The Ten Commandments and the Teachings of Jesus: A Theological, Cultural, and Political Exposition
1. Introduction
The Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:1–17; Deut. 5:6–21) are often memorised as a list of ten, but the deeper structure reveals two primary relational themes: love for God and love for neighbour. This dual framework not only shapes biblical morality but also forms the interpretive key through which Jesus reaffirms the law in the New Testament. This entry explores how the Ten Commandments are naturally divided into two sections, how this reflects the structure of covenant ethics, and how Jesus’ teaching affirms and elevates these two themes as the heart of divine law.
2. The Biblical Division: Two Tables of the Law
According to the biblical account, God inscribed the commandments on two tablets of stone (Exod. 31:18; Deut. 9:10). While Scripture does not explicitly say how the commandments were divided across the tablets, early Jewish and Christian traditions have commonly held that the first tablet contained the commandments pertaining to God (1–4), and the second tablet those relating to human relationships (5–10).
This division aligns with the covenantal formula found throughout Scripture:
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
— Leviticus 19:18
These two dimensions are not competing, but rather complementary, reflecting the two axes of biblical righteousness: vertical (toward God) and horizontal (toward others).
3. Section A: Commandments 1–4 – Duties to God
The first four commandments (Exod. 20:3–11) define the appropriate human response to God’s sovereignty, uniqueness, holiness, and authority.
| Commandment | Theme | Key Verse |
|---|---|---|
| 1. No other gods | Exclusive worship | Exodus 20:3 |
| 2. No images/idols | Right representation | Exodus 20:4–6 |
| 3. Do not misuse God’s name | Reverent speech | Exodus 20:7 |
| 4. Keep the Sabbath holy | Sacred time | Exodus 20:8–11 |
These commandments build a framework for spiritual identity and loyalty. They guard against syncretism, misuse of divine authority, and secularisation of time. Importantly, they assume a personal, covenantal relationship with God—not mere ritual compliance.
4. Section B: Commandments 5–10 – Duties to Others
The final six commandments (Exod. 20:12–17) govern community life, defining justice, respect, and boundaries in relationships.
| Commandment | Theme | Key Verse |
|---|---|---|
| 5. Honour your parents | Authority and continuity | Exodus 20:12 |
| 6. Do not murder | Sanctity of life | Exodus 20:13 |
| 7. Do not commit adultery | Marital fidelity | Exodus 20:14 |
| 8. Do not steal | Respect for property | Exodus 20:15 |
| 9. Do not bear false witness | Truth in speech | Exodus 20:16 |
| 10. Do not covet | Inner contentment | Exodus 20:17 |
Unlike modern legal systems, these laws address both actions and attitudes, culminating in the command not to covet—a prohibition of internal desire, not just external conduct.
5. Jesus’ Twofold Summary
Jesus explicitly confirms this dual structure in His response to a Pharisaic legal question:
“‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
— Matthew 22:36–40, NRSV
Here, Jesus draws upon Deuteronomy 6:5 (love God) and Leviticus 19:18 (love neighbour). These are not new laws but summary statements—condensing the two sections of the Ten Commandments into relational principles.
Jesus’ approach is not reductionist. Rather, it is hermeneutical—clarifying the law’s true purpose. In Luke 10:25–37, He illustrates this principle through the Parable of the Good Samaritan, showing that love for neighbour requires practical compassion across cultural and religious boundaries.
6. Cultural and Theological Implications
In ancient Israel, law was not separate from religion. The division into Godward and manward commands reflects the holistic integration of worship and ethics. To break the second tablet was to insult the Creator of the first; to violate human dignity was to offend the image of God (Gen. 1:27; cf. Jas. 3:9).
Jesus recovers this ethical unity, especially against the background of Second Temple legalism, where certain religious groups emphasised ritual observance while neglecting justice and mercy (cf. Matt. 23:23).
In addition, Jesus’ summary had radical political overtones: in a world ruled by Rome, where power was asserted through dominance and hierarchy, Jesus called for a law rooted in love, humility, and sacrificial service (Matt. 20:25–28).
7. Application for Discipleship
The two-fold division of the commandments provides a discipleship framework that guards against imbalance:
- Without love for God, morality becomes mere humanitarianism or cultural conformity.
- Without love for neighbour, piety becomes legalism, arrogance, or spiritual escapism.
Christian ethics, then, must be both theocentric (God-focused) and anthropocentric (concerned for others), held together by Christocentric love (John 13:34).
8. Conclusion
The Ten Commandments are not random rules, but a relational vision of righteousness. Their division into Godward and manward duties forms the structure of the entire biblical ethic, summarised by Jesus in two profound commandments: Love God. Love your neighbour.
This dual theme—rooted in covenant, confirmed by Christ—remains the theological backbone of moral life. In the next entries, we will explore each commandment in depth, beginning with Commandment 1: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Would you like to proceed with Entry 3: Jesus and the Law – From Mount Sinai to the Mount of Beatitudes next?