offense. Possibly capital punishment is the punishment for this offense.
The third commandment is a prohibition against coveting. This is a more difficult commandment to obey. However, the prohibition against coveting is a very important commandment.
The fourth commandment is about honouring the Sabbath. In honoring the Sabbath, we are to respect God’s holy day. Also, we are to honour our parents.
The sixth commandment tells us not to kill. Many translations say that this commandment tells us not to murder. A better translation is that it is a statement of fact.
Second commandment
The second commandment is not just a reminder to love our neighbors. It is a pillar of faith for Orthodox Christians.
It is a reminder that the Christian life is one that requires constant repentance, prayer, and obedience. In addition, it is also a reminder that the Church is made holy through the lives of its children who strive to follow the teachings of the Church.
There are many examples in the Bible and in the ancient world of this principle. One example is the carved cherubim and fruits and flowers that decorated the Temple of Solomon. Another is the creation of the Ark of the Covenant at Sinai, with golden cherubim on each end.
Another is the Dead Sea Scrolls, which have passages of the Ten Commandments in a ten-commandment format. Unlike the Septuagint, the Masoretic text is divided into ten specific commandments.
Finally, the ten commandments are a wonderful piece of literature in the Old Testament. They are believed to have been given by God to the people of Israel through Moses.
Third commandment
The Third commandment orthodox Christians must keep is an admonition against profaning the name of the Lord. It prohibits people from blaspheming or defaming God’s name, whether in speech, in business, or through worship.
Originally, idolatry was a practice where people exchanged the glory of an immortal God for images that resembled mortal creatures. In the Hebrew language, the word translated as “in vain” means that something is empty and lacking in reality.
While a third commandment is not the only prohibition against sin of speech, it has a more widespread impact when understood. People in high positions fail to follow the commands of God in their homes and businesses.
The Third Commandment also has a more general threat, which is that God will not tolerate the use of His name by people who dishonor it. This includes hypocrisy.
Hypocrites are people who use the name of the Lord to defame God and to make mention of him in vain. These people do this through a variety of methods, including carelessness.
Fourth commandment
The Fourth commandment orthodox christians must keep entails not to commit a sin. This commandment is a positive one, meaning it tells us what we should do instead of what we should avoid.
The commandment teaches us that we should not kill ourselves or our neighbors. It also encourages us to love others, and not to be unkind.
The fourth commandment also forbids using our thoughts, idleness, or carelessness to offend God. In addition, it states that we should not use the name of the Lord in vain.
Some orthodox christians feel differently about how the commandments are written. Most Christians believe that the Ten Commandments are the core of God’s Law. However, the Jewish version and the Protestant version differ. There are differences between the two, especially at the beginning and end of the list.
Jesus summarized the commandments in terms of love. He combined quotes from Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18. Specifically, he emphasized that we should love our neighbor as ourselves.
