Ten Commandments

Here are the Ten Commandments, given by God to Moses and recorded in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5:

1 – I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me.

2 – You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3 – Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

4 – Honor your father and your mother.

5 – You shall not kill.

6 – You shall not commit adultery.

7 – You shall not steal.

8 – You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9 – You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

10 – You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

The Ten Commandments As In The Bible

1  Then God spoke all these words:

2  I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me.

4  You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7  You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

8  Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

12  Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13  You shall not murder.

14  You shall not commit adultery.

15  You shall not steal.

16  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17  You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

18  When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.” 21 Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

The Ten Commandments According To Past Popes

Throughout the history of the Church, the Ten Commandments have been prayerfully reflected upon and taught by popes and saints, helping each generation see them not merely as rules, but as a gift from God that leads us toward life, freedom, and holiness.

During the turmoil of the Second World War, Pope Pius XII spoke of the Ten Commandments as a moral path that lifts humanity out of confusion and darkness. He taught that God’s law helps elevate the human person above the moral abyss and guides believers toward Christ, calling Christians to help lead others “to the mountain of the Lord” so they may be prepared to receive salvation.

Pope John Paul II often emphasized that the Commandments are not an external burden imposed on humanity, but a law already present within us. While written in stone at Sinai, he taught that they were first written on the human heart as a universal moral law, valid for all people, in every time and place. For him, the Commandments safeguard human dignity and point the way to authentic freedom.

Reflecting on the Commandments as signs given by God, Pope Benedict XVI taught that they help us discern good from evil and protect us from losing our way. He warned that when people ignore the Commandments, they not only distance themselves from God and break the covenant with Him, but also move away from true life and lasting happiness.

Long before the modern papacy, the Ten Commandments deeply engaged the mind and heart of St. Augustine, who wrote about them extensively. He saw them as essential to understanding both God’s law and the inner transformation required to live faithfully.

In more recent years, Pope Francis has spoken about the Ten Commandments as an invitation into relationship rather than a checklist of prohibitions. Through his catecheses, he has highlighted their role in freeing us from selfishness and fear, opening our hearts to love, mercy, and trust in God.

Taken together, these teachings remind us that the Ten Commandments are not relics of the past, but living words that continue to guide, challenge, and draw us closer to God.

The Ten Commandments (Explained for Children)

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me.

This means God comes first. We love God more than anything else and trust Him to take care of us.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

God’s name is special and holy. We use it with love and respect, not when we are angry or joking.

3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

Sunday is a day for God and family. We go to Mass, pray, rest, and thank God for everything He gives us.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

This means we listen to, respect, and love our parents and those who care for us.

5. You shall not kill.

God wants us to love and protect life. We should be kind and never hurt others with our actions or words.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

God wants families to be loving and faithful. This teaches us to respect marriage and treat people with purity and care.

7. You shall not steal.

We should not take things that don’t belong to us. God wants us to be honest and grateful for what we have.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

This means telling the truth. We should not lie or say things that hurt others.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

We should respect other people’s families and keep our hearts loving and pure.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

This means not being jealous. We thank God for what we have and learn to be happy for others.

More Catholic Lists

The 7 Sacraments (The Holy Mysteries)
The 3 Theological Virtues
The 10 Commandments
The 12 Fruits of The Holy Ghost