God’s Laws in the Old Testament – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

God’s laws in the Old Testament are the Ten Commandments, also called the Decalogue or the Mosaic Law, which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai to guide the Israelites.

Bible reference: Exodus 20:1-25

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what a law is;
2. state the Ten Commandments;
3. say who received the Ten Commandments and where;
4. group the Ten Commandments into duties to God and duties to our fellow men;
5. explain why communities, groups and organisations need laws.

What is a law?

A law is a rule or regulation that guides the behaviour of people in a society.

• Law: a rule that tells people what to do and what not to do.
• God’s law: the Ten Commandments, which ruled the life of the Israelites.
• Other names: the Decalogue and the Mosaic Law.
• Decalogue: a word meaning “ten words” or “ten sayings”.
• Mosaic Law: the law given through Moses.
• Torah: the Hebrew word for law.

Who received the Ten Commandments and where?

Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai.

• Giver: God.
• Receiver: Moses, the leader of the Israelites.
• Place: Mount Sinai.
• People guided: the Israelites, who were God’s chosen people.
• Written on: two tablets of stone.

What are the Ten Commandments?

The Ten Commandments are ten basic rules from God that tell people how to worship Him and how to live with one another.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself graven images or bow down to them.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5. Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s property.

What do the key words mean?

• Graven image: a carved idol or statue made for worship.
• In vain: carelessly or without respect.
• Sabbath: a day of rest set apart for God.
• Adultery: sexual relations between a married person and someone who is not their husband or wife.
• False witness: telling lies about another person.
• Covet: to want badly what belongs to someone else.

How are the Ten Commandments divided?

The Ten Commandments fall into two groups: duties to God and duties to our fellow men (human values).

What are our duties to God?

The first four commandments deal with our duties to God.

• 1st commandment: worship only one God.
• 2nd commandment: worship God without the use of images.
• 3rd commandment: reverence God’s name as standing for His nature.
• 4th commandment: keep God’s day holy.

What are our duties to our fellow men?

The last six commandments deal with our duties to our fellow men.

• 5th commandment: honour our parents.
• 6th commandment: do not commit murder.
• 7th commandment: do not commit adultery.
• 8th commandment: do not steal.
• 9th commandment: do not lie.
• 10th commandment: do not covet.

How can the commandments be summarised in a table?

Why did God give the Ten Commandments?

God gave the Ten Commandments to guide the Israelites on how to live as His people.

• To guide worship: they taught the Israelites to worship the one true God alone.
• To guide behaviour: they showed how people should treat one another.
• To keep order: they protected life, marriage, property and truth in the community.
• To set them apart: they made the Israelites a people who obey God.

Why do communities and groups need laws?

Every community, state, organisation, group and club needs laws to keep order and help members live well together.

• They regulate behaviour: members know what is allowed and what is not.
• They provide structure: members learn to become mature and responsible.
• They keep order: the saying goes, “Order is the first thing in heaven”.
• They prevent confusion: any deviation from the rules brings confusion and throws the congregation into disarray.
• They protect people: rules guard life, property and rights.

What are examples of laws and rules around us?

• Home: rules set by parents.
• School: school rules and regulations.
• Clubs and associations: constitutions and by-laws which members strictly follow.
• Churches: constitutions and by-laws for the congregation.
• Nation: the laws of the country, which every citizen must obey.

Evaluation

1. Why should we have laws in a community, group or organisation?
2. Explain our duties to God as contained in the Ten Commandments.
3. Explain the reason why God gave the commandments.
4. Write the seventh commandment.

Assignment

Reading assignment

1. Christian Religions Education for JSS Bk 2, by Adeyinka et al, pages 18-19.

Weekend assignment

1. What is another name for the Ten Commandments? (a) Monologue (b) Dialogue (c) Decalogue (d) Monograph
2. The Ten Commandments were given to Moses at _____ (a) Mount Olives (b) Mount Nebo (c) Mount Sinai (d) Mount Everest
3. “Honour your father and your mother” is the _____ commandment. (a) 4th (b) 5th (c) 6th (d) 10th
4. Which of the commandments talks about fornication and adultery? (a) 5th (b) 6th (c) 7th (d) 10th
5. Which of the commandments speaks against stealing? (a) 8th (b) 9th (c) 10th

Theory

1. What is law?
2. List the commandments that talk about man’s relationship to man.