How To Remember The Ten Commandments

How to Remember the Ten Commandments

You Can Memorize the Ten Commandments, in their proper order, in just ten minutes!

Dr. Russell Tardo

Exodus 20:1-17

This is a test! You won’t be graded, but let’s test your memory. Quickly, name 10 cars, by brand. I’ll help you get started; Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Mercury….. Packard, Hudson ( I’m revealing my age)….. quickly now. Have you named 10?

Now, name 10 Movie Stars, living or dead, male or female. Quickly! I’ll prime the pump; Cagney, Bogart, John Wayne…. This is easy! Have you named 10?

Now, name 10 famous musicians or bands…. You know, like Elvis, the Beatles, and so forth. Nobody should have any trouble naming 10.

(You can take this a little further should you choose… name 10 sports stars, 10 Movies, etc.)

NOW: Name the 10 Commandments! In order, preferably. Name as many as you can.

Having trouble? Isn’t it interesting what you remember and what you don’t?

Does it say something about us that we can name so many other things; trivial and unimportant and insignificant things, but we can’t name the Ten Commandments, which are considered the Capstone of both Judaism and Christianity? It’s the Keynote of our faith and the Divine summation of the Laws 617 commandments.

If you are having trouble remembering them all, you are not alone.

In 2004, a group or 25 Senators sponsored a bill to protect the display of the Ten Commandments on public property. They said the 10 Commandments were the cornerstone of a civilized society and they represent all the United States was founded on and should stand for. But when a reporter asked if any of them could name the Ten Commandments, only one of them could! In our neighboring state, a Congressman who co-sponsored a similar bill, when asked, could only name three of the ten!

According to a recent PollTronics poll, less than 10% of Americans can name more than four! And some of the things that people named were not commandments at all! (23% thought the 2nd Commandment gave us the right to bear arms! 31% said the 9th Commandment prohibited the removal of Ten Commandment displays!) Sadly, even most Christians could not name all ten. Can you?

How would you like to learn how to remember all Ten Commandments, in order, and to memorize them in such a way that you’ll never forget them… in just ten minutes?

You can do it! I guarantee it! All you have to do is follow my little word association method!

The Ten Commandments are set forth in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. We’ll use Exodus for our study.

The Commandments are listed from one to ten. Say out loud and focus on the words in bold text. That is the key to remembering each one. Many of the phrases rhyme, while others are just simple to remember and associate with that Commandment number.

Repeat this to yourself a few times and you’ll remember it forever!

ONE - GOD is ONE, there is NO OTHER. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

TWO - TABOO. What is taboo? Idols. Images. False gods. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” (Exodus 20:4)

THREE - VANITY. From “vain,” i.e., “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

FOUR – CHURCH DOOR. It’s what you should enter through every Sunday. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)

FIVE - ALIVE. Only one commandment out of the ten has a promise connected to it. The Fifth Commandment promises “long life” to those who obey it. So, to stay alive longer, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” (Exodus 20:12)

SIX-FEET UNDER. Don’t put anybody six feet under, or in other words, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)

SEVEN-YEAR-ITCH. The old movie by that title illustrated a statistical fact; that after seven years of marriage many develop a wandering eye and are tempted to play musical beds. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)

EIGHT - GO STRAIGHT! Picture yourself watching an old black-and-white Humphrey Bogart movie. He’s the convict about to be released from prison, standing before the wardens desk. The warden says, “Here are your release papers. Now, don’t get in any more trouble. No stealing. From now on, go straight.” Hence, Eight - Go Straight. “Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)

NINE - MALIGN. What does it mean to malign someone? It means to falsely accuse them, to slander them, to do harm to their name, character or reputation. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

TEN - A PERFECT TEN! We often grade things on a scale of one to ten. One being the least, and ten being the very best. If a car is a 10 it is an amazing car. If a man or a woman is said to be a 10, they are a real knockout. We like and admire a 10. But be careful, because what you admire, you might begin to lust after.

“Thou shalt not covet.” (Exodus 20:17)

Listen to this entire message by Dr. Tardo at www.faithfulword.com