Though many people say, ″All religions basically say the same thing: to be good″, Christianity moves in a different direction. The most basic ethical document of Christianity, the Ten Commandments (or the Decalogue), is prefaced with a reference to God saving His people (Deuteronomy 5:6). While our ethical teachings might intersect with other faiths at some points, the basis for behaviour, in both the Old and New Testaments, is the salvation God grants us. It is only from being saved by grace through faith that we are convicted to change our behaviour, a transformation that is also only possible because of grace.

The Decalogue (vv. 7-21) is not a criminal law code, for there is no mention of details and penalties. Those are given after the Decalogue. The Decalogue gives the basic principles of the behaviour God wills for us. The first four commandments present vertical issues: how to relate to God; and the next six present horizontal issues: how to relate to people. The same order is seen in the two great commandments of Jesus: love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40).

The first commandment prohibits having any ″other gods before [God]″ (Deuteronomy 5:7). The Hebrew words translated ″before me″ literally means ″in my presence″. No god can be placed beside God. He requires His people's wholehearted devotion. ″Other gods″ could include deities that people worship but that do not exist (32:21; Jeremiah 2:11), demons masquerading as deities (1 Corinthians 10:20), or ″non-religious″ gods such as wealth, ambition, or addictions (Matthew 6:24; Philippians 3:19). In our tolerant age, it is easy to forget that God views the worship of any other god as seriously wrong.

The second command is about making idols for ″worship″ (Deuteronomy 5:8-9). This implies that art and sculpture, if not made for worship, are permitted. In the Old Testament, idolatry is often compared to adultery. God is portrayed as a loving husband who is ″jealous″ (v. 9) when his wife discards him for another. The punishment for this extends up ″to the third and fourth generation″, possibly because the children will be punished for adopting the idolatrous practices of their parents. The seriousness of idolatry among the Israelites is shown by referring to idolators as ″those who hate″ God.

But thankfully, that is not the last word. The second commandment ends with a promise of love, extended to the faithful not to three or four but to ″a thousand generations″ (v. 10). The word for love here (hesed) is generally used for God's steadfast, covenant-keeping love. He can be trusted to look after us. What folly it would be to reject the undying love of the Creator and Lord of the universe. And this God demonstrated His love for us by sending Christ to die for sinners (Romans 5:8). That makes disobedience an even greater folly.

God's steadfast covenant love is a major ingredient of our relationship with Him. We can be sure then that if we are faithful to God, He will look after us.