Within the framework of “The Church and the Law” series of interviews, Iravaban.net talked with Deacon Norayr Avdalyan, a student of the Gevorgyan Seminary about the 10 Commandments.

– How were the 10 Commandments created and why? 

– The 10 Commandments were given to the Jewish people and humanity, in the context of the Jewish people’s coming out of the Egyptian Slavery. God gave the 10 Commandments to Prophet Moses on Mount Sinai and orders them to be kept.

– Are the Commandments considered spiritual laws? What is their main spiritual meaning and significance?

– When we read the Commandments, at first glance it seems that they are a collection of norms with legal significance. The main difference lies in the fact that these are God-given laws and given on the idea of ​​love, that is, the God’s love for man and humans’ love for human.

-If we consider them as spiritual laws, are there prescribed punishments for breaking these laws, like there are punishments for breaking secular laws?

– There are no punishments in the 10 Commandments, because the 10 Commandments are God-given laws and naturally, divine laws do not need additional confirmation.

– I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. By another god do they mean the Jesus Christ, and if so, is Jesus Christ ultimately a physical person or a god in the spiritual consciousness? If it is a god, will you give the Christian spiritual explanation and advice for it?

– The first Commandment defines and contains the Christian religion as a monotheistic religion, that is, a religion where there is one deity. This Commandment shows that there is only one God who is the cause of all the good things in the world, everything in the world. Christian monotheism has its peculiarity, the Holy Trinity, but this is not paganism.

– Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol. Does this Commandment apply equally to the physical, spiritual, and mental aspects of man? If yes, I will ask you to present it in more detail. Is worshiping a celebrity or worshiping an animal considered a sin?

– Idolatry has had its manifestations at all stages of human history. It has both corporeal, physical, spiritual and cultural aspects. Idolatry is reprehensible in that it corrupts the true knowledge of God. We can love different people, different famous people, appreciate their talent, appreciate their deeds, values, but only God deserves our complete trust.

– Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain. Will you explain the counsel of this Commandment? What is in vain? When can the Lord God’s name be given?

– We should approach the essence of God with fear and respect. In the Lord’s Prayer it is said: “Your Name is Holy”, this shows the attitude of a Christian person and human beings in general towards the name of God. It is immoral in itself when a person manipulates another person’s name for other purposes.

– Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Why is it necessary to keep the Sabbath holy, is it about the Sabbath itself or something else, and what did it say to keep it holy? What is the spiritual meaning of this Commandment?

– In Hebrew, Sabbath means rest. In the psychological sense, this is a special state of mind, under which a person, depriving himself of his worldly pleasures, desires, and passions, secludes with God. This is a state of mind of man-God seclusion. Christ was resurrected on Sunday and with his resurrection a new covenant is established and the day of human-God relationship becomes the Sunday.

– Honor your father and your mother. Will you explain the meaning and significance of this Commandment, is it clear that, regardless of everything, a child should respect and honor his father and mother?

– This is the first Commandment, which refers to the human-human relationship. The relationship between parent and child is brought to the fore from God’s perspective. Christ also says: Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Here sometimes there is a choice between the good and the best.

– Thou shalt not kill. In secular life, criminal law provides criminal liability for murder, including in some cases the death penalty. What is the biblical counsel of “thou shalt not kill” and can parallels be drawn with the crime of murder in secular law?

-10 Commandments are based on the importance of valuing life. Let’s talk about the reality of the war. In war, people kill each other. Wars take place to preserve one’s values, religion, essence, homeland, family. Not fighting can lead to greater evils than fighting and killing. There is an important fact here: we kill our enemy whose killing is of strategic importance, we do not kill to commit a crime, and we do not kill peaceful people. We kill the soldier who poses a threat to the value system we are forced to fight for.

– Thou shalt not commit adultery. Does this have only a moral meaning and significance in the Bible? I would ask to explain in more detail the spiritual secret of this Commandment.

– Family sanctity is protected by this Commandment. By saying do not commit adultery, we should not understand the action, the act, which is done in breaking this Commandment. We have to understand in our whole way of life that this refers to our whole life. A person should not push someone else to do that act. Many times there are immoral people in our society for the important reason that the society itself allowed it, the society itself made the person like that.

– Thou shalt not steal. In this case, criminal liability is envisaged as well. What is the biblical admonition “thou shalt not steal” and can parallels be drawn with the crime of theft in secular law? 

– The main principle in the Commandment do not steal, which is used by secular law, is that by stealing we appropriate the good created by others, we take what is not ours. This is the greatest crime because we are also usurping the reward that is given for the good deeds of others. This order is understood only in a personal sense, but a person should not steal from the state. We witness many evils as a result of misunderstanding this Commandment. Society believes that tolerating someone else’s theft is not their business. In reality, the theft committed by someone affects the whole society. You should not steal other people’s values ​​either.

– Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. In general, what is perjury? When we say your neighbor, do we mean a neighbor, a person next door, or is there another meaning?

– The Commandment has greater moral depth. Perjury is not just a legal concept, it means in a more extended way: do not lie. In fact, people think there is a Commandment not to lie, but no such Commandment is written. Your neighbor means the same as you, here we must understand that people who believe in God are one people, and an atmosphere of justice should prevail among the people of God.

– You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or property. What is the spiritual meaning and moral significance of this Commandment?

– If we read the Commandment written in the Holy Book in more detail, we will understand that it says: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor”. Here is also the Commandment not to commit adultery, if you do not lay an eye on someone else’s wife, you do not commit adultery. The last Commandment comes to reinforce the moral norms that apply to human relationships.

Details in the video.

Hasmik Sargsyan