Why The Ten Commandments Matter

Why the 10 commandments matter? October 4 2026
The Ten Commandments can make us uncomfortable because they sound absolute: “You shall have no other gods.” “You shall not murder.” “You shall not steal.” “You shall not bear false witness.”
Then comes the personal one: “You shall not covet.” I may not steal my neighbor’s house, want their spouse, or take their car, yet still envy the house, vacation photos, or new Mercedes—and suddenly become very interested in stewardship. We laugh because we recognize ourselves. The Ten Commandments are not rules for rules’ sake; they are about relationships.
They begin with God and move outward to one another. Christianity is not merely asking, “What am I allowed to do?” but, “How am I called to live?” A parent says, “Don’t run into the street. Don’t touch the stove. Don’t hit your sister.” Beneath those rules is love: “I want you safe and alive.” Likewise, the commandments describe a life in which people flourish.
The first commandments concern God: have no other gods, make no idols, do not misuse God’s name, and remember the Sabbath. We still make idols of money, success, political power, reputation, and control. We assume enough money, security, health, planning, insurance, or control will make everything right—until life reminds us we are not God.
“Remember the Sabbath” may be the most neglected commandment: stop, rest, and remember the world does not depend entirely on you. For many people today, that is difficult. Our watches, phones, and calendars keep us moving. Still God says: “Stop. Rest. Remember who you are.”
The commandments then turn to others: honor your parents; do not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet. God is not merely saying, “Don’t break the law,” but protecting what is precious: life, marriage, family, trust, property, community, and our inner lives.
Most of us think, “I’ve got ‘You shall not murder’ covered.” But Jesus goes deeper: hatred and contempt also wound people. We may never kill someone physically, yet our words can crush a spirit through humiliation, dismissal, or invisibility; a sentence can wound longer than a fist. Bullying has become a crisis in our youth with the advent of social media. Research published in 2022 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that young adolescents who are victims of cyberbullying are over 4 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts and attempts, independent of in-person bullying.
Bearing false witness means more than “Don’t lie.” Today words travel instantly: we repeat, post, or send unverified claims, and within minutes a whisper can reach thousands. Three things cannot be recovered: a spoken word, a missed moment, and lost time. Words matter.
The commandments also show that God cares about ordinary life—in kitchens, workplaces, families, neighborhoods, church parking lots, and what we do unseen. Faith is not only right belief; it is becoming a certain kind of person.
Jesus does not discard the commandments; he deepens them: love God and love your neighbor. Simple, but not easy—especially when someone annoys us. We all have such people, and someone likely has us on their list. Jesus says the commandments point to love, not fear or earning God’s approval. They show love’s shape: put nothing before God; protect your neighbor’s reputation and property; honor family; treat no one as an object; and reject comparison and envy.
The Ten Commandments still matter because they invite us into a way of life—and expose how often we fail through anger, careless words, jealousy, selfishness, and forgetfulness of God and neighbor. That is why we need grace. The commandments show the life God wants for us; the Gospel shows God’s response when we fail. God comes toward us in Jesus, entering our mess, and the cross reveals the reach of divine love.
Instead of ten prohibitions, hear ten invitations: put God first, make time for God, honor those who gave you life, protect life, be faithful, respect others’ property, tell the truth, and stop envying your neighbor. This life is freeing. We are not God’s children living in fear of broken rules; the commandments call us to love God and one another. When we fail—and we will—God’s love remains. That may be the greatest commandment of all. Thanks be to God. Amen.