The Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:3-17

God gave the people of the Old Testament the Ten Commandments to guide their exterior actions.

You shall have no other gods before me.

Put God first.

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. 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, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Worship God only.

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.

Use God's name with respect.

Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work. 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. 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.

Remember God's holy day.

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

Respect your parents.

You shall not murder.

Do not hurt other people.

You shall not commit adultery.

Be faithful in marriage.

You shall not steal.

Do not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Do not lie.

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.

Do not be envious of others of what they have.

The Beatitutes:  Matthew 5:4-12

Jesus gave us the Beatitudes to develop the intentions of our heart.

1 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy are people who are hopeless, because God will help them.

2 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Happy are people who are sad, because God will make them glad.

3 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Happy are people who are humble, because God will bless them. 

4 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Happy are people who know when something is wrong, because God will help them make it right.

5 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Happy are people who act kind, because God will be kind to them.

6 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Happy are people who have good hearts, because they will see God.

7 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Happy are people who make peace, because God will love them for it.

8 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy are you when people tease you because you love God, because God is proud of you and will reward you.