A Detailed Look At Commandments - Five To Ten
Commandments five to ten teach us how to be good and honest human beings. They outline the way we should live our lives in the world and interact with other fellow brothers and sisters. The value of looking up to our parents and honoring them is put forth in the fifth commandment 'Honor thy Father and thy Mother'. This is a value that needs to be instilled in the minds of every individual to respect and hold ones parents in highest esteem.
'Thou shalt do no murder'. Killing another human being is a sin in the eyes of God. No one is permitted to take another's life. Killing is strictly forbidden. It is a sin to willfully or deliberately take another person's life. God alone can give life and he alone is entitled to take a life. In fact it is not right to harm any other human either in thought, word or deed. The seventh commandment that God gave his people of Israel is 'Thou shalt not commit adultery'. Adultery is a violation of marriage vows and willfully breaking these vows by committing adultery with someone else other than one's own spouse is considered a very serious sin. Once married, either partner should not have any sexual relations other than with their partner and that is the very basis of this commandment.
'Thou shalt no steal' is the eight commandment. According to this commandment every Jew and Christian should be honest, upright and truthful. God instructs us to not to seek luxuries and possessions over honor and even if we go after such luxuries it should be in an honest way without cheating, stealing and through devious means. The second last commandment of 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor'. Everything in life should be based on truthfulness. Lying is a sin and honesty is the only path in which God wants his children to walk in.
'Thou shalt not covet' is the tenth and last commandment stresses that we do not illicitly desire anything that does not belong to us. What we have as our rightful share is all that is necessary and craving for something over and above that which belongs to others should not be craved for. Following all the above Ten Commandments is the duty of every Jewish and Christian person. Children should be taught these values of life early through stories from the Bible, attending Sunday School classes and through the very lives and behaviors of adults and parents in the household. Living according to God's word, leading an honest life and following all the commandments and teachings that are mentioned in the Holy Books is what Judaism and Christianity is all about.
The entire Jewish family should live according to these values. Children naturally follow the habits and teachings of their parents and hence parents are best teachers. If children see their parents living honest lives obeying the commandments of God they will naturally follow in their footsteps and grow up to be good, honest and upright members of society.