Commandments originated in many old cultures, including the Jewish tribal culture that created the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament or Torah. In the Old Ten Commandments note what was important to the people of ancient Israel. When we get to the historical Jesus of the New Testament we see that he originated or taught many new teachings that are commandments: principles and practices to best live a value-centered life. Note how far Jesus brought forward our evolutionary consciousness in congruence with his times in which other contemporary teachers were also emphasizing many of these "Jesus" commandments. You can evaluate yourself as to which of these "Jesus Commandments" you understand and practice. Dare we say that people can be separated by their behavior regarding which of these commandments they keep or do not keep? Use these commandments to evaluate yourself and others. Be cautious in how you relate to those who do not keep many of these commandments. These commandments are practical, as well as examples of living spiritual values. Each commandment is a modernize re-write of one or more of the teachings of the historical Jesus, as this author understands the texts.

THE OLD TESTAMENT TEN COMMANDMENTS
modernized and simplified by Strephon Kaplan-Williams, © 2005

1. Acknowledge that one God rules over you, all peoples and the universe itself
2. Do not believe in other gods besides the one God, or in images made to represent divinity
3. Never lie and evoke the one God as your witness
4. Keep one day a week for focus directly on the things of God rather than of humanity
5. Respect the parents that brought you into the world and took care of you
6. Do not kill others for unjust cause
7. Do not have sex with another other than your chosen one
8. Do not take from others what does not rightfully belong to you
9. Do not falsely describe what you know to be true, especially in court
10. Do not scheme to get without consent anything which belongs to another, be it person, property or thing