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Commandment #1

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me."

- Exodus 20:2-3 (NKJV)

What internal or external behaviors does this Commandment include ?

wg768812N:
Commandment #1

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me."

- Exodus 20:2-3 (NKJV)

What internal or external behaviors does this Commandment include ?

Op just like many I don't understand your question

Christ tells us in Matthew 5, for example, that "do not murder", the Sixth Commandment, isn't just about sticking a sword in someone's ribs, or shooting someone with a gun, but that being angry at someone without a cause is the true basis for the Commandment. Jesus even gives the example of name-calling someone, as in, "You fool !"... that if a person has such hostility in their heart toward another, they are in danger of the fires of Hell. In essence, Christ explains the heart of the Commandment, behind just the Letter of the Commandment.

In that way, we can see that violence or vengeance, for example, whether in the thought of our heart, or in our outer, real-life actions, qualifies as murder. Or, even taking inner pleasure at someone else's dire circumstances such as a bad illness (if we were holding a grudge against them, for example) could be murder. As could suicide (murder of the self). As could a number of other types of thoughts or behaviors.

Likewise, "do not steal", the Eighth Commandment, doesn't just mean don't walk up to someone and take their wallet. It also means don't rob God... meaning that we should tithe. (Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42)

So the question could be re-phrased I suppose: What is the heart behind the letter of this Commandment #1 ?

I hope that explains it better. Thank you.