The Ten Commandments: A
Fact Sheet
Where did the Ten
Commandments come from?
According to the book of
Exodus, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, the leader of the Jewish
people, on Mount Sinai. According to
Jewish tradition, this event happened more than 3,300 years ago.
Where can I read the
Ten Commandments for myself?
They can be found in
Exodus, chapter 20, and in Deuteronomy, chapter 5.
What religions hold
the Ten Commandments to be God’s laws?
Both the Jewish and
Christian religions believe the commandments to be divinely ordained and a
guide for daily living.
Ten Commandments
Trivia:
·
A depiction of Moses
and the Ten Commandments adorns the United States Supreme Court building.
·
Legal cases concerning
the constitutionality of the posting of the Ten Commandments in public
buildings continue to be tested in courtrooms across the nation—including the
Supreme Court.
·
Only one
of every five adults (18%) contends that the Ten Commandments are not relevant
for people living today.
(Barna Research, 1992)
·
People are
most likely to make their moral and ethical decisions on the basis of whatever
feels right or comfortable in a situation. The Bible or religious teachings
were primary for a small percentage of adults and teens. (Barna Research, 2002)
·
The spectacular epic
movie, “The Ten Commandments,” produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille tells
the story of Moses from his infancy to the triumphant moment when he led the
Israelites out of captivity in Egypt to Mt. Sinai to receive the laws. The movie, produced in 1956 and nominated
for an Oscar in 1957, is now available worldwide on VHS and DVD.
·
Dr. Laura’s 1998 book,
entitled The Ten Commandments, became a national and New York Times
bestseller in hardcover, paperback and cassette.