COMPANION BIBLE. APPENDIX 39.  

THE DECALOGUE.  EXODUS 20:2-17.


The Ten Commandments have been divided in various ways.  The table below exhibits the principal differences.

 

Commands. English  (Reformed). Jewish  (Talmud). Massoretic. Greek  (Origen). Roman and   Lutheran.
I. v. 2, 3 2 3-6 3 3-6
II. v. 4-6 3-6 7 4-6 7
III. v. 7 7 8-11 7 8-11
IV. v. 8-11 8-11 12 8-11 12
V. v. 12 12 13 12 13
VI. v. 13 13 14 13 14
VII. v. 14 14 15 14 15
VIII. v. 15 15 16 15 16
IX. v. 16 16 17- 16 17-
X. v. 17 17 -17 17 -17


The difference between the Roman Catholic and Lutheran is this :  that the Roman Catholic makes Commandment IX protect the wife, while the Lutheran makes it protect the house.  The Massoretic divisions agree with the Roman Catholic.  The English Reformed division agrees with the Jewish and Talmudical division in including v. 2, but differs in including v. 3 in Commandment I instead of in Commandment II.  The Structure proves this to be correct.

It is interesting to note here, that Christ put His seal upon each one of the ten, in the following passages :--

  1. Matt. 22:37.
  2. John 4:24.
  3. Matt. 5:34.
  4. Mark 2:27.  Luke 13:14-16.
  5. Matt. 15:4-6; 19:19.  Mark 7:10.
  6. Matt. 5:21.
  7. Matt. 5:28; 19:9, 18.
  8. Matt. 15:19.
  9. Matt. 12:34-37.
  10. Matt. 5:28.

In Matt. 19:18, the Lord omitted Commandment X in order to convict His questioner, who said, "ALL these have I kept."  Upon which the Lord's command in v. 21 convicted him of its breach, as shown by the man's sorrow in v. 22.


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