How do the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes help as moral guides?

Ten CommandmentsThe first commandment, to have "no other gods but me", the second commandment, not to make carved images or any likeness of anything and not to worship that image if you do make it, and the third commandment, not to take the name of the Lord in vain, are not moral guides, but religious instructions.

The next commandment says to do no work on the Sabbath, nor to require or request others to do so or even allow an animal to do so, and is almost never honoured. Once again, this is not a moral guide, but a religious instruction.

The fifth commandment is to honour your father and your mother, a useful social rule, but arguably not a moral guide.

The last five commandments do indeed define some important moral ideals: do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness against your neighbour, do not covet that which belongs to your neighbour, including his wife or slave. Although only stated in general terms, they provide a foundation on which moral guides can be built.

The fact that the tenth commandment acknowledges the rights of a slave-owner is hardly a good moral guide, and was one of the biblical references used by Christians for many centuries to justify this inhumane practice.

The Beatitudes

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

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Beatitudes are all noble statements, worthy of a great religion, but are they all moral guides? "Blessed are the merciful" certainly is, as are "Blessed are the pure of heart" and "Blessed are the peacemakers". "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice", provides comfort for those who have not received justice, a noble sentiment, but lacking in imperatives. "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness sake" should not be interpreted as encouraging us to suffer persecution, although the pursuit of righteousness or justice is a worthwhile goal. Another ambiguous Beatitude is "Blessed are they who mourn", since it is unclear what moral imperative this provides.

SummaryFive of the Ten Commandments define some important moral ideals in general terms. The Beatitudes are noble statements and some do provide important guides in a succinct and beautifully written format that will stand the test of time.

While spiritually satisfying and noble, they clearly do not provide a comprehensive moral guide for modern times. There is no injunction, nor in a patriarchical society was there intended to be, against a woman coverting her neighbour's husband. Adultery was seen by the ancient Jews as a man having sex with a married woman other than his own wife, thus protecting the rights of her husband, but what about the rights of a woman whose husband is unfaithful. There is no stipulation of monogamy, and both the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes are silent on the issue of premarital sex.

The limitationsof The Bible in setting out moral guidelines has created an entire field of study for Christian morality, whereby theologians seek to put their stamp on what Christians should do when faced with moral dilemmas. Nevertheless, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, along with the Golden Rule, are a start.