Explaining the Ten Commandments

Commandment I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X “The Lord your God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4; John 1:1–4,15,26; Heb. 1:1–10; 1 John 5:7), known in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; in the unbegotten Father, in the unbegotten, flightless, passionless Son - the Word, who, having imparted the anointing received from us, is called Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, unbegotten, but proceeding from the Father. This is one God, true God, one Lord in three Persons, inseparable in nature, will, glory, power, strength and all divine properties. Love Him alone, and serve Him alone with all your thoughts, with all your heart and with all your strength (Deut. 6:13; Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:29-30; Luke 4:8,10,27). May His words and commands abide in your heart, may they be reflected in your thoughts, words and deeds, when you are at home and on the road, when you go to sleep and when you get up; constantly remember the Lord your God; fear Him alone; do not forget about Him and His commandments. For this He gives you the power to do His will. For He does not require anything else from you except reverence and love for Him and walking in all His ways. He is your glory, He is your God. If you hear about the most worldly spirits, passionless and disembodied, about the all-evil spirit that has fallen from their face, a cunning and insidious seducer, do not think that they are equal to God. Contemplating the greatness of the heavens, the varied movements of the celestial bodies, the radiance of the sun, the light of the moon, the twinkling of the stars, the beneficial breath of the winds, the productive forces of the sea and land, do not idolize them. For all these are the servants and creation of one God, called by His word from nothingness to being. Like that speech, and it happened; He commanded it, and it was created. And so honor Him alone, the Lord and Creator of the world, as God, unite with Him in love, and confess to Him day and night your voluntary and involuntary sins. For He is generous and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in mercy, and good forever. To those who honor Him and worship Him, who love and keep His commandments, He promises and bestows an endless kingdom of heaven, an immortal life and light for eternal pleasure. But He is also a jealous God, a righteous Judge and a terrible avenger. Those who dishonor Him, those who disobey Him and those who reject His commandments will be subject to eternal punishment, unquenchable fire, unceasing torment, inconsolable sorrow, a robe of impenetrable darkness, a land of darkness and groaning, a terrible gnashing of teeth and a never-ending worm. He prepared all this for the original evil apostate, and with him all those deceived by him, who served him and rejected their Creator in deeds, words and thoughts (Matt. 24:51, Matt. 25:41, Mark 9:44, Is. 66:24). “Thou shalt not make for thyself... any likeness of every tree in heaven, and tree below on earth,... lest thou serve them” (Ex. 20:4,5; Deut. 5:8; Rom. 1:23; 1 John 5:21). Do not give them divine honors: for they are all creations of the one God, created by the Son and the Word in the Holy Spirit. This Word of God, having in recent centuries taken flesh from the virgin womb, appeared on earth and dwelt among people. For the salvation of man, having endured suffering and death and resurrected, It ascended with flesh into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. With this same body he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Therefore, out of love for the Word, who became man for our sake, have an image of Him, so that it reminds you of the Imaged One, whom you should worship, worshiping the icon, raising your mind through it to the most venerable body of the Savior, seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Likewise, have icons of saints, worship them, not as gods, which is ungodly, but with bodily worship and disposition towards them, and with appropriate honor, lifting your mind through the image to what is depicted. So Moses placed an image of cherubim in the sanctuary (Ex. 25:18–20,37). The most holy of holies served as an image of heavenly things, and the part of the tabernacle accessible to worldly people bore the image of the whole world. Moses called these sections of the tabernacle holy, praising not the creation, but through them the creator of the world - God (Ex. 26:33; Num. 6:20; Heb. 9: 1–5). Likewise, do not idolize the icons of the Lord Christ and the saints, but through them worship first Him who created us in His image, and then, out of ineffable love for mankind, He deigned to restore His image in us and took it upon Himself. Worship not only the icon of God, but also the image of His cross. For the cross is the greatest sign and the victorious weapon of Christ over the devil and all the forces of the enemies, so that, seeing its image, they tremble and turn to flight. This image appeared very glorious and performed the greatest miracles even in the time of the prophets 1, when the Prototype had not yet appeared. At the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ crucified on him, coming to judge the living and the dead, this great and terrible banner of Him will appear before Him, “with power and much glory” (Matthew 24:30). So honor him now, so that then you can look to him with hope and be worthy of being glorified with him. Worship also the icons of the saints, as if they were crucified with the Lord, depicting the cross on your face and bringing to mind that they became sharers of Christ’s suffering. Equally honor the sacred tombs and their incorruptible remains; for the grace of God did not abandon them, just as the Divinity did not abandon the venerable Body of Christ during His life-giving death. By doing this, and glorifying those who glorified God, as having shown themselves to be perfect in deeds in the love of God, you yourself will be glorified with them by God, and you will sing with David: “I was greatly honored by Your friends, O God” (Psalm 139:17). “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain” (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11). Do not swear falsely out of any human calculations, out of fear of people, or out of shame, or out of personal gain. Perjury is the denial of God. Therefore, do not swear, but always tell the truth. By always speaking one truth, you will impart to your words the power of an oath. If you ever happen to resort to an oath, which, however, must be avoided, then, having sworn to do something in accordance with the law of God, do it as your duty, but at the same time strictly discuss the motives that brought you to the oath, through charity, prayer, contrition of the spirit and bodily deprivation, appeasing Christ, who said: do not swear. If you have sworn to do something illegal, do not commit a crime just to keep your word: otherwise you will become like Herod, the prophet-killer (Matthew 14:7,9). But having rejected the lawless oath, make it a rule not to swear at all, and at the same time appease God for your sin, healing yourself with great care and tears with the above means. Dedicate one day of the week, called the Lord's, to the Lord, who rose from the dead on this day, and who showed and foreshadowed us in the general resurrection. On this day, calm down from all worldly earthly affairs (Ex.20:10; Deut.5:12; Rev.1:10); sanctify this day, abandoning all worldly activities except the most necessary. Give peace to all your subordinates and to all who live with you under the same roof, so that you can all unanimously glorify the One who gained us by His death, who rose again and co-resurrected our nature. Remember the future age, and learn from all the commandments and justifications of the Lord, and testing yourself to see if you have transgressed anything or made any omissions, correct yourself in everything. Stay in the church of God, be present at public worship, and with bright faith and an unshameable conscience partake of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Lay the foundation for a most perfect life and renew yourself, preparing yourself to receive future eternal blessings, for the sake of which on other days you should not cleave excessively to earthly things, but on the Day of the Lord you must abstain from everything in order to continually be with the Lord, except for the most necessary and those without which it is impossible to live. Thus, walking with God, you will avoid reasons for sin, will not break the law, will not ignite the fire of passions, will not take on the burden of sin (Ex. 12:16; Jer. 17:24; Neh. 13:15; Matt. 12:2; John 5:10), and you will sanctify the Sabbath day, sabbatical inaction regarding sins. Celebrate the other great holidays established by the Church like the Day of the Lord, observing the above instructions and warnings regarding them. “Honor your father and your mother” (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16; Matt. 19:19). For through them God gave you life, and after God they are the culprits of your existence. Therefore, you too honor and love them after God, if love for them promotes love for God. If it does not lead to the love of God, run away from them altogether. And if they hinder you (to serve God), especially if they act to the detriment of the true and saving Faith, holding opinions alien to it, not only run away, but also hate them, and not them alone, but all your relatives, all your friends and loved ones, all your members with all their lusts, your very body with its disposition to passions, remembering the words of Christ: “unless anyone... hates his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and also his soul, ... and will not accept ... his cross, and will come after Me, not worthy of Me” (Luke 14:26,27; Matt. 10:37; Deut. 13:6; Deut. 33:9). This is what is said about fathers, friends and brothers according to the flesh. But honor and love those who are close to the faith and do not hinder salvation. If you owe respect and love to your carnal fathers, then much more to the fathers who gave birth to you spiritually. From being they recreated you into good being, illuminated you with the light of knowledge, announced the revelation of truth, revived you with the washing of rebirth, inspired you with the hope of resurrection, immortality, an endless kingdom and inheritance and made you from the unworthy worthy of eternal blessings, from the earthly - to heavenly, from the temporary - eternal, the son and disciple not of man, but of the God-man Jesus Christ, who gave you the spirit of sonship and who said: “Do not call upon the earth a father... or a mentor... for one is your Father”... and Christ is your mentor (Matthew 23:8–9). So you owe your spiritual fathers (Heb. 3:15; Heb. 7:24) all love and honor, since respect for them relates to Christ and the All-Holy Spirit, in whom you received sonship, and to the heavenly Father, from whom “the whole family in heaven and on earth is named” (Eph. 3:15). Strive to have a spiritual father throughout your life, reveal to him every sin and every thought, and receive healing and forgiveness from him. For the spiritual fathers have been given the power to bind and loose souls, and whatever they bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever they loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (John 20:23; Matt. 16:19, 18:18; James 5:16). They received such grace and power from Christ. Therefore, unquestioningly submit to them, so as not to become guilty of the destruction of your own soul. For if he who contradicts his parents according to the flesh in those subjects that are not forbidden by the law of God is guilty of death according to the law (Ex. 21:16; Matt. 15:4), then he who contradicts his spiritual fathers does not drive away from himself, much less, the Spirit of God and does not destroy his own soul? Therefore, follow the suggestions of your spiritual fathers and be submissive to them in order to save your soul and become an heir to eternal and incorruptible blessings. “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; Matt. 5:21, 39:40; Luke 6:29), so as not to lose the sonship given to you by the One who gives life to the dead, and not to be, by deeds, the son of a murderer from time immemorial. And since murder comes from a blow, a blow from insolence, insolence from anger, anger from harm inflicted on us by others, or a blow, or an insult, then do not forbid the one who takes your robe from taking the swearer, do not hit the one who beats, do not offend the one who insults. Through this you will save both yourself and those who do you harm from sin - murder. In the same way, show leniency towards those who have sinned against God, for it is said: if you forgive, it will be forgiven you (Matthew 6:14). And whoever allows himself to say and do evil will suffer vengeance and eternal punishment. Whoever says to his brother, the freak, “I am guilty of hell fire” (Matthew 5:21), said Christ. So, if you can uproot evil and acquire blissful innocence for the soul, glorify Christ, the Mentor and supporter in virtues, without Whom, as you know, we are powerless to do anything good. And if you cannot remain without anger, reproach yourself when you are carried away by anger, and confess both to God and to the one whom you offended by word or deed. For he who repents at the beginning of sin will not bring it to the end, and he who neglects little things will fall into greater evil. Do not commit fornication, 2 lest from being a member of Christ you become a member of a harlot, be put off the divine body, lose God’s inheritance, and be cast into hell. For if the daughter of a priest, taken in fornication, was burned according to the law, as having dishonored her father (Lev. 21:9), how much more is he guilty of eternal punishment who desecrated the body of Christ with such uncleanness. If you can, be a zealot for virginity: through it you will become completely God's, united with Him in perfect love, constantly walking before Him and always undistractedly caring for the Lord, and, desiring to receive the future life (1 Cor. 7:25,32-35; Matt. 19:12; Is. 56:3), live on earth like an angel of God (Matt. 22:29 ; Luke 20:36 ). For they are characterized by virginity, and the zealot of virginity, as far as possible, is likened to them; primarily and first of all (he is likened) before all ages to the virgin who gave birth to the Father, who was virgin and from the virgin Father in the beginning came through birth, and in the last centuries who was born in the flesh from the Virgin Mother 3, and who inexplicably came from one Father, not through birth, but through procession, to the Spirit. He who has acquired true virginity, is virgin in spirit and body, and adorns all his feelings, words and thoughts with the virtues of virginity, is likened to God and united with Him in immaculate marriage. But if you do not choose virginity and do not make such a vow to God, you are permitted by law to have one wife in the Lord (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5; Eph. 5:32–33; 1 Peter 3:7 et seq.), to cohabit with her alone and to own her as your own vessel in the shrine. And you must avoid other people's wives with all your might. You can abstain from them completely if you avoid untimely meetings with them, do not listen to lewd words and seductions, turn your physical and mental gaze away from them as much as possible, and give up the habit of looking with curiosity at the beauty of faces. For “he who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Therefore, he is unclean before Christ, who looks at the heart, and therefore, unhappy, he acquires a disposition towards bodily deeds. But what am I saying about adultery, fornication and other natural sexualities? From an idle gaze on bodily beauty, a person brazenly indulges in all unnatural abominations. So, pull out the bitter roots from within yourself, so that they do not bear deadly fruit, but grow the fruit of chastity and holiness, “whose will see the Lord except no one” (Heb. 12:14). “Thou shalt not steal” (Exod. 20:15; Deut. 5:19; Matt. 19:18), so that He who knows the hidden will not reward you, who have neglected Him, with greater punishment. But try to give secretly what is given to you to those in need, in order to receive a hundredfold from God, who sees in secret, and to inherit eternal life in the age to come. “Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Ex.20:16; Matt.19:18; Lev.19:11). Otherwise, you will become like Eve, who slandered God from time immemorial, and you will be subject to the same condemnation as him (Gen. 3:1,5,14). It is better, therefore, if no harm comes from this for many, cover up your neighbor’s sin. Through this you will become like not Ham, but Shem and Japheth, and you will receive a blessing (Gen. 9:22,23,26). Do not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor, “not his village,” nor his wealth, nor his glory, nor anything that your neighbor enjoys (Ex. 20:17; Matt. 8:28; Rom. 7:7; Rom. 13:9). For lust, when conceived, gives birth to sin, but when sin is committed, it gives birth to death. Therefore, if you do not desire what belongs to others, refrain, if you can, from covetousness. It is even better if you begin to give from your property to the one who asks, to the best of your ability, you will be merciful to those in need of mercy, and you will not turn away from those who want to borrow from you. If you find what was lost, return it to the one who lost it, even if he was one of your ill-wishers (Exodus 23): by such an act you will reconcile him with yourself and “overcome evil with good,” which is what Christ commands you (Rom. 12:21; Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27). By observing all the above instructions and arranging your whole life in accordance with them, you will acquire for your soul the treasure of piety, you will please God, you will receive good things from God and from the people of God, and you will become an heir to eternal bliss. May we all be worthy of it by the grace and love of mankind of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship with His Beginning Father, and His Most Holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Great in the host of hierarchs, St. Fathers and Teachers of the Church, St. the wonderworker Gregory Palamas lived around the half of the fourteenth century (1340–1354). He was born in Asia from eminent parents, and from a very young age was brought up at the court of Constantinople. But leaving the world and worldly honors, he retired to the holy Mount Athos and began to lead a monastic life there. Having completely devoted himself to God and ascetic labors, and perfecting his soul through deeds of piety and contemplation, he became a worthy vessel of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit. Called from here by God to the priesthood, he was ordained to the rank of metropolitan of the Thessalonian Church, where he remained archpastor until his death, and after death he did not cease to shepherd and rule it through his miraculous and most sacred remains, which, by the grace of God, rest unharmed and incorruptible in the church of the metropolis. Offered to readers is the creation of St. Gregory Palamas translated from a brochure published in Athens in Greek under the title άρχιεπίσκοπου Θεσσαλλονίκης, τοῦ Παλαμα, – Δ εκαλογος τῆς κατα Χριστοῦ νομοθεσιας ητοι τῆς νεας διαθήκής. 1851. A preface is attached to the brochure. We extract from it several lines relating to the person of the writer. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” So Moses, cutting the waters in a cross shape with a rod, divided and united the Red Sea (Exodus ch. 14); so he erected a copper serpent on the cross (Num. 21:9; John 3:14). 1 Cor. 6:10.3. instead: do not commit adultery (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18). Wed. Matthew 5:32, 15:19, 19:9. You might be interested in: