Ten Commandments of Moses
－－the fountainhead of western law spirit and social moral
As the scripture of Judaism, the Ten Commandments(Decalogue) are significant legal documents in Hebrew countries. They are regarded as one of the earliest religious taboos in western culture. The gist of the Ten Commandments is the original spirit of contract, which is the foundation of western democratic and civilized society. Decalogue has left profound influence on the formation of Judaic and Christian laws. It also provides guidance for social ethics and morals.
To begin with, the Ten Commandments serve as the convention between God and believers. By thorough study of the principles implied in the Decalogue, we can see the epitome of today's western law spirit. God's admonition to Israel includes instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath. It also sets prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, theft, dishonesty, and adultery. The first three commandments emphasize the importance of devotion and permanent love to God. While the last seven commandments explicitly declare that social members should abide by certain ethical and moral rules, for instance, “to honor your father and mother” and “not to commit adultery” (Holy Bible, Exodus 20). It has something in common with the code of conduct nowadays. The significance of the Decalogue resists in the integration of ethic,moral and law, which sets up a well-recognized standard for descendants.
At the beginning of the first century, another respectable prophet, Jesus, also set down two commandments. The first is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your minds.” The second is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The first commandment of Jesus plays the same role as Moses', for both of them instill into believers that only people who devoutly believe in God can receive blessing and protection from the almighty God. In the meantime, both Jesus and Moses attach great importance to caring for each other, which contribute to building a harmonious relationship between social members. According to Matthew, these two commandments lead all the law and the prophets. The core concepts are self-discipline , forgiveness, mercy, and belief.
The spirit of contract roots deeply in the mind of western people. The source of western legal spirits derives from the Decalogue, which gives priority to keeping promise and taking responsibility. The Ten Commandments clearly stipulate human's right (protection from God), obligation (the content of the Decalogue), and the consequence of default (penalty from God). The phrases “covenant of salt” stands for promises which should never be abandoned. God promised to bring Israel out of the affliction of Egypt into the promised land-Canaan . Therefore, whenever he is needed, God is always there to provide assistance. God always stresses that: “I have remembered my covenant. And I will take you into the land, concerning which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac , and to Jacob.” (Exodus 6) From here we can see how the spirit of contract is implemented in people's behavior. Breaking promise is treated as betrayal. It infuriated God deeply that Israel discarded their belief in God but turned to worship golden. David even broke two religious precepts concerning rape and killing which are unacceptable. Achan was stoned to death miserably because of stealing the spoils. All of them tarnished the spirit of contract and took their medicine eventually. Bible emphasizes the aftermath of breaking promise with God. The concept of contract sprouts from Decalogue and grows mature gradually.David even broke two religious precepts concerning rape and killing which are unacceptable. Achan was stoned to death miserably because of stealing the spoils. All of them tarnished the spirit of contract and took their medicine eventually. Bible emphasizes the aftermath of breaking promise with God. The concept of contract sprouts from Decalogue and grows mature gradually.David even broke two religious precepts concerning rape and killing which are unacceptable. Achan was stoned to death miserably because of stealing the spoils. All of them tarnished the spirit of contract and took their medicine eventually. Bible emphasizes the aftermath of breaking promise with God. The concept of contract sprouts from Decalogue and grows mature gradually.
Besides, the Decalogue has left profound influence on people's attitude towards daily life, especially shaping their perspectives on family and marriage. The fifth commandment stresses that “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Exodus 20). Treating parents with filial piety is not only a social virtue but a solemn covenant with Lord. In the New Testament, Ephesus and Colossians, an apostle of Jesus Christ called Paul reiterated the instruction. In Proverbs, the necessity of obedience to parents is expounded in detail. Bible writes that: “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old… Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bares thee shall rejoice .” (Proverbs 23). According to its explanation,unfilial descendant is the humiliation of the whole family. Bible repeatedly refers to the serious consequence of not obeying the covenant. Disrespect for parents should be cursed brutally and even pay a heavy price. In Genesis, Noah's son, Ham saw his drunken father's nudity without purpose but excitedly described father's naked appearance to his brothers. At the cost of disrespecting the elders, Ham received lifelong punishment. On the basis of Mosaic Law, children who curse parents will be sentenced to death. Even family relationship is strictly legislated so that it can serve as effective guidance to daily life. The Ten Commandments push forward the forming of rigorous law system. Also, The Law of Moses sets down rules about marriage and sex. It attaches great importance to women's chastity.The seventh commandment summarizes precisely that people shall not commit adultery. In fact, marriage relationship is a metaphor of the contractual relationship between God and the Israel. Disloyalty in marriage as well as religion is regarded as blasphemy of God. In Bible, rape can bring about merciless massacre. Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, waged genocide in Shechem just because Dinah was defiled. Decalogue shows that people treat bodily purity prudently. In addition, incest, disloyalty, and betrayal are all unacceptable. It was admired that Joseph resisted the temptation from Potiphar's wife. While Samson was blamed that fails hero to pull through the pass of beauty. The Ten Commandments set up examples for the strict law system nowadays, which contributes to the stability and harmony of both family and society.
Last but not least, the significance of the Ten Commandments of Moses is embodied in today's integrated law items, which deeply influenced by the spirit of Hebraic law. Law of poverty is based on the eighth commandments, which abandon people from stealing. Criminal Law can be traced back to the sixth commandment, which forbids people from killing. The tenth reveals the core value of western spirit－－inviolability of private property. Law of contract is built on such a rigorous covenant. Though the Ten Commandments may impose too many restrictions on the public, they do strengthen the social bonds between citizens. Without effective constraint, a country may be flung into chaos. The Ten Commandments of Moses put reasonable limitations on social life and ensures social order to some degree.
In a society of law and rule, the essence of Decalogue should be carried forward. In the meantime, the standard of conduct needs to keep pace with the rapidly developing world. After all, as the fountainhead of western law, it indeed influences ordinary people's outlook of life, and lights up the road ahead for western law system.
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