Reversing the 10 Commandments

I just finished Christopher J. H. Wright’s book, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament.  It is an absolutely outstanding book, and greatly clarifies how Jesus viewed himself and his mission. I can’t recommend it highly enough, and it may be the best book I’ve read this year. (Go ahead and click on the link – I’ll wait for you while you order it, then you can come back). Toward the end, he makes a surprising point about the 10 commandments that I had never thought about – and I’ll bet you haven’t, either.

He is talking about the fact that the 10 commandments are written in an intentional order.  True enough, and everyone agrees – the “Love God” commands come first, then the “love other” commands.  But he tosses off one little sentence that was quite a nugget:

After God and his name, comes the sabbath, which, as we have seen, was for the benefit of the whole community, especially for workers.  Then comes the family (respect for parents), then individual life (no murder), marriage, (no adultery),  property (no theft), and the integrity of the judicial process (no perjury).  God, society, family, individuals, sex, property.  It is an order of values that western culture has more or less completely reversed. (italics mine)

He’s right, but I never noticed it.  The priorities of the commandments have been turned upside down. 

Two results jump out at me:  First, we put property rights above the needs of individuals.  As a result, we care more about making sure no one takes what belongs to us than we care about making sure others are cared for.  Second, we put the rights of individuals above those of families, and so the family life is breaking down as people try to fulfill their own needs above the needs of their spouse (I see this in complaints about marriage all the time).

It’s not the point of the book, just something he casually tosses off.  But it’s worth thinking about.  Now, if you haven’t done it yet, go order the book!