The Ten Commandments

• You shall have no other gods before me.

• You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  

• You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

• Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.

• Honour your father and your mother.

• You shall not murder.

• You shall not commit adultery.

• You shall not steal.

• You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.

• You shall not covet your neighbour's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbour's house or land...or anything that belongs to your neighbour."

(Adapted from Deuteronomy 5: 7-21 NIV)

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In Mark 12: 30-31, Jesus further explained the Commandments by quoting the following Old Testament laws:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

 ...love your neighbour as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)

One theory is that Jesus summarised The Ten Commandments, with these 2 laws.  Commandments 1 - 4 are summarised by the line "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.", because they concern 'you and The Lord (vertical)', and Commandments 5 - 10 are summarised by the line "...love your neighbour as yourself.", because they concern 'you and your neighbour (horizontal)'.

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"The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion, but, on the contrary, of its liberality and humanity. It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted: precisely because most things are permitted, and only a few things are forbidden." - G K Chesterton, ILN 1-3-20