THEOLOGY 4- Christian Morality

MIDTERM

TOPIC: “Loving God and others” in the 10 Commandments

I. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Are the Ten commandments still relevant in today’s modern world?

Fr. Vince Lampert, exorcist in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, USA said:

“I think we are living in an age where faith is in decline and a lot of people living by three
guiding principles: me, myself and I.”
“You may do whatever you wish. Nobody has the right to command you. You are the god of
yourself. There is a temptation in the garden that is exactly like this. You do need God. You can
be God. You can determine what is right and wrong”

II. The Context of the 10 Commandments

In light of Jesus’ moral teaching, the ethical wisdom of the Old Testament is seen in its full
glory. The Old Testament summary of man’s response to God is, of course, the Ten
Commandments. These commandments are fully understood only in the context of the covenant.

III. Why the commandments are 10?

Decalogue is a Greek word; the other name for the 10 commandments which means 10
words/statements
Number 10 is significant to the Israelites
1. In Jewish tradition, 10 is a symbol of good luck and power
2. Ten plagues
3. Tenth Hebrew letter: Yohd means hand, work, deeds, fist, power.
4. Yohd is equivalent to the letter Y in the English alphabet. Which the first letter of the
name of God, YHWH.

IV. New commandment in NT

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and
one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law
is the greatest?”
He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, you God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You
shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two
commandments.”
—Matthew 22:34-40
John 13:34-35
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love
one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another.”
Today, the Christian also lives the Ten Commandments, not as a burdensome list of obligations,
but as a willing response to God’s loving call to be his people.
• The first three of these commandments emphasize our need “to love God above all
things”; the last seven indicate our obligation “to love our neighbour as ourselves.”
• In analysing the Ten Commandments, we should try to focus on how each is a response
in love to a loving God.

TOPIC: Love God: The First Three Commandments

First Commandment: I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
• Make God the top priority in our
lives by practicing the theological
virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love
• Worship God and share our faith to others
• have a deep relationship with God through prayer
Violations
● Worldly gods and deities
● Superstitions
● Testing God by any means
● Sacrilege

Second Commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
• Honor God’s name through praise,
reverence, and adoration
• Our names are also holy
• God made His name known to us. He made Himself available and accessible to us.
”Holy be your name”- Our Father

Violations
• Perjury
• Swearing an oath with
an intention to break it
• Use of swearing,
cursing, vulgar language

Third Commandment: Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day and holy days of
obligation.
• The purpose is to praise God for his
works of creation and to thank him
• God gives this commandment to all people
for them to have a day of rest and recreation
• Catholics are obliged to go to Mass on Sundays and
Holy Days of Obligation
Violations
-willfully missing mass
TOPIC: Obedience: Our response to the love of God
After discussing the first three commandments…..
• We need to understand that obeying the commandments is not mandatory, but
willingness to respond to the love of God.
• Obedience is essential!
Obedience towards God
Obeying someone means having trust and love for the person.
e.g obeying your parents
Disobedience can lead to misunderstanding and chaos, worst is losing someone.
In the bible we see the Israelites constantly disobeying God
- During the great flood, Noah
- During the time of their Exodus going to the promised land, Moses
- Worshipping the Golden calf led by Aaron
In the New Testament Jesus teaches us to obey rather than to disobey God
➢ Incarnation
➢ Accepting the mission to spread the Gospel
➢ Sacrifice on the Last supper
➢ Sacrifice on the Cross
➢ Obedience that led to death on the cross
Jesus’ obedience in Matthew 4:1-11
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
The tempter approached and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply,
“It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.”
Jesus’ obedience in Matthew 4:1-11
Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered him,
“Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
Jesus’ obedience in Matthew 4:1-11
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
At this, Jesus said to him,
“Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.”
Then the devil left him and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him.

Jesus’ obedience in Matthew 4:1-11

1st temptation: DUNAMIS or power/ ability
2nd temptation: Ploúsios or fame
3rd temptation: Kleos or Wealth

1st commandment: Honor the Almighty God

2nd commandment: Worship the name of
God
3rd commandment: Make time to God
Jesus’ obedience in Matthew 4:1-11
Disobedience of Adam, the first man
- Led mankind to sin
Obedience of Jesus, the Son of God
- Led mankind to salvation

CONCLUSION
1. Our obedience to God and others show our love for Him.
2. Disobedience can cause losing something very important in our lives.
3. Jesus is the perfect example of obedience.
4. In this Lenten season, God invites us to obey Him like Jesus. It can lead us to fulfilled life
and eventually, salvation.
TOPIC: Love Your Neighbor: 4th – 10th
Commandments
Forth Commandment: Honor your father and your mother.
• Parents should: respect children,
educate them in the Catholic faith,
loving home, unconditional love
• Behaviors from children: thankfulness, respecting, obey, meeting
the physical and spiritual needs of aged parents, treat siblings with
respect and love
• Respect and obedience is due all proper Church and other
authority figures
Violation
• Rebellion

Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill.

• Human life is sacred from the
first moment of conception until
natural death
• We show respect for God’s gift
of life by eating healthy, getting
proper exercise and rest, avoiding
harmful substances, etc.
• Any direct and indirect killing of a human being is a violation
• Killing in self-defense is morally permissible as a last resort
Violations
• Direct abortion
• Intentional euthanasia
• Suicide
• Scandalous acts
• Immoral medical procedures

Sixth and Ninth Commandments: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife.
• God gave us the gift of sexuality so that
married couples can share their love and
cooperate with God in bringing forth new life
• Exercise the virtues of chastity, purity,
and modesty
• Chastity requires lifelong self-control
Violations
• Lust
• Masturbation
• Fornication
• Pornography
 • Prostitution
• Rape
• Homosexual activity
• Adultery

Seventh and Tenth Commandments: You shall not steal. You shall not covet anything that
belongs to your neighbor.
• God created the goods of creation for everyone
• Do not become too attached to belongings
• Justice calls us to respect the property of others
and to share our things
• “Ang kay Juan ay kay Juan. Ang kay Pedro ay kay Pedro”
Why people steal?
• Greed- Kasakiman
• Avarice- Katakawan
• Envy- Inggit

Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• Teaches that truth-telling is a matter of
justice
• We respect other people, their
reputations, their right to privacy
• Fake news and Tsismis
Violations
• Lying
• False witness
• Perjury
• Rash judgment
• Detraction- Chismis
• Calumny

Question
• Are you happy in obeying the commandments of God?
TOPIC: THE BEATITUDES: THE KEY
TO JOY
I. Essential question: HOW TO BE JOYFUL AS A CHRISTIAN?

II. According to ST. THOMAS AQUINAS:

THE BEATITUDES TEACH US THE FINAL END (GOAL OF HUMAN EXISTENCE, THE
ULTIMATE END OF HUMAN ACTS) TO WHICH GOD CALLS US: TO BE JOYFUL AND
HOLY.
(In reference to Aristotelian Ethics’ Eudaimonia )

III. The Beatitudes: MATTHEW 5: 1-12

WHEN HE SAW THE CROWDS, HE WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN, AND AFTER HE HAD
SAT DOWN, HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM. HE BEGAN TO TEACH THEM, SAYING:
“BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT,
FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
BLESSED ARE THEY WHO MOURN,
FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK,
FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE LAND.
BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED.
MATTHEW 5: 1-12
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL,
FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY.
BLESSED ARE THE CLEAN OF HEART,
FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS,
FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD.
BLESSED ARE THEY WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 5: 1-12
BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN THEY INSULT YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU AND UTTER
EVERY KIND OF EVIL AGAINST YOU [FALSELY] BECAUSE OF ME. REJOICE AND
BE GLAD, FOR YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT IN HEAVEN. THUS THEY
PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE YOU.

IV. Are you happy if you are:

Poor?
Mourning?
Hungry and thirsty?
Persecuted?
Insulted?
But Jesus tells us we are blessed if we are:
Poor in spirit, for ours is the kingdom of heaven.
Mourning, for we will be comforted.
Hungry and thirsty for holiness, for we will be satisfied.
Persecuted, for ours is the kingdom of heaven.
Insulted, for we will be rewarded.
V. THE CONTEXT OF THE BEATITUDES
Jesus went up the mountain
• in the OT people go up the mountain believing they can have easy access to God who is
in the highest heaven
• we can see Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray
• Mt. Tabor- Transfiguration
• Mt. Eremos- Beatitudes
• Mt. Calvary- Crucifixion
VI. THE CONTEXT OF THE BEATITUDES
MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE FIND THE MORAL
TEACHING OF JESUS BEST SUMMARIZED IN MATTHEW’S GOSPEL IN THE FAMED
SERMON ON THE MOUNT. THE SERMON IS FOUND IN CHAPTER 5, VERSE ONE TO
TWELVE OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL. EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD READ AND STUDY
IT OFTEN. IT IS TO THE NEW TESTAMENT WHAT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE
TO THE OLD TESTAMENT.
THE BEATITUDES TEACH US THE FINAL END (GOAL OF HUMAN EXISTENCE, THE
ULTIMATE END OF HUMAN ACTS) TO WHICH GOD CALLS US: TO BE JOYFUL AND
HOLY.
(In reference to Aristotle’s Eudaimonia )
VII. CHRISTIAN BEATITUDE
THE 8 BEATITUDES ARE NOT THE DESCRIPTIONS OF 8 DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THEY
ARE THE DESCRIPTIONS OF ONE PERSON. THEY ARE THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE
CHARACTER OF THE CHRISTIAN AND THEY CAN DIVIDED INTO 3 SECTIONS
WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS:

A. BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

“BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.”
“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR HOLINESS, FOR THEY
WILL BE SATISFIED.”

B. WHAT THE CHRISTIAN IS

“BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.”
“BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.”
“BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN
OF GOD.”

C. RESULT OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

“BLESSED ARE THEY WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE, FOR
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN PEOPLE INSULT
YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU AND UTTER EVERY KIND OF EVIL AGAINST YOU
FALSELY BECAUSE OF ME. BE HAPPY AND GLAD, FOR A GREAT REWARD IS KEPT
FOR YOU IN HEAVEN. THIS IS HOW THE PROPHETS WHO LIVED BEFORE YOU
WERE PERSECUTED.”
HOW TO BE JOYFUL AS A CHRISTIAN?

VIII. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’ FOUR SUBSTITUTES FOR GOD

WE ARE HUNGRY FOR GOD AND WE TRY TO FILL THAT HUNGER WITH FINITE
GOODNESS. BUT WHEN WE ARE FRUSTRATED WE TRY TO SUBSTITUTE GOD WITH
HONOR, POWER, PLEASURE, AND WEALTH. IT IS FROM THERE WE OFTEN FEEL
SATISFIED.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’ FOUR SUBSTITUTES FOR GOD

IX. Alexander the great’s 3 last wishes

He asked his generals to fulfill his following three wishes:
1. My physicians must carry my body alone.
2. I want the path leading to my grave to be strewn with gold, silver, and precious stones
that are in my treasury while my body is being carried to be buried.
3. My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.
Alexander the great explains his wishes:
1. I want my physicians to carry my body alone because I want people to know that no
doctor can cure people’s illnesses, especially when they face death. No physician
or doctor is as powerful to save people from the clutch of death. So, don’t let people
take life for granted.
2. I want people to know that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent
my whole life chasing power and wealth. Whatever earned in the earth remains here. I
want people to realize that it is a complete waste of your life and time to run after
wealth and power.
Alexander the great’s 3 last wishes
3. I want my both hands to keep dangling out of my coffin because I want people to
know that we came empty-handed in this world and we will go empty-handed.