What are the Ten Commandments?
Answer: By Brian Tipton
The Ten commandments as they have been called were ten specific items that were delivered to Moses on Mt. Sanai. These commandments were given to the nation of Israel. Let's look at Deuteronomy 5:1-3,
"Moses summoned all of Israel and said, Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our fathers that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, will all of us who are alive here today." (Deuteronomy 5:1-3)
Before we look in Exodus at the Ten Commandments I thought this would be an important point to make. The above verse says that the Ten Commandments, as well as the rest of the Law of Moses, was given to only the nation of Israel. Up until this point God had spoken directly to the heads of different families (Abraham, Isaac, Noah, Adam, etc.). Now he is establishing with the Nation of Israel a national law. This time period is often referred to as the Mosaic Age. This age lasted from the time of the giving of the law to the death of Jesus on the Cross. Keep in mind that the Law of Moses was given only to the nation of Israel.